The Veni Creator Spiritus is one of the great hymns of the Church. It was written in Latin in the ninth century and is traditionally attributed to Rabanus Maurus, a Benedictine monk and archbishop of Mainz. It is sung at Pentecost, at ordinations and confirmations, at the start of a papal conclave, and whenever the Church asks for the light of the Holy Spirit. The English version here is Edward Caswall's well-known translation, "Come, Holy Ghost, Creator blest." Pray or sing

The Te Deum is the Church's great hymn of praise and thanksgiving. It dates from the fourth or fifth century; a beautiful legend says Sts. Ambrose and Augustine composed it together at Augustine's baptism in 387, though many scholars credit Niceta of Remesiana. It is sung at the end of the Office of Readings on Sundays and feasts, and for centuries it has been sung at coronations, consecrations, and victories, and whenever the Church wants to thank God for a great blessing. P

On November 2 the Church commemorates all the faithful departed, praying for every soul still being purified in purgatory. The commemoration spread from the Benedictine abbey of Cluny, where St. Odilo established it around the year 998, and it soon became a day observed throughout the Western Church. The prayer given here is the traditional collect for the faithful departed, asking God to grant the souls of His servants the pardon they always desired. Pray it on All Souls Day

On November 1 the Church celebrates the Solemnity of All Saints, honoring all who share God's glory in heaven, both the canonized saints and the countless holy men and women known to God alone. The prayer given here is the traditional collect of the feast, which rejoices that we may honor the merits of all the saints in one celebration and asks that, as our intercessors are multiplied, God will pour out His mercy on us more abundantly. Pray it on All Saints Day, at Mass or at

On Corpus Christi the Church rejoices in the Real Presence. Adore Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament. The Prayer O God, Who under a wonderful Sacrament hast left us a memorial of Thy Passion: grant us, we beseech Thee, so to venerate the sacred mysteries of Thy Body and Blood, that we may ever feel within ourselves the fruit of Thy redemption. Who livest and reignest world without end. Amen. Traditional Corpus Christi collect; classic English, public domain. If these prayers help

At Pentecost we ask for a new outpouring of the Holy Spirit upon the Church and our hearts. The Prayer O God, Who didst teach the hearts of Thy faithful people by sending them the light of Thy Holy Spirit: grant us by the same Spirit to have a right judgment in all things, and evermore to rejoice in His holy comfort. Through Christ our Lord. Amen. Traditional Pentecost collect; classic English, public domain. If these prayers help you, you can support Daily Catholic Prayers,

At Easter we rejoice that Christ is risen. Give thanks with this traditional prayer. The Prayer O God, Who on this day, through Thine only-begotten Son, hast overcome death, and opened unto us the gate of everlasting life: we humbly beseech Thee that, as Thou dost put into our minds good desires, so by Thy continual help we may bring the same to good effect. Through the same Christ our Lord. Amen. Christ is risen! He is risen indeed! Alleluia! Traditional Easter collect-style

On Good Friday we adore the Cross and remember the Passion. Offer this traditional act of love. The Prayer We adore Thee, O Christ, and we bless Thee, because by Thy holy Cross Thou hast redeemed the world. O my people, what have I done to thee? or in what have I aggrieved thee? Answer Me. Holy God, Holy Mighty One, Holy Immortal One, have mercy on us. Traditional Good Friday adoration texts; classic liturgy English, public domain. If these prayers help you, you can support D

In Lent the Church calls us to fasting, prayer, and almsgiving. Ask for true conversion of heart. The Prayer O my God, I thank Thee for Thy great love in giving me this holy season of Lent. Help me to turn away from sin, to pray more fervently, to deny myself, and to give generously to those in need. May these forty days prepare me to celebrate the Passion, Death, and Resurrection of Jesus with a renewed heart. Amen. Traditional Lenten petition; classic manuals style, public

On Ash Wednesday we remember that we are dust and turn to penance. Pray for a holy Lent. The Prayer Almighty and everlasting God, Who hatest nothing that Thou hast made, and dost forgive the sins of those who are penitent: create and make in us new and contrite hearts, that we, worthily lamenting our sins and acknowledging our wretchedness, may obtain of Thee, the God of all mercy, perfect remission and forgiveness. Through Christ our Lord. Amen. Traditional Ash Wednesday col

The Epiphany, traditionally celebrated on January 6, commemorates the visit of the Magi, who followed a star to Bethlehem and worshiped the Christ Child with gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh (Matthew 2:1-12). The feast celebrates Christ revealed to all nations. This prayer is the traditional collect of the day, asking that we who now know God by faith may one day contemplate the beauty of His majesty face to face. Pray it on the Epiphany, during the Christmas season, or

At Christmas the Church celebrates the Nativity of the Lord, the eternal Son of God born of the Virgin Mary in Bethlehem. This simple devotional prayer speaks directly to the Child Jesus, adoring Him, thanking Him for coming to save us, and asking Him to make our hearts a crib where He may rest. It recalls the tradition of the Christmas crèche, made popular by St. Francis of Assisi, who arranged a living Nativity scene at Greccio in 1223. Pray it on Christmas Eve and Christma

This prayer is the traditional collect of the Vigil of Christmas, prayed on December 24 in the classic Roman Missal. It captures the spirit of Advent perfectly: we rejoice each year as we await the celebration of our Redemption, and we ask that we who welcome Christ joyfully as Redeemer may also meet Him without fear when He comes again as Judge. Advent looks both ways, back to Bethlehem and forward to the Second Coming. Pray it during the four weeks of Advent, at the lightin

"Come, Holy Ghost, fill the hearts of Thy faithful" is one of the oldest and most loved invocations of the Holy Spirit. It is the opening of an antiphon sung in the Church's liturgy around Pentecost, and it is usually followed by the versicle "Send forth Thy Spirit, and they shall be created; and Thou shalt renew the face of the earth" and a short collect. The image of fire recalls the tongues of flame that rested on the Apostles in the Upper Room (Acts 2:3). Pray it before s

Dies Irae is the traditional sequence of the Requiem Mass, meditating on judgment and mercy. This classic English excerpt is public domain. The Prayer Day of wrath! O day of mourning! See fulfilled the prophets' warning, Heaven and earth in ashes burning! Oh, what fear man's bosom rendeth When from heaven the Judge descendeth On Whose sentence all dependeth! Wondrous sound the trumpet flingeth; Through earth's sepulchers it ringeth; All before the throne it bringeth. Death is

The Golden Sequence Veni Sancte Spiritus is the traditional Pentecost sequence. This classic English translation is public domain. The Prayer Come, Holy Spirit, send forth the heavenly radiance of Thy light. Come, father of the poor, come, giver of gifts, come, light of the heart. Greatest comforter, sweet guest of the soul, sweet consolation. In labor, rest, in heat, temperateness, in tears, solace. O most blessed light, fill the inmost heart of Thy faithful. Without Thy gra