Devotion to the Precious Blood of Jesus honors the Blood He shed for our redemption, from the agony in the Garden to the piercing of His side. The Church traditionally dedicates the month of July to the Precious Blood, and St. Gaspar del Bufalo was one of the devotion's great promoters. This short offering presents the Blood of Christ to the Father in atonement for our sins and for the Holy Souls in Purgatory. The line "Blood of Christ, inebriate me" comes from the Anima Chri

Temptation rarely gives us time for long prayers. That is why the saints recommended short aspirations, sometimes called ejaculatory prayers: a few words that can be said in a heartbeat, out loud or silently, the moment a temptation begins. "Jesus, mercy! Mary, help!" is one of the best loved, and it is short enough to memorize at once. Use it the moment you notice a temptation to anger, impurity, gossip, discouragement, or any sin, and repeat it as often as you need to. Call

Purity of heart, which Jesus blessed in the Beatitudes ("Blessed are the clean of heart, for they shall see God"), is a grace to ask for daily. The Church has long entrusted the struggle for chastity to the Holy Family, and especially to Mary conceived without sin and to St. Joseph, her chaste spouse. These short aspirations are for any moment: when temptations arise, when you are online or alone, before sleep, or as a daily habit. The second line is the prayer of the Miracul

Eucharistic aspirations are short acts of praise to Jesus truly present in the Most Holy Sacrament. "O Sacrament most holy" in particular has been sung and recited for generations and is often said at Benediction, during adoration, and at the close of a Holy Hour. These lines are easy to memorize and can be prayed at any moment: when you pass a Catholic church, as you genuflect before the tabernacle, while waiting in line for Communion, or during your thanksgiving after Mass.

Devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus honors His human heart as the sign of His infinite love for us. It spread widely after Our Lord's revelations to St. Margaret Mary Alacoque in the 1670s, and the whole month of June, along with the Solemnity of the Sacred Heart, is dedicated to it. These short aspirations are meant to be repeated often, especially "Sacred Heart of Jesus, I place my trust in Thee." Pray them when you feel worried or tempted, before work, on First Fridays,

These three short aspirations to Jesus, Mary, and Joseph are among the best-known in the Catholic tradition and were once commonly taught to children and printed in every prayer book. Invoking the Holy Family together is especially fitting because St. Joseph is the patron of a happy death, since by tradition he died in the arms of Jesus and Mary. The first aspiration gives heart and soul to the Holy Family; the second and third ask their help at the hour of death. Pray them o

An aspiration is a very short prayer, just a few words, that you can repeat throughout the day. This one, "Sacred Heart of Jesus, I place my trust in Thee," is among the most loved in the Catholic tradition. It sums up the whole devotion to the Sacred Heart: Jesus loves us with a human heart, and we answer that love with complete confidence in His goodness and mercy. Say it when you wake, when you begin a task, when worry rises, or when you pass a church or a crucifix. Some p

In 1830, in the chapel of the Daughters of Charity on the Rue du Bac in Paris, Our Lady appeared to St. Catherine Labouré and showed her the design of a medal. Around its edge were the words "O Mary, conceived without sin, pray for us who have recourse to thee." This medal, soon called the Miraculous Medal, spread across the world, and its prayer helped prepare the Church for Pope Pius IX's definition of the Immaculate Conception in 1854. Pray it as an aspiration at any time

Devotion to the Immaculate Heart of Mary honors the love, purity, and sorrow of Our Lady's heart, which "kept all these things, pondering them" (Luke 2:19). The devotion spread widely after the apparitions at Fatima in 1917, and the Church keeps the memorial of the Immaculate Heart on the Saturday after the feast of the Sacred Heart. These short aspirations are meant to be repeated often through the day: while walking, working, waiting, or falling asleep. They are especially

The Three Hail Marys is a simple traditional devotion for purity and perseverance, often prayed morning and night. The Prayer In honor of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary: Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee; blessed art thou amongst women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus. Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners, now and at the hour of our death. Amen. (1) Hail Mary... (2) Hail Mary... (3) By thy pure and Immaculate Conception