St. Monica (331-387) is the patron saint of mothers, wives in difficult marriages, and parents whose children have drifted from the faith. For years she prayed and wept for her brilliant, restless son Augustine, who was living far from God. A bishop comforted her with the words, "It is not possible that the son of so many tears should perish." Augustine was baptized in 387, became a bishop and Doctor of the Church, and wrote movingly of his mother's prayers in his Confessions

St. Augustine of Hippo (354-430) spent much of his youth searching for truth and happiness everywhere except in God. After his conversion, he wrote the Confessions, a long prayer addressed to God that tells the story of his restless heart. Two passages from it have become some of the most quoted prayers in Christian history: the opening line about our restless hearts, and the lament "Late have I loved Thee." These words speak to anyone who has come to faith late, returned aft

Psalm 51 (Psalm 50 in the Douay numbering), known by its Latin first word Miserere, is the great psalm of repentance. Tradition connects it to King David after the prophet Nathan confronted him with his sin. It has shaped Christian sorrow for sin for three thousand years and is prayed every Friday morning in the Liturgy of the Hours and throughout Lent. Pray it before Confession, during an examination of conscience, on Ash Wednesday and Good Friday, or any time you want to re

Jesus described His mission in simple words: "The Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost" (Luke 19:10). His parables of the lost sheep, the lost coin, and the prodigal son show the joy in heaven over one sinner who repents (Luke 15). This prayer asks Christ to look with mercy on sinners and to bring them back with humble and contrite hearts, through the intercession of Mary, Refuge of Sinners. Pray it for family members or friends who have drifted from the

Ask God to extend the light of the Gospel to all nations. The Prayer O God, Who willest that all men should be saved and come to the knowledge of the truth: send forth, we beseech Thee, laborers into Thy harvest, and grant them grace to speak Thy word with all confidence; that Thy Gospel may be spread among all nations, and that all peoples may acknowledge Thee, the one true God, and Jesus Christ Whom Thou hast sent. Amen. Traditional prayer for missions/faith; classic manual

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

The Confiteor, Latin for "I confess," is the Church's great prayer of general confession. The form given here is the traditional one, which names Mary, St. Michael, St. John the Baptist, and Sts. Peter and Paul. For centuries it was prayed at the foot of the altar at the beginning of Mass and before Holy Communion, and it is still part of Compline, the Church's Night Prayer. Striking the breast at the words "through my fault" is an ancient sign of sorrow. Pray it during your

St. Patrick, the fifth-century apostle of Ireland, was born in Roman Britain. At sixteen he was kidnapped by raiders and enslaved in Ireland, where he turned to prayer while tending sheep. He escaped, trained for the priesthood, and returned to Ireland as a bishop and missionary. His own writings, the Confession and the Letter to Coroticus, reveal a humble man overwhelmed by God's mercy. Legend says he used the shamrock to teach the Holy Trinity. His feast is March 17, celebr

St. John the Baptist is the last of the prophets and the forerunner of Christ. Jesus said that among those born of women there is no greater prophet than John (Luke 7:28). Preaching repentance by the Jordan, he baptized the crowds, pointed to Jesus as the Lamb of God, and summed up his whole life in one line: "He must increase, but I must decrease" (John 3:30). He was beheaded by Herod for defending the truth about marriage. The Church celebrates his birth on June 24 and his

An Act of Contrition turns the heart back to God after sin. It is used in Confession and anytime we need sincere sorrow and a firm purpose of amendment. Pray it honestly: love of God, hatred of sin, and trust in grace to begin again. The Prayer O my God! I am heartily sorry for having offended Thee, and I detest all my sins, because I dread the loss of heaven and the pains of hell, but most of all because they offend Thee, my God, who art all-good and deserving of all my love