The Ave Verum Corpus is a short medieval Eucharistic hymn, probably from the fourteenth century, that greets Jesus truly present in the Blessed Sacrament. It was traditionally sung at the elevation of the Host during Mass, and it is famous today through the musical settings of Mozart, Byrd, and Elgar. In just a few lines, it connects the Eucharist to the Incarnation, the Cross, and our own death. Pray it during Eucharistic adoration, after receiving Holy Communion, at Benedic

St. Cecilia was a Roman noblewoman martyred in the early centuries of the Church, and she is one of the virgin martyrs named in the Roman Canon of the Mass. According to her ancient acts, on her wedding day, while the musicians played, she "sang in her heart to the Lord alone." From that line she became the patron of music, musicians, singers, and composers, and many choirs and music schools bear her name. Her feast is November 22. Pray to her before a rehearsal, performance,

St. Anthony of Padua is famous as the saint to call on when something is lost, whether keys, documents, a wedding ring, or even lost faith or peace. The devotion goes back to a story from his own life: a novice who took Anthony's precious book of psalms returned it after the saint prayed for it. The Si Quaeris ("If you seek") is the classic hymn in his honor, written in the thirteenth century by Julian of Speyer. Pray it whenever you have lost something, or for any need, sinc

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

The Magnificat is Mary's song of praise, which she spoke when she visited her cousin Elizabeth after the Annunciation (Luke 1:46-55). Echoing the song of Hannah in the Old Testament, it celebrates how God lifts up the lowly, fills the hungry, and keeps His promise to Abraham. The Church sings it every evening at Vespers, so for centuries Christians have ended the day praising God in Mary's own words. Pray it at Evening Prayer, on the feast of the Visitation (May 31), on Maria

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

Pange Lingua glorifies the Eucharist and the Passion. This traditional English excerpt is suitable for Eucharistic devotion. The Prayer Sing, my tongue, the Savior's glory, Of His Flesh the mystery sing; Of the Blood, all price exceeding, Shed by our immortal King, Destined, for the world's redemption, From a virgin's womb to spring. Of a pure and spotless Virgin Born for us on earth below, He, as Man with man conversing, Stayed, the seeds of truth to sow; Then He closed in s

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

Adoro Te Devote is St. Thomas Aquinas's hymn of Eucharistic adoration. This traditional English form is found in classic hymnals. The Prayer Godhead here in hiding, whom I do adore, Masked by these bare shadows, shape and nothing more, See, Lord, at Thy service low lies here a heart Lost, all lost in wonder at the God Thou art. Seeing, touching, tasting are in Thee deceived: How says trusty hearing? that shall be believed; What God's Son has told me, take for truth I do; Trut

Tantum Ergo concludes the Pange Lingua and is sung at Benediction. This traditional English translation is from classic Catholic hymnals. The Prayer Down in adoration falling, Lo! the sacred Host we hail; Lo! o'er ancient forms departing, Newer rites of grace prevail; Faith for all defects supplying, Where the feeble senses fail. To the everlasting Father, And the Son who reigns on high, With the Holy Ghost proceeding Forth from Each eternally, Be salvation, honor, blessing,

O Salutaris Hostia is the traditional Eucharistic hymn often sung at Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament. The English below is a classic public-domain rendering. The Prayer O saving Victim, opening wide The gate of heaven to man below! Our foes press on from every side; Thine aid supply, Thy strength bestow. To Thy great Name be endless praise, Immortal Godhead, one in Three; Oh, grant us endless length of days In our true native land with Thee. Amen. Traditional Eucharistic

The Stabat Mater meditates on Our Lady's sorrow at the foot of the Cross. Edward Caswall's classic English translation (19th century) is public domain. The Prayer At the Cross her station keeping, Stood the mournful Mother weeping, Close to Jesus to the last. Through her heart, His sorrow sharing, All His bitter anguish bearing, Now at length the sword had passed. Oh, how sad and sore distressed Was that Mother highly blest Of the sole begotten One! Christ above in torment ha

Ave Maris Stella is an ancient Marian hymn sung for centuries in the Church's liturgy and popular devotion. This traditional English rendering is from classic Catholic hymnals. The Prayer Hail, thou Star of ocean, God's own Mother blest, Ever sinless Virgin, Gate of heav'nly rest. Taking that sweet Ave, Which from Gabriel came, Peace confirm within us, Changing Eva's name. Break the sinners' fetters, Make our blindness day, Chase all evils from us, For all blessings pray. Sho

The Glory Be, also called the Lesser Doxology, is a short hymn of praise to the Holy Trinity. Its first part goes back to the early Church's worship, and the line "As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be" was added in the West in the fourth century to affirm, against the Arian heresy, that the Son has always been equal to the Father. The Glory Be closes each decade of the Rosary and every psalm in the Liturgy of the Hours, and it ends many other prayers and nove

In Eastertide the Church replaces the Angelus with the Regina Caeli, a joyful antiphon that proclaims the Resurrection. Stand as you pray it—joy rises with the Risen Lord. Use this form from Holy Saturday until Trinity Eve, as the traditional manuals direct. The Prayer O Queen of heaven, rejoice! Alleluia. For He whom thou didst merit to bear, Alleluia, Hath arisen, as He said, Alleluia. Pray for us to God. Alleluia. V. Rejoice and be glad, O Virgin Mary. Alleluia. R. For the