Psalm 63 (Psalm 62 in the Douay numbering) has been the Church's morning psalm since ancient times, and it is still prayed on Sundays and feasts at Morning Prayer in the Liturgy of the Hours. It opens with a cry of longing, "O God, my God, to thee do I watch at break of day," and compares the soul's thirst for God to a dry and waterless land. Pray it as soon as you wake, before the day's noise begins, or during a morning holy hour. It is especially fitting in times of spiritu

This short prayer, known from its Latin opening as Actiones nostras, is one of the classic collects of the Church. It asks God to inspire our actions from the start and to help them along to the finish, so that every prayer and work begins with Him and is completed through Him. It has been said for centuries at the beginning of meetings, classes, and the work of the day. Pray it as you sit down at your desk, start a shift, open your books, or begin a household task. It is a s

St. Patrick's Breastplate, also called the Lorica or the Deer's Cry, is an ancient Irish prayer of protection traditionally attributed to St. Patrick, the fifth-century apostle of Ireland. A "lorica" was a breastplate, and the prayer wraps the one who prays it in the armor of the Holy Trinity, the mysteries of Christ, and the powers of creation against every danger of body and soul. The verse below comes from the well-known metrical version by Cecil Frances Alexander (1889),

The first moments after waking set the tone for the day. Before checking the phone or the news, the Christian tradition encourages us to make the Sign of the Cross and give the new day to God. Old prayer books placed a short prayer like this at the very beginning of their morning devotions. This prayer offers all our thoughts, words, and actions to God and asks for help to avoid sin and to love Him. It takes only a few seconds, so it can be said while still sitting on the edg

The Church teaches that each of us has a guardian angel, given by God to protect and guide us from the beginning of life to its end. Jesus Himself said of little ones that "their angels in heaven always behold the face of my Father" (Matthew 18:10). We celebrate the Guardian Angels on October 2. This morning prayer greets your angel at the start of the day and asks for four things: to enlighten, protect, defend, and govern you. It pairs naturally with the Morning Offering and

A traditional morning offering places the day's works in the Sacred Heart through Mary. The Prayer O Jesus, through the Immaculate Heart of Mary, I offer Thee my prayers, works, joys, and sufferings of this day for all the intentions of Thy Sacred Heart, in union with the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass throughout the world, in reparation for my sins, for the intentions of all my relatives and friends, and in particular for the intentions of the Holy Father. Amen. Traditional Morn

The Benedictus is the Gospel canticle of Zechariah from Luke 1. Traditional English forms have long been used at Morning Prayer. The Prayer Blessed be the Lord God of Israel, because He hath visited and wrought the redemption of His people: And hath raised up a horn of salvation to us, in the house of David His servant: As He spoke by the mouth of His holy prophets, who are from the beginning: Salvation from our enemies, and from the hand of all that hate us: To perform mercy

Beginning the day with God sets a sure course for whatever comes. The Morning Offering places every thought, word, and work under His care before we step into the day's duties. Pray it slowly after the Sign of the Cross, and renew it whenever you need to return your heart to the Lord. The Prayer O my God, I most humbly thank Thee for all the favors Thou hast bestowed upon me up to the present moment. I give Thee thanks from the bottom of my heart that Thou hast created me aft