A Simple Catholic Daily Prayer Schedule: Morning, Midday, Evening and Night

Morning (on waking)

 

• Sign of the Cross and Morning Offering

• Morning Offering to the Sacred Heart

• Psalm 63: Morning Prayer

• Benedictus (Canticle of Zechariah)

• Guardian Angel Morning Prayer

• More: Morning Prayers

 

Midday (noon)

 

• The Angelus (in Eastertide, the Regina Caeli)

• Grace Before Meals and Grace After Meals

• Prayer Before Work (Actiones Nostras)

• Chaplet of Divine Mercy (traditionally at 3 p.m.)

 

Evening Prayers (around supper or sunset)

Evening prayer gives thanks as the day winds down. The Church's own evening Hour is Vespers, whose Gospel canticle is Mary's Magnificat.

• Magnificat, the Church's evening canticle

• The Angelus again at 6 p.m.

• The Rosary (Rosary Mysteries by Day), a favorite family evening prayer

• Evening Examination of Conscience

• Evening Prayer (Vespers): how to pray it and where to find it free online

• More: Morning & Evening Prayers

 

Night (before sleep)

 

• Act of Contrition

• Nunc Dimittis (Canticle of Simeon)

• Guardian Angel Evening Prayer

• Prayer for Sleep

• More: Night Prayers and Liturgy of the Hours

 

A 15-Minute Morning-to-Night Routine

Morning, 3 minutes: Sign of the Cross, Morning Offering, Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory Be.

Noon, 2 minutes: the Angelus.

Evening, 5 minutes or more: the Magnificat or one decade of the Rosary.

Night, 5 minutes: examination of conscience, Act of Contrition, Guardian Angel prayer.

For children, see Catholic Prayers for Children.

Frequently Asked Questions

What prayers should Catholics say every day?

At minimum: a Morning Offering, grace at meals, and a night prayer with an Act of Contrition. Many Catholics add the Angelus at noon and a daily Rosary.

What are good Catholic evening prayers?

The Magnificat (the Gospel canticle of Vespers), the 6 p.m. Angelus, a Rosary, and an evening examination of conscience. For the Church's official Evening Prayer, see the Liturgy of the Hours.

What is the difference between evening prayer and night prayer?

Evening Prayer (Vespers) is prayed around sunset and gives thanks for the day; Night Prayer (Compline) is the last prayer before sleep and entrusts the night to God.

What time is the Angelus prayed?

Traditionally three times a day: 6 a.m., noon and 6 p.m., when church bells ring. Noon is the most common. From Easter to Pentecost the Regina Caeli replaces it.

What is a Morning Offering?

A short prayer offering the whole day to God. A traditional form is: "O Jesus, through the most pure Heart of Mary, I offer Thee all the prayers, works, and sufferings of this day, for all the intentions of Thy Divine Heart."

What is the Catholic night prayer?

The Church's official night prayer is Compline in the Liturgy of the Hours. A simple family form is an examination of conscience, the Act of Contrition, the Hail Mary and the Guardian Angel prayer.

Further reading

 

These official and long-established sites are a good companion to this schedule: today's Mass readings, a parish nearby, and the Liturgy of the Hours.

• USCCB Daily Readings, today's Mass readings, free from the U.S. bishops.

• MassTimes.org, find Mass, confession and adoration times near you.

• Universalis, the Liturgy of the Hours for today on the U.S. calendar.

• Vatican News: Prayers, the essential Catholic prayers, plus morning, evening and night prayer.

More trusted sites are on our Catholic Resources page.

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Questions: admin@dailyprayergroup.com (put "Daily Catholic Prayers" in the subject line)

Teresa