A spiritual rhythm for your workday and beyond

  The following prayers and activities represent the minimum prayer commitment we are striving to as members of Young Catholic Professionals and therefore bold witnesses to Christ in our daily lives, including our workplaces.     

Daily

Morning

Have a fixed time to rise every day and let your first thoughts be of God and Him alone.  

Upon rising to make the Sign of the Cross followed by an Act of Adoration and Thanksgiving 

Almighty and Eternal God, I adore You, and I thank you for all the benefits which You, in Your infinite goodness and mercy, have conferred upon me. I thank You especially for having preserved and protected me this night.*  

Morning Offering

O Jesus, through the Immaculate Heart of Mary, I offer You my prayers, works, joys and sufferings of this day for all the intentions of Your 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.  

During the Day

Prayer Before Starting Work  

Work, even with its difficulties, should be seen as an opportunity to sanctify and transform the world. Moreover, throughout my day I pray to remain present to God, open to graces, and a pliable instrument for the sanctification of the world.  While driving to work or before turning on your computer, pray this marvelous prayer to orient your day for God’s glory.     

O Glorious Saint Joseph, model of all those who are devoted to labor, obtain for me the grace to work in a spirit of penance for the expiation of my many sins; to work conscientiously, putting the call of duty above my natural inclinations; to work with thankfulness and joy, considering it an honor to employ and develop by means of labor the gifts received from God; to work with order, peace, moderation and patience, never shrinking from weariness and trials; to work above all with purity of intention and detachment from self, keeping unceasingly before my eyes death and the account that I must give of time lost, talents unused, good omitted, and vain complacency in success, so fatal to the work of God. All for Jesus, all through Mary, all after thy example, O Patriarch, Saint Joseph. Such shall be my watch-word in life and in death. Amen. 

– Pope St. Pius X

The Angelus

This prayer is traditionally prayed at 6am, Noon, and 6pm, but our YCP minimum commitment is at Noon. Praying the Angelus, especially at the Noon hour, compels us to think of God and in so doing meditate for some moments on how I have given to Him fitting glory and praise.   

The Angel of the Lord declared to Mary: And she conceived of the Holy Spirit.

Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee; blessed art thou among 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.

Behold the handmaid of the Lord: Be it done unto me according to Thy word.

Hail Mary...

And the Word was made Flesh: And dwelt among us.

Hail Mary...

Pray for us, O Holy Mother of God, that we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ.

Let us pray:

Pour forth, we beseech Thee, O Lord, Thy grace into our hearts; that we, to whom the incarnation of Christ, Thy Son, was made known by the message of an angel, may by His Passion and Cross be brought to the glory of His Resurrection, through the same Christ Our Lord. Amen.

Grace Before Meals    

Always make the sign of the cross and pray Grace before meals, including in the presence of co-workers and non-Catholics. Initially this may be uncomfortable, but keep in mind that the purpose of Grace is to give thanks to the Triune God who has so well provided for us. Moreover, through this simple act, our actions provide the opportunity to evangelize others.*       

All: Bless us, O Lord, and these Thy gifts, which we are about to receive from thy bounty. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.  

Evening/Driving Home From Work

In Gratitude for the Work Day        

Blessed be the Holy Trinity, One God, now and forever. Amen. Glory to the Father, Who created me; glory to the Son who redeemed me; glory to the Holy Spirit Who Sanctifies me.* 

3 Hail Mary’s

1 Our Father

1 Glory Be

Night

Examination of Conscience followed by the Act of Contrition   

Examine your conscience on the faults of the day; on the offenses against God, against your neighbor; and against yourself; on the commandments of God and of Holy Mother the Church; and particularly as regards your predominant passion, promises, and resolutions.

If you are aware of any serious sins, resolve to go to confession at the first opportunity. Meditate for a few moments on eternity, death, judgment, heaven and hell, mindful of the admonition of the Holy Spirit: “In all your works, O man, remember your last end and your will never sin.  Then make the Act of Contrition.*

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 are all good and deserving of all my love. I firmly resolve, with the help of Thy grace, to confess my sins, to do penance, and to amend my life. Amen.  

Canticle of Simeon     

This should be your last prayer before bed. How wonderful to close your eyes in gratitude and adoration to God. 

Lord, now you let your servant go in peace; your word has been fulfilled: my own eyes have seen the salvation which you have prepared in the sight of every people: a light to reveal you to the nations and the glory of your people Israel.

Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit: as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be for ever. Amen.

Response: Protect us, Lord, as we stay awake; watch over us as we sleep, that awake, we may keep watch with Christ, and asleep, rest in His peace. Alleluia!

Weekly

YCP’ers attempt to make a daily Mass when they can and always fulfill the Sunday Mass obligation.   

“The Holy Mass is a prayer itself, even the highest prayer that exists…. [Y]ou must follow with eye, heart and mouth all that happens at the Altar. Further, you must pray with the Priest the holy words said by him in the Name of Christ and which Christ says by him. You have to associate your heart with the holy feelings which are contained in these words and in this manner you ought to follow all that happens on the Altar. When acting in this way, you have prayed Holy Mass. Don’t pray at Holy Mass, but pray the Holy Mass.” 

- Pope St. Pius X  

St Thomas Aquinas Prayer of Thanksgiving

Prayer for after Mass.

Lord, Father all-powerful and ever-living God, I thank You, for even though I am a sinner, your unprofitable servant, not because of my worth but in the kindness of your mercy,

You have fed me with the Precious Body & Blood of Your Son, our Lord Jesus Christ.

I pray that this Holy Communion may not bring me condemnation and punishment but forgiveness and salvation. May it be a helmet of faith and a shield of good will. 

May it purify me from evil ways and put an end to my evil passions.

May it bring me charity and patience, humility and obedience, and growth in the power to do good.

May it be my strong defense against all my enemies, visible and invisible, and the perfect calming of all my evil impulses, bodily and spiritual.

May it unite me more closely to you, the One true God, and lead me safely through death to everlasting happiness with You.

And I pray that You will lead me, a sinner, to the banquet where you, with Your Son and holy Spirit, are true and perfect light, total fulfillment, everlasting joy, gladness without end, and perfect happiness to your saints. grant this through Christ our Lord, Amen.  

Holy Hour

Try to spend time weekly before the Blessed Sacrament. At the begin of your Holy Hour make an Act of Faith and Adoration.

My Lord Jesus Christ, I believe that you are truly present in the Blessed Sacrament. I believe that in holy communion I will receive Your sacred Body and your Precious Blood. My faith in your real presence in the Most Holy Eucharist is firmly founded on your word, O eternal Truth. My Savior and my God, with the angels who surround Your altar-throne, I bow down in humble adoration before your majesty.* 

Monthly

Frequent Confession 

Regular confession can help you defeat those impulses that hinder your spiritual advancement. A recommended frequency, based on the teachings of past popes and canon law, is between once a month and once a week.

Other Prayers

*Excerpts taken from Fr. Lasance’s My Prayer Book