It sometimes can seem like everybody is talking about creating the perfect “morning routine” these days. Many include prayer in that perfect morning routine, but often getting started with a full-fledged habit can feel a bit daunting.
When it comes to morning prayer, we recommend picking a prayer and sticking with it for a week. A popular practice when it comes to developing new habits is “stacking” what you’re working on with something you already do every day. Try “habit-stacking” morning prayer with your morning cup of coffee, brushing your teeth, or even while you get dressed for the day. You might even find that you’re more consistent with prayer by praying before you get out of bed in the morning.
Try a few different places, times, and prayers, and see what works best for you. What brings you peace? What helps you invite God into your day so you can be present with Him throughout it?
We put together a few of our favorite Catholic morning prayers to help get you started. Remember, your prayer can be as simple as “Come, Holy Spirit” or “Jesus, I trust in You.” No matter how we call on Him or when we call on Him, God is always with us, listening.
Table of Contents
- Prayers to Start Your Day
- Short morning prayers
- Powerful morning prayers from the saints
- Other Resources
Prayers to Start Your Day
Morning Offering
This beautiful Morning Offering was written by Fr. François-Xavier Gautrelet in 1844. It helps us to offer everything on our hearts and minds to Him and trust that Jesus will take care of us.
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, for the salvation of souls, the reparation of sins, the reunion of all Christians, and in particular for the intentions of the Holy Father. Amen.
Serenity Prayer
Originally written as a prayer for those suffering from addiction, the Serenity Prayer is a powerful morning prayer to lean on God and find comfort knowing you are not alone.
God, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, the courage to change the things I can, and the wisdom to know the difference.
Anima Christi
This prayer was a favorite of St. Ignatius of Loyola; he included it at the beginning of his well-known book, Spiritual Exercises.
Soul of Christ, sanctify me.
Body of Christ, save me.
Blood of Christ, inebriate me.
Water from the side of Christ, wash me.
Passion of Christ, strengthen me.
O Good Jesus, hear me.
Within your wounds hide me.
Permit me not to be separated from you.
From the wicked foe, defend me.
At the hour of my death, call me
and bid me come to you
That with your saints I may praise you
For ever and ever. Amen.
A Traditional Chaldean Morning Prayer
This morning prayer comes from Chaldean liturgy of the Eastern Catholic Church. The words of this traditional prayer remind us to place our trust in the Lord at the beginning of the day; we start the day by praising Him and asking Him to sow love in our hearts.
As morning dawns, we praise you, Lord, for you have saved your whole creation. In mercy, grant a day of peace; bestow forgiveness for our sins.
May you not ever cut off hope, nor shut the door before our face. Do not withhold your care from us, for you alone know our weakness.
Sow love, peace, and harmony; uphold our priests and calm our kings; heal all our sick and guard the strong; forgive the sins of all mankind.
Short morning prayers
- Come, Holy Spirit.
- Jesus, I trust in You.
- “O Lord, sea of love and goodness, let me not fear too much the storms and winds of my daily life, and let me know there is ebb and flow but the sea remains the sea. Amen.” – Henri Nouwen (Read the full prayer here.)
- “Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, Have mercy on me, a sinner.” (The Jesus Prayer)
- “Holy Spirit, make my heart open to the word of God, make my heart open to goodness, make my heart open to the beauty of God every day.” – Pope Francis
- Turn to any of the Psalms – they are rich with beautiful morning meditations!
To speak openly with God about whatever is on your heart in the morning, consider turning to the popular ACTS Prayer Method: Adoration, Contrition, Thankfulness, and Supplication. You can make your time in prayer as long or short as you like!
Powerful morning prayers from the saints
When struggling, we can always turn to the saints as prayer guides. Pray with some of the following beautiful prayers for the morning from the saints.
Holy Spirit Prayer by St. Augustine
Breathe into me, Holy Spirit,
that my thoughts may all be holy.
Move in me, Holy Spirit,
that my work, too, may be holy.
Attract my heart, Holy Spirit,
that I may love only what is holy.
Strengthen me, Holy Spirit,
that I may defend all that is holy.
Protect me, Holy Spirit,
that I may always be holy.
Pray More: Prayers to the Holy Spirit
Morning Offering of St. Thérèse of Lisieux
O my God, I offer Thee all my actions of this day for the intentions and for the glory of the
Sacred Heart of Jesus.
I desire to sanctify every beat of my heart, my every thought, my simplest works, by uniting them to His infinite merits; and I wish to make reparation for my sins by casting them into the furnace of His Merciful Love.
O my God, I ask of Thee for myself and for those whom I hold dear, the grace to fulfill perfectly Thy Holy Will, to accept for love of Thee the joys and sorrows of this passing life, so that we may one day be united together in heaven for all Eternity.
Amen.
Also Pray: Sacred Heart Novena
Come Into My Heart Prayer by St. Catherine of Siena
Holy Spirit, come into my heart;
Draw it to Thee by Thy power, O my God,
And grant me charity with filial fear.
Preserve me, O beautiful love, from every evil thought;
Warm me, inflame me with Thy dear love,
And every pain will seem light to me.
My Father, my sweet Lord, help me in all my actions.
Jesus, love.
Jesus, love.
Read more: St. Catherine of Siena
Lord, Make Me An Instrument of Your Peace by St. Francis of Assisi
Lord, make me an instrument of your peace.
Where there is hatred, let me bring love.
Where there is offense, let me bring pardon.
Where there is discord, let me bring union.
Where there is error, let me bring truth.
Where there is doubt, let me bring faith.
Where there is despair, let me bring hope.
Where there is darkness, let me bring your light.
Where there is sadness, let me bring joy.
O Master, let me not seek as much
to be consoled as to console,
to be understood as to understand,
to be loved as to love,
for it is in giving that one receives,
it is in self-forgetting that one finds,
it is in pardoning that one is pardoned,
it is in dying that one is raised to eternal life.
Other Resources
- Lent Prayers
- Daily Prayer
- Night Prayer
- Hail Mary Prayer
- Our Father Prayer
- How to Pray the Rosary
- Catholic Confession Guide
Hallow offers a large variety of minute prayers and other short meditations to get your day started with God.
“I don’t quite remember if I have experienced the Lord Jesus like this before. I can’t help but literally look forward to my next prayer with Him! While prayer seemed to be a dreadful chore before, it has now become something that I am excited about! It’s the excitement of meeting again someone you really love whom you miss so much.”
Hallow is the #1 Christian prayer app in the world and is an amazing resource for all Christians looking to grow deeper in their relationship with God. With over 6,000 audio-guided prayers and meditations, Hallow will help you grow closer to God than ever before.