Prayers for Catholic Men & Fathers
The Day Lived with Christ
Twelve prayers for the six hours of a man's day, drawn from two thousand years of the Church's tradition.
The monks ordered their days by the Hours of prayer. The farmer blessed his fields at dawn. The father made the sign of the cross over his sleeping children at night. This is the Catholic instinct — that time itself should be offered to God.
The Church calls these the Hours — not sixty-minute blocks, but the appointed times when a man turns to God. What follows is a simple rule drawn from that tradition: six Hours, twelve prayers. Pray what you can. Come back tomorrow.
The First Hour
I. At Dawn — The Day Offered
Before the world gets its hands on you, offer the day.
1. The Morning Offering
On waking, before your feet touch the floor.
Let us open our eyes to the deifying light, and hear with attentive ears the warning which the divine voice cries daily to us. St. Benedict, Rule (Prologue)
O Jesus, through the Immaculate Heart of Mary, I offer You my prayers, works, joys, and sufferings of this day in union with the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass throughout the world. I offer them for all the intentions of Your Sacred Heart: the salvation of souls, reparation for sin, and the reunion of all Christians. I offer them for the intentions of our bishops and of all Apostles of Prayer, and in particular for those recommended by our Holy Father this month. Amen.
Traditional — Apostleship of Prayer
The Second Hour
II. The Morning — A Man's Hands at Work
You sanctify the world through the work of your hands. Do not despise it.
2. Before Work
At your desk, in the truck, on the jobsite — before the first task.
Sanctify your work. Sanctify yourself in your work. Sanctify others through your work. St. Josemaría Escrivá
Lord, You were a carpenter. You know what work is. Bless the work of my hands today. Let it be honest. Let it be useful. Let it provide for those You have given me to love. Keep me from pride when it goes well and from despair when it doesn't. Whatever I do today, let it be for You. Amen.
Modern
3. Prayer to St. Joseph
For every man who is trying to lead a household.
I took for my advocate and lord the glorious St. Joseph, and commended myself earnestly to him. I do not remember even now that I have ever asked anything of him which he has failed to grant. St. Teresa of Ávila, The Book of Her Life, ch. 6
To thee, O blessed Joseph, we have recourse in our affliction, and having implored the help of thy thrice-holy Spouse, we now, with hearts filled with confidence, earnestly beg thee also to take us under thy protection. By that charity wherewith thou wert united to the Immaculate Virgin Mother of God, and by that fatherly love with which thou didst cherish the Child Jesus, we beseech thee and we humbly pray that thou wilt look down with gracious eye upon that inheritance which Jesus Christ purchased by His blood, and wilt succor us in our need by thy power and strength. Amen.
Traditional — Pope Leo XIII, 1889 (excerpt)
The Third Hour
III. Midday — The Household Remembered
The household is your first vocation. Pray for it by name.
4. For My Wife
The prayer a husband owes his wife — daily.
There is nothing which so welds our life together as the love of a man and his wife. St. John Chrysostom, Homily 20 on Ephesians
Lord, You gave her to me, and me to her. Guard her today in body and soul. Give her peace where I have failed to give it. Make me a husband worthy of the vow I made — patient when she is tired, strong when she is afraid, tender when she is hurting. Let her see Christ in me, not because I am Christ, but because I am trying. Amen.
Modern
5. For My Children
Pray it over each child by name.
What greater work is there than training the mind and forming the habits of the young? St. John Chrysostom, On the Right Way for Parents to Bring Up Their Children
Father, these children are Yours before they are mine. Protect them today from every evil — seen and unseen. Give them faith that will outlast me. Give them courage that I have not always shown. If I fail them, let Your grace fill the gap. Raise them up to be saints, and let me be the kind of father who points them to You. Amen.
Modern
The Fourth Hour
IV. Afternoon — In the Battle
The battle is real. Do not fight it alone.
6. Prayer to St. Michael the Archangel
When temptation strikes, when fear rises, when the enemy is near.
Prayer is the best weapon we have; it is the key to God's heart. St. Padre Pio
St. Michael the Archangel, defend us in battle. Be our protection against the wickedness and snares of the devil. May God rebuke him, we humbly pray; and do thou, O Prince of the heavenly host, by the power of God, cast into hell Satan and all the evil spirits who prowl about the world seeking the ruin of souls. Amen.
Traditional — Pope Leo XIII, 1886
7. A Prayer for Courage
When silence would be easier than the truth.
Be not afraid. Open wide the doors to Christ. St. John Paul II, October 22, 1978
Lord, I am not braver than I am. I am afraid of what it will cost me to speak. I am afraid of being misunderstood, mocked, or alone. Give me the courage that is not mine — the courage of the martyrs, the courage of the saints who stood when everyone else sat down. Let me fear You more than I fear them. Amen.
Modern
The Fifth Hour
V. Evening — Communion and the Mother
Return to the sources — the Eucharist and the Mother.
8. Anima Christi
After receiving Holy Communion, or any quiet moment with the Lord.
Take, Lord, and receive all my liberty, my memory, my understanding, and my entire will. Give me only Your love and Your grace; that is enough for me. St. Ignatius of Loyola, Spiritual Exercises (Suscipe)
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 Thy wounds hide me.
Suffer me not to be separated from Thee.
From the malicious enemy defend me.
In the hour of my death call me.
And bid me come unto Thee,
That with Thy saints I may praise Thee
Forever and ever. Amen.
Traditional — 14th century
9. The Memorare
When you need your Mother.
In dangers, in doubts, in difficulties, think of Mary, call upon Mary. St. Bernard of Clairvaux
Remember, O most gracious Virgin Mary, that never was it known that anyone who fled to thy protection, implored thy help, or sought thy intercession was left unaided. Inspired by this confidence, I fly unto thee, O Virgin of virgins, my Mother; to thee do I come, before thee I stand, sinful and sorrowful. O Mother of the Word Incarnate, despise not my petitions, but in thy mercy hear and answer me. Amen.
Traditional — attributed to St. Bernard of Clairvaux
The Sixth Hour
VI. Night — The Day Returned
Commend the day. Prepare, quietly, for the last one.
10. Act of Contrition
For the examination of conscience — nightly, or before confession.
You have made us for Yourself, O Lord, and our hearts are restless until they rest in You. St. Augustine, Confessions, I.1
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 art 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.
Traditional
11. Night Prayer
Before sleep — handing the day back to the One who gave it.
Let nothing disturb you, let nothing frighten you; all things are passing. God never changes. Patience obtains all things. He who has God lacks nothing. God alone suffices. St. Teresa of Ávila
Lord, the day is done. What I did well, I offer You. What I did poorly, I ask You to repair. Watch over my wife and my children while I sleep. Keep my house in Your peace. And if You call me home before morning, find me ready. Into Your hands I commend my spirit. Amen.
Modern, drawn from Compline
12. For Final Perseverance
The prayer that matters most — that you die in the grace of God.
I die the King's good servant, but God's first. St. Thomas More, on the scaffold, 1535
Lord Jesus Christ, by Your bitter Passion and by the intercession of Your Mother, grant me the grace of final perseverance. Whatever else I lose in this life, do not let me lose You. Let my last breath be a prayer and my last thought be of You. Amen.
Modern, in the tradition of the saints
Pray the rule. Keep the Hours. Be a man of God.