Prayer Cards
Holy images and beloved prayers to keep close — for a pocket, a mirror, or a bedside. Turn a card over to read its prayer.
A holy card is a small thing that carries a great deal. Some are pressed in missals for fifty years; some are handed to you at a wake; some arrive from a shrine in an envelope. This is the family's collection, and it grows as cards come in — so it is arranged the way you would actually reach for one: by the saint pictured on the front, by the age of the card, or simply by what you need to pray for today.
18 cards in the collection
Our Lady of the Rosary
The Madonna of the Rosary — Bartolomé Esteban Murillo, c. 1650
The Memorare
The Memorare
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.
Our Lady of the Rosary, pray for us.
The Madonna Enthroned
Devotional holy card, Belgium — Madonna and Child enthroned with attendant saints and angels
Sub Tuum Praesidium
Sub Tuum Praesidium
We fly to thy protection, O holy Mother of God. Despise not our petitions in our necessities, but deliver us always from all dangers, O glorious and blessed Virgin. Amen.
Holy Mother of God, pray for us.
The Miraculous Medal
The Miraculous Medal, front and reverse
Invocation of the Medal
Invocation of the Medal
O Mary, conceived without sin, pray for us who have recourse to thee.
Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal, pray for us.
The Holy Rosary
Numbered diagram of the rosary beads
How to Pray the Holy Rosary
How to Pray the Holy Rosary
Begin with the Sign of the Cross.
Thou, O Lord, will open my lips — And my tongue shall announce Thy praise. Incline unto my aid, O God — O Lord, make haste to help me.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit; as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.
Pray the Apostles’ Creed, then an Our Father, three Hail Marys and a Glory be for the Pope’s monthly intentions.
Announce the first mystery and pray the Our Father, followed by ten Hail Marys while meditating on the mystery, and a Glory be.
Then pray: O my Jesus, forgive us our sins, save us from the fires of hell, and lead all souls to Heaven, especially those in most need of thy mercy. — asked for by Our Lady of Fatima on 13 July 1917.
Continue with the next four mysteries in the same way, then pray the Hail, Holy Queen and the Prayer to St. Michael. Finish with the Sign of the Cross.
“The Rosary is the weapon for these times.” — St. Padre Pio
The Sacred Heart of Jesus
The Sacred Heart of Jesus — Pompeo Batoni, 1767
Prayer to the Sacred Heart
Prayer to the Sacred Heart
O Sacred Heart of Jesus, filled with infinite love, broken by our ingratitude and pierced by our sins, yet loving us still: accept the consecration that we make to Thee of all that we are and all that we have.
Take every faculty of our souls and bodies, and draw us, day by day, nearer and nearer to Thy Sacred Heart; and there, as we can bear the lesson, teach us Thy blessed ways. Amen.
Sacred Heart of Jesus, I place all my trust in Thee.
The Most Precious Blood & the Holy Eucharist
The Savior with the Eucharist — Juan de Juanes, c. 1545–1550 (Museo del Prado)
Anima Christi
Anima Christi
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 for ever and ever. Amen.
Precious Blood of Jesus, save us.
The Way of the Cross
Christ Carrying the Cross — Titian, c. 1565 (with Simon of Cyrene, the fifth station)
The Stations of the Cross
The Stations of the Cross
Start with an Act of Sorrow:
O my God, I am sorry for my sins because I have offended you. I know I should love you above all things. Help me to do penance, to do better, and to avoid anything that might lead me to sin again. Amen.
As you meditate on each station, surrender your life to Jesus. Genuflect and pray the following at each of the fourteen Stations:
Leader: We adore You, O Christ, and we bless You. All: Because by Your Holy Cross, You have redeemed the world.
Then spend some time meditating on each station in turn. Read the Passion account in the Gospel of John, chapters 18 to 19, during this time of devotion.
I. Jesus is condemned to death II. Jesus carries the cross III. Jesus falls the first time IV. Jesus meets His mother V. Simon of Cyrene helps Jesus to carry his cross VI. Veronica wipes the face of Jesus VII. Jesus falls for the second time VIII. Jesus meets the women of Jerusalem IX. Jesus falls the third time X. Jesus is stripped of his clothes XI. Jesus is nailed to the Cross XII. Jesus dies on the Cross XIII. The body of Jesus is taken down from the Cross XIV. Jesus is laid in the tomb
We adore You, O Christ, and we bless You.
Salvator Mundi — Six Miracles of Calvary
Salvator Mundi (Christ Blessing) — Titian, c. 1570 (Hermitage Museum)
The Six Miracles of Calvary
The Six Miracles of Calvary
The Jews had demanded a sign from Jesus. Apart from the Resurrection, God gave them six miracles connected with the cross: the Darkness, the Veil of the Temple, the Earthquake, the Opened Graves, Jesus’ Grave Clothes, and the Resurrected Saints.
From Matthew 27:
Now from the sixth hour there was darkness over the whole earth, until the ninth hour. And Jesus again crying with a loud voice, yielded up the ghost. And behold the veil of the temple was rent in two from the top even to the bottom, and the earth quaked, and the rocks were rent. And the graves were opened: and many bodies of the saints that had slept arose, and coming out of the tombs after his resurrection, came into the holy city, and appeared to many.
Salvator Mundi — Saviour of the World, have mercy on us.
Consecration to the Holy Family
Icon of the Holy Family of Nazareth
Consecration to the Holy Family
Consecration to the Holy Family
O most loving Jesus, who by the ineffable virtues and by the example of your domestic life did consecrate the family which you did choose on earth; in your clemency look down upon this household humbly prostrate before thee and imploring your mercy.
Remember that this family belongs to you, for to you we have in a special way dedicated and devoted ourselves. Look upon us in your loving kindness, preserve us from every danger, give us help in times of need, and grant us the grace to persevere to the end in the imitation of Your Holy Family, that having revered you and loved you faithfully upon earth, we may bless and praise you eternally in Heaven.
O Mary, most sweet mother, to your intercession we have recourse, knowing that your Divine Son will hear your prayers. And do you, O glorious Patriarch Saint Joseph, assist us by your powerful mediation, and offer by the hands of Mary our prayers to Jesus. Amen.
Jesus, Mary and Joseph, Holy Family of Nazareth, pray for us.
Psalm 91 — My Refuge and My Fortress
The fortress — “my refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust”
Psalm 91
Psalm 91
He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High shall abide in the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the Lord, “My refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust.”
For he will deliver you from the snare of the fowler and from the deadly pestilence. He will cover you with his pinions, and under his wings you will find refuge; his faithfulness is a shield and buckler.
You will not fear the terror of the night, nor the arrow that flies by day, nor the plague that prowls in darkness, nor the scourge that lays waste at noonday. A thousand may fall at your side, ten thousand at your right hand, but you it will never approach. You will only look with your eyes to see how the wicked are repaid.
You who have said “the Lord is my refuge” and made the Most High your dwelling place, no evil shall be allowed to befall you, no plague come near your tent. For he will command his angels concerning you, to guard you in all your ways. Upon their hands they will bear you up, lest you strike your foot against a stone. On the lion and the viper you will tread, and trample the young lion and the dragon.
“Since he clings to me in love, I will free him; protect him, for he knows my name. When he calls, I shall answer; I am with him; I will save him in distress and give him glory. With long life I will content him; I shall let him see my saving power.”
O Sacred Heart of Jesus, we place all our trust in You.
Psalm 34 — The Angel of the Lord
The pillar of fire — “the Lord went before them to show the way”
Psalm 34
Psalm 34
I will bless the Lord at all times, His praise always on my lips. In the Lord my soul shall make its boast; the humble shall hear and be glad.
Glorify the Lord with me. Together let us praise His name. I sought the Lord and He answered me; from all my terrors He set me free.
Look towards Him and be radiant; let your faces not be abashed. This poor man called; the Lord heard him, and rescued him from all his distress.
The angel of the Lord is encamped around those who revere Him, to rescue them. Taste and see that the Lord is good. Blessed is the man who trusts in Him.
The Lord turns His eyes to the righteous, and His ears are open to their cry. The Lord turns His face against the wicked, to destroy their remembrance from the earth.
The angel of the Lord is encamped around those who revere Him.
For the Salvation of a Loved One
The Return of the Prodigal Son — Rembrandt, c. 1669 (Hermitage Museum)
Prayer of Agreement for the Salvation of a Loved One
Prayer of Agreement for the Salvation of a Loved One
Father, I come before you in prayer and in faith, believing that Your Word says You “desire all men to be saved and come into the knowledge of the Truth” (1 Timothy 2:4).
So I bring before you this day. In the name of Jesus and by the blood of His Passion I break the power of satan from his assignments and activities in ’s life.
Now, while satan is bound, I ask you to send forth labourers to share the good news of the Gospel in such a way that will listen and understand it. As the Truth is ministered, I believe will open his or her eyes to the Gospel, and that the snare of the devil will be released, and he or she will make Jesus his or her Lord.
Father, I ask that you fill with the knowledge of Your will in all wisdom and understanding. As I intercede on ’s behalf, I pray that the power of The Holy Spirit be activated in .
From this moment on I am going to praise you and thank You for ’s salvation. I am confident that You are alert and active in watching over Your Word in order to perform it.
This is my confession of faith to You Lord. I believe that you have begun a good work in ’s life and that you will bring it to completion, in the Mighty Name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
Prayed in agreement by more than one person for the salvation of a loved one.
St. Michael the Archangel
The Archangel Michael Defeating Satan — Guido Reni, 1635
Prayer to St. Michael
Prayer to St. Michael
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.
St. Michael the Archangel, defend us in battle.
St. Joseph
St. Joseph and the Christ Child — Guido Reni, c. 1640
Prayer to St. Joseph
Prayer to St. Joseph
O St. Joseph, guardian of the Holy Family and protector of the Church: through the charity which bound thee to the Immaculate Virgin Mother of God, and the paternal love with which thou embraced the Child Jesus, be kind to us and from Heaven assist us in our necessities; shield each one of us by thy constant protection, that we may live piously, die in holiness, and obtain eternal happiness in Heaven. Amen.
St. Joseph, terror of demons and patron of a happy death, pray for us.
St. Anthony of Padua
St. Anthony of Padua — fresco, Basilica of St. Anthony, Padua
Prayer to St. Anthony
Prayer to St. Anthony
O Holy St. Anthony, gentlest of Saints, your love for God and Charity for His creatures made you worthy, when on earth, to possess miraculous powers. Miracles waited on your word, which you were ever ready to speak for those in trouble or anxiety.
Encouraged by this thought, I implore of you to obtain for me .
The answer to my prayer may require a miracle. Even so, you are the Saint of Miracles. O gentle and loving St. Anthony, whose heart was ever full of human sympathy, whisper my petition into the ears of the Sweet Infant Jesus, who loved to be folded in your arms; and the gratitude of my heart will ever be yours. Amen.
St. Anthony, finder of what is lost, pray for us.
St. Dominic
The Madonna of the Rosary — Caravaggio, 1607 (St. Dominic receives the rosaries)
Prayer to St. Dominic
Prayer to St. Dominic
Grant, we beseech Thee, Almighty God, that we who are weighed down by the burden of our sins may be raised up by the patronage of blessed Dominic, Thy confessor, whom Thou didst make a preacher of Thy truth and an apostle of the most holy Rosary. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.
St. Dominic, apostle of the Rosary, pray for us.
St. Pio of Pietrelcina
Padre Pio as a young Capuchin friar, holding a lamb — photographer unknown, 1920s
Prayer of St. Pio
Prayer of St. Pio
Stay with me, Lord, for it is necessary to have Thee present so that I do not forget Thee. Stay with me, Lord, because I am weak and I need Thy strength, that I may not fall so often.
Stay with me, Lord, for Thou art my life, and without Thee I am without fervor. Amen.
“Pray, hope, and don’t worry.” — St. Pio of Pietrelcina, pray for us.
Pope St. John Paul II
Pope John Paul II, from the Mysteries of Light window in the Church of the Most Holy Rosary, Tullow, Co. Carlow — photograph by Andreas F. Borchert (CC BY-SA 4.0)
On the Rosary
On the Rosary
“The Rosary is my favorite prayer. A marvelous prayer! Marvelous in its simplicity and its depth… Against the background of the words Ave Maria, the principal events of the life of Jesus Christ pass before the eyes of the soul.”
Pope St. John Paul II, pray for us.