3 “Old” Prayers of the Catholic Church that Can Breathe New Life into Your Days

“Love is patient, love is kind….” Many people are familiar with these words and the verses that follow from 1 Corinthians 13. This passage is full of wisdom to contemplate and emulate. However, it is verse 13, describing the three theological virtues, that summarizes what remains:

And now faith, hope, and love abide, these three; and the greatest of these is love.

Prayers for these three theological virtues have been taught for generations and were included in The Baltimore Catechism of 1885.

1. Act of Faith

Some may think that to be the perfect Catholic Christian, a person must be unshakeable and just “feel” strong faith. However, the Catechism of the Catholic Church teaches that God, in His love, reaches out to humanity and the response to the invitation is faith.

What is faith?

“By faith, man completely submits his intellect and his will to God.” (CCC 143)

Faith is not an emotion or feeling, it is a deliberate decision and is connected to the main points Catholics profess in the Creed.

If you are feeling overwhelmed by life’s challenges, consider praying the following prayer to center yourself in the Truth revealed in Sacred Scripture:

Act of Faith
O my God, I firmly believe that you are one God in three divine Persons, Father, Son and Holy Spirit; I believe that your divine Son became man and died for our sins, and that he shall come to judge the living and the dead. I believe these and all the truths which the holy Catholic Church teaches, because you have revealed them, who can neither deceive nor be deceived.

2. Act of Hope

Similar to how the word “faith” is used in society to explain a feeling, “hope” is typically used to convey a feeling of expectation. However, the Church teaches:

“Hope is the theological virtue by which we desire the kingdom of heaven and eternal life as our happiness, placing our trust in Christ’s promises and relying not on our own strength, but on the help of the grace of the Holy Spirit.” (CCC 1817)

God has placed a desire for happiness in each person, and hope responds to that. Heaven is our eternal home, while life on earth can be compared to a short stay at a hotel.

The Creator of everything wants YOU to be in heaven forever. Hope is not merely a warm feeling to get people through tough days. Hope is also a weapon referred to in 1 Thessalonians 5:8 to “protect us in the struggle of salvation.”

Struggle comes to everyone, and there are times when worry and fatigue have a prominent place in one’s thoughts. In those moments, recite this prayer and remember that the might and mercy of God are always available for the asking:

Act of Hope
O my God, relying on your almighty power and infinite mercy and promises, I hope to obtain pardon of my sins, the help of your grace, and life everlasting, through the merits of Jesus Christ, my Lord and Redeemer.

3. Act of Charity

Love, when spoken of in the context of the Catholic faith, goes beyond the usage in everyday life. Love (like faith and hope discussed above) transcends feeling and is a deliberate act of the will.

“Charity is the theological virtue by which we love God above all things for his own sake, and our neighbor as ourselves for the love of God.” (CCC 1822)

St. Paul taught that love comes from a pure heart, a good conscience, and a sincere faith. (1 Timothy 1:5) Theologically, love is often referred to as charity. It is this elevated and divine aspect of love that 1 Corinthians 13 describes.

Charity is selfless and the highest form of love. It is Who Jesus is, and What Jesus accomplished on His Cross for each person.

The Act of Charity can certainly be prayed in gratitude. But remember: you don’t have to be perfectly loving God and your neighbor in order to pray it. It is also a petition. Remember the father of the sick child in Mark 9:24. He cried out, “I believe; help my unbelief!”

Act of Charity
O my God, I love you above all things, with my whole heart and soul, because you are all-good and worthy of all love. I love my neighbor as myself for the love of you. I forgive all who have injured me and ask pardon of all whom I have injured.

Learn about the Theological Virtues on Catholic Radio

All the programs on Catholic radio point to growing in relationship to God. When you listen, be on the lookout for how the Holy Spirit may direct your thoughts to references to faith, hope, charity and prayer.

You can listen online to one of our five livestreams, find your local station, or download our free app for Apple and Android.