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Saint Rita of Cascia is considered the saint of hopeless or impossible causes in the Roman Catholic Church. She was born in Italy in 1381. Prior to her life as a nun, she was a wife and mother. Her life was marked with heartache and religious fervor. At the demand of her parents, she married an abusive man who was later murdered. True to her religious devotion, she forgave her husband's killers and sought peace through religious life. Her feast day falls on May 22. Many Catholics honor her life and the example she set.
In scriptures, Michael is "the" archangel, prince of the seraphim. Catholics believe he was leader of the forces of Heaven in their victory over Satan and the forces of Hell, and he is commonly portrayed slaying Satan while holding scales of Justice. As such, he is patron saint of grocers, mariners, paratroopers, police and sickness and is said to intervene on behalf of Christians who pray to him for help overcoming obstacles and defeating forces of evil in their lives. Though he can be reached anywhere, lighting votive candles helps worshipers concentrate on the saint and his virtues.
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints (LDS) provides spiritual direction for approximately 1.7 percent of the adult American population according to the most recent Pew Forum survey available at time of publication. LDS faithful, also known as Mormons, believe like other Christians that God wants man to communicate with Him through prayer. The Book of Mormon contains guiding principles for prayer. Mormons typically avoid prescribed prayers, viewing them as a form of spiritual vanity.
Prayer is a direct line of communication with God the Father, according to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (Mormon Church). It is a way of expressing gratitude to Heavenly Father, seeking guidance from Him and asking for additional blessings. Members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints are encouraged to pray privately, as a family and sometimes publicly in church meetings. They pray directly to Heavenly Father in the name of the Savior, Jesus Christ.
When you travel it is not uncommon to feel a degree of insecurity as you trust your life to a plane, train, boat or automobile. One of the ways that Catholics prepare for traveling is with devotional prayers intended to seek spiritual peace while journeying. Catholics often direct their prayers towards Saint Christopher, the patron saint of travelers, especially in the form of the chaplet named in his honor, often called the St. Christopher Auto Rosary.
Some beliefs and practices within the Catholic Church cause fear in non-Catholics who do not understand the basis for these practices. One misbelief is that Catholics are "cannibals" for "eating the body and blood of Christ." Another misperception is that Catholics "worship idols" when they pray to the saints. In actuality, every sacrament, item and practice is strongly grounded in Catholic history and faith.
Older than the Catholic rosary, the prayer rope is used to count prayers and prostrations. In addition to the beads, many prayer ropes have a cross at the knotted end. A variety of materials are used to create them including; wool, silk, or leather. Depending on the size of the rope, markers are placed every 10, 25, or 50 beads. Prayer ropes are meant to be carried in a discreet location, such as a pocket. Having them nearby makes them convenient to use throughout the day and also serves as a reminder of the need for prayer.
The Blessed Sacrament Chaplet is a traditional Catholic prayer that focuses on Christ's presence in the Blessed Sacrament---the bread and wine after it is consecrated during mass. A chaplet is a string of beads, similar to a rosary, used in prayer. The Blessed Sacrament Chaplet consists of 33 beads joined together to form a circle, which is attached to a medal signifying the Blessed Sacrament. Each bead represents a year Christ spent on Earth, while the medal is a symbol of Christ's presence in the Blessed Sacrament. The Blessed Sacrament Chaplet was approved on May 30, 1911 by Pope Pius…
The Chaplet of St. Michael is a traditional Catholic prayer said in honor of St. Michael and all angels. According to Catholic tradition the Chaplet of St. Michael was given to Antonia d'Astonac, a devoted servant of God, by St. Michael the archangel through a vision. EWTN Global Catholic Network states "St. Michael promised that whoever would practice this devotion in his honor would have, when approaching Holy Communion, an escort of nine angels chosen from each of the nine Choirs. In addition, for those who would recite the Chaplet daily, he promised his continual assistance and that of all…
The Chaplet of the Holy Wounds is a Catholic devotional prayer based on the visions of Sister Marie Martha Chambon of Chamberry, France. Sister Marie Martha reportedly received revelations from Jesus Christ with instructions on how to pray and meditate on His wounds. As atonement for the sins of the world, Jesus had asked Sister Marie Martha to join her sufferings with his own as an Act of Reparation. The Chaplet of Holy Wounds can be recited with or without a rosary, though the chaplet itself is a rosary based prayer. This is a powerful prayer that allows you to…
Devotion to the Precious Blood of Jesus dates back to the earliest days of Christianity. St. Paul writes in his letter to the Ephesians that "through His blood, we gain our freedom, the forgiveness of our sins." The Chaplet of the Precious Blood was first prayed by Italian priests in the 19th century. From there, the devotion spread with the Confraternity of the Precious Blood, a missionary society that they founded.
