Prayers

The Nicene Creed

The Nicene Creed, also simply known as the “Niceno-Constantinopolitan Creed” due to its origin and development in the Councils of Nicaea (325 AD) and Constantinople (381 AD), is a statement of faith widely used in Christian liturgy. It was formulated to address and counter various heresies that had arisen, especially Arianism, which questioned the divinity of Jesus Christ.

Here is the text of the Nicene Creed as commonly accepted in its full form by most Christian denominations:

We believe in one God, the Father almighty,

maker of heaven and earth,
of all things visible and invisible.

And in one Lord Jesus Christ, the only Son of God,

begotten from the Father before all ages,

God from God, Light from Light,
true God from true God,

begotten, not made;
of the same essence as the Father.
Through him all things were made.
For us and for our salvation

he came down from heaven;
he became incarnate by the Holy Spirit and the virgin Mary,
and was made human.
He was crucified for us under Pontius Pilate;
he suffered and was buried.
The third day he rose again, according to the Scriptures.
He ascended to heaven
and is seated at the right hand of the Father.
He will come again with glory
to judge the living and the dead.
His kingdom will never end.

And we believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life.

He proceeds from the Father [and the Son],
and with the Father and the Son is worshiped and glorified.
He spoke through the prophets.
We believe in one holy catholic and apostolic Church.
We affirm one baptism for the forgiveness of sins.
We look forward to the resurrection of the dead,
and to life in the world to come. Amen.

Some of the specific phrases and expressions in the Creed can vary based on translation and denominational usage. Notably, the phrase “and the Son” (Latin: Filioque) is included in the version used by many Western churches, but is absent from the version used by Eastern Orthodox churches, leading to one of the theological disagreements known as the “Filioque controversy.”

The Nicene Creed remains central to many Christian denominations as a proclamation of the core tenets of their faith.

Prayers

Prayer To The Sacred Heart Of Jesus

The Prayer to the Sacred Heart of Jesus is a well-known Catholic devotion, focusing on the boundless love and compassion of the heart of Christ. Over time, various prayers have been composed in honor of the Sacred Heart.

Here is one of the commonly recited prayers:

O most holy Heart of Jesus, fountain of every blessing,
I adore You, I love You, and with a lively sorrow for my sins,
I offer You this poor heart of mine.
Make me humble, patient, pure, and wholly obedient to Your will.
Grant, good Jesus, that I may live in You and for You.

Protect me in the midst of danger; comfort me in my afflictions;
give me health of body, assistance in my temporal needs,
Your blessing on all that I do, and the grace of a holy death.
Amen.

There are numerous other prayers and acts of consecration to the Sacred Heart, and the devotion has been particularly associated with the apparitions of Jesus to Saint Margaret Mary Alacoque in the 17th century. The essence of the devotion is to focus on the immense love Jesus has for humanity and to respond with love, gratitude, and reparation.

Prayers

Stations Of The Cross

The Stations of the Cross, also known as the Way of the Cross, Via Crucis, and Via Dolorosa, represent the journey of Jesus Christ on his way to the crucifixion. They have been a Christian tradition since the early days of the church, allowing believers to make a spiritual pilgrimage through contemplation of the Passion of Christ. There are traditionally 14 stations, each representing a specific event from Jesus’ final day.

Here are the 14 traditional stations:

Jesus is condemned to death.
Jesus takes up His cross.
Jesus falls the first time under the weight of the cross.
Jesus meets His Blessed Mother, Mary.
Simon of Cyrene is forced to help Jesus carry the cross.
Veronica wipes the face of Jesus.
Jesus falls a second time.
Jesus meets the women of Jerusalem.
Jesus falls a third time.
Jesus is stripped of His garments.
Jesus is nailed to the cross.
Jesus dies on the cross.
The body of Jesus is taken down from the cross and placed in the arms of His Blessed Mother.
Jesus is laid in the tomb.

In recent years, a 15th station, representing the Resurrection of Jesus, has sometimes been added, but it is not traditionally part of the Stations of the Cross.

Many churches have images or statues for each of these stations, and during the season of Lent (and especially on Good Friday), it’s a common devotional practice for believers to meditate on each station, reflecting on the sufferings and sacrifice of Jesus for humanity’s salvation.

Prayers

The Prayer of Jabez

The Prayer of Jabez is found in the Old Testament of the Bible, specifically in 1 Chronicles 4:10. It’s a short prayer by a man named Jabez, who calls on God to bless him and enlarge his territory.

Here’s the prayer:

“Oh, that You would bless me indeed and enlarge my territory, that Your hand would be with me, and that You would keep me from evil, that I may not cause pain!”

This prayer became particularly popular in mainstream culture following the publication of the book “The Prayer of Jabez: Breaking Through to the Blessed Life” by Dr. Bruce Wilkinson in 2000. In the book, Wilkinson elaborates on the prayer and suggests that reciting it regularly can lead to a more blessed and prosperous life. The book and its message sparked both admiration and criticism, but it undeniably brought attention to this once-obscure biblical prayer.