Year of Faith Resources
Please refer to the links below for information regarding the Year of Faith
Vatican - Year of Faith click here
USCCB - Year of Faith click here
Catholics can improve their new year and deepen their experience of the Year of Faith by strengthening their prayer lives, says the U.S. bishops’ Committee on Evangelization and Catechesis.
The committee recently offered “10 Prayers for the Year of Faith” as a way of drawing Catholics more deeply into the Year of Faith. Pope Benedict XVI called for the Year of Faith, which began Oct. 11 and ends Nov. 24, 2013.
It is suggested that Catholics become familiar with these prayers:
1. The Nicene Creed.The Year of Faith is about returning to the foundational teachings of the church and drawing strength from them. This prayer, which is the official prayer of the Year of Faith, articulates the core of Christian belief.
2. The Lord’s Prayer.Like the creed, the Our Father is so central to the faith that it’s said at every Mass. The Year of Faith is also about encouraging a personal encounter with Jesus Christ. Praying the prayer he gave us brings us closer to him.
3. The Hail Mary.Similarly, Mary will always assist Christians and bring them to her son.
4. The Glory Be. This doxology, or short hymn of praise, beautifully captures the essence of our faith in an eternal, Trinitarian God.
5. The Magnificat. The Canticle of Mary in the Gospel of Luke (1:46-55) gives a glimpse of the faith of someone who trusted God so much that he entered the world through her.
6. The Canticle of Zechariah.Also found in Luke (1:68-79), this prayer is a vivid testament of faith from someone experiencing God’s goodness at work in the world.
7. The Memorare. Another powerful Marian prayer, the Memorare reminds God’s people that Mary is our mother and that we can turn to her with anything.
8. The Acts of Contrition, Faith, Hope and Love.Most people know the Act of Contrition from going to confession, but the Acts of Faith, Hope and Love are also wonderful for a Christian’s prayer life. They can all be found in the “Compendium of the Catechism of the Catholic Church.”
9. The Angel prayers. Children learn the prayer to their guardian angel, and adults learn the prayer to St. Michael the archangel. Both are helpful reminders of the need to ask for God’s protection and guidance every day.
10. Prayer for the New Evangelization.The purpose of the Year of Faith is to renew and strengthen Catholics in their practice of the faith so that they may inspire the world with their example. This is the new evangelization.
More prayers for the Year of Faith are available online at: www.usccb.org/beliefs-and-teachings/how-we-teach/new-evangelization/year....
Advent resources from the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops are available at: www.usccb.org/prayer-and-worship/liturgical-resources/advent/.
THE NICENE CREED
I believe in one God, the Father almighty,
maker of heaven and earth, of all things visible
and invisible.
I believe in one Lord Jesus Christ, the Only Begotten Son of God,
born of the Father before all ages.
God from God, Light from Light, true God from true God,
begotten, not made, consubstantial with the Father;
through him all things were made.
For us men and for our salvation he came down from heaven,
and by the Holy Spirit was incarnate of the Virgin Mary, and became man.
For our sake he was crucified under Pontius Pilate,
he suffered death and was buried,
and rose again on the third day
in accordance with the Scriptures.
He ascended into heaven
and is seated at the right hand of the Father.
He will come again in glory
to judge the living and the dead
and his kingdom will have no end.
I believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life,
who proceeds from the Father and the Son,
who with the Father and the Son is adored and glorified,
who has spoken through the prophets.
I believe in one, holy, catholic and apostolic church.
I confess one baptism for the forgiveness of sins
and I look forward to the resurrection of the dead
and the life of the world to come. Amen.
THE LORD’S PRAYER
Our Father, who art in heaven,
Hallowed be thy name.
Thy kingdom come,
thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread,
and forgive us our trespasses,
as we forgive those who trespass against us;
and lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from evil. Amen.
THE HAIL MARY
Hail Mary, full of grace,
the Lord is with thee.
Blessed art thou among women,
and blessed is the fruit
of thy womb, Jesus.
Holy Mary,
Mother of God,
pray for us sinners now
and at the hour of death. Amen.
THE GLORY BE
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.
THE MAGNIFICAT
(Canticle of Mary)
My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord,
my spirit rejoices in God my Savior;
for he has looked with favor on his lowly servant.
From this day all generations will call me blessed:
the Almighty has done great things for me,
and holy is his name.
He has mercy on those who fear him
in every generation.
He has shown the strength of his arm,
he has scattered the proud in their conceit.
He has cast down the mighty from their thrones,
and has lifted up the lowly.
He has filled the hungry with good things,
and the rich he has sent away empty.
He has come to the help of his servant Israel,
for he has remembered his promise of mercy,
The promise he made to our fathers,
to Abraham and his children for ever.
THE CANTICLE OF ZECHARIAH
Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel;
he has come to his people and set them free.
He has raised up for us a mighty savior,
born of the house of his servant David.
Through his holy prophets he promised of old,
that he would save us from our enemies,
from the hands of all who hate us.
He promised to show mercy to our fathers
and to remember his holy covenant.
This was the oath he swore to our father Abraham,
to set us free from the hands of our enemies,
Free to worship him without fear,
holy and righteous in his sight
all the days of our life.
You, my child, shall be called
the prophet of the Most High,
for you will go before the Lord to prepare his way,
To give his people knowledge of salvation
by the forgiveness of their sins.
In the tender compassion of our God
the dawn from on high shall break upon us,
To shine on those who dwell in darkness
and the shadow of death,
and to guide our feet into the way of peace.
THE MEMORARE
Remember, O most gracious Virgin Mary,
that never was it known that anyone who fled to
your protection,
implored your help, or sought your intercession,
was left unaided.
Inspired with this confidence,
I fly to you, O Virgin of virgins, my Mother.
To you I come, before you I stand, sinful and sorrowful.
O Mother of the Word Incarnate,
despise not my petitions,
but in your mercy, hear and answer me. Amen.
ACT OF CONTRITION
O my God, I am heartily sorry for
having offended you, and I detest
all my sins, because of your just
punishments, but most of all because
they offend You, my God, who are
all-good and deserving of all my love.
I firmly resolve, with the help of
your grace, to sin no more and to
avoid the near occasion of sin. Amen.
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 will 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 are eternal truth and wisdom,
who can neither deceive nor be deceived.
In this faith I intend to live and die. Amen.
ACT OF HOPE
O Lord God, I hope by your grace
for the pardon of all my sins
and after life here to gain eternal happiness
because you have promised it
who are infinitely powerful, faithful,
kind and merciful.
In this hope I intend to live and die. Amen.
ACT OF LOVE
O Lord God, I love you above all things
and I love my neighbor for your sake
because you are the highest, infinite
and perfect good, worthy of all my love.
In this love I intend to live and die. Amen.
GUARDIAN ANGEL PRAYER
Angel of God, My guardian dear
to whom God’s love commits me here.
Ever this day be at my side
to light and guard and rule and guide. Amen.
ST. MICHAEL THE ARCHANGEL PRAYER
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 roam throughout
the world seeking the ruin of souls. Amen.
PRAYER FOR THE NEW EVANGELIZATION
Heavenly Father, pour forth your Holy Spirit
to inspire me with these words from holy Scripture.
Stir in my soul the desire to renew my faith
and deepen my relationship with your Son,
our Lord Jesus Christ, so that I might
truly believe in and live the Good News.
Open my heart to hear the Gospel
and grant me the confidence
to proclaim the Good News to others.
Pour out your Spirit, so that I might be
strengthened to go forth and witness
to the Gospel in my everyday life
through my words and actions.
In moments of hesitation, remind me:
If not me, then who will proclaim the Gospel?
If not now, then when will the Gospel be proclaimed?
If not the truth of the Gospel, then what shall I proclaim?
God, our Father, I pray that through
the Holy Spirit I might hear the call
of the new evangelization to deepen my faith,
grow in confidence to proclaim the Gospel
and boldly witness to the saving grace of your Son,
Jesus Christ, who lives and reigns with you,
in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
Available below are a series of articles exploring the essentials of our Catholic beliefs. The articles are intended to provide a Year of Faith “refresher” course on "What Catholics Believe." The year-long series is based on the book, “What Catholics Believe, a Pocket Catechism,” by Father Kris D. Stubna, rector of Saint Paul Cathedral, and Mike Aquilina, a member of Holy Child Parish, Bridgeville, and the author of more than 30 books on the Church. Each article has been published in the Pittsburgh Catholic.