I have a bit of a commute to work (about fifty minutes one way on a good day), and that allows some extra time for prayer. Here is a form of praying the Catechism I've been using lately (I've shared different but similar forms in the past). I thought others might find it useful too:
In the name...
Glory be to the Father (sung, of course!)
You shall have no other gods.
Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me, a sinner.
Lord God, grant me the grace of Your Holy Spirit to fear, love and trust in You above all things; through Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.
You shall not misuse the name of the Lord your God.
Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me, a sinner.
Lord God, grant me the grace of Your Holy Spirit to fear and love You so that I do not use Your name to curse, swear, lie or deceive, but rather call upon it in every trouble, pray, praise and give You thanks; through Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.
Remember the sabbath day by keeping it holy.
Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me, a sinner.
Lord God, grant me the grace of Your Holy Spirit to fear and love You so that I do not despise preaching and Your Word, but hold it sacred and gladly hear and learn it; through Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.
Honor your father and your mother.
Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me, a sinner.
Lord God, grant me the grace of Your Holy Spirit to fear and love You so that I may not despise or anger my father or other authorities, but honor them, serve and obey them, love and cherish them; through Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.
You shall not murder.
Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me, a sinner.
Lord God, grant me the grace of Your Holy Spirit to fear and love You so that I may not hurt or harm my neighbor in his body, but help and support him in every physical need; through Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.
You shall not commit adultery.
Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me, a sinner.
Lord God, grant me the grace of Your Holy Spirit to fear and love You so that I lead a chaste and decent life in word and deed, and so love and honor my wife; through Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.
You shall not steal.
Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me, a sinner.
Lord God, grant me the grace of Your Holy Spirit to fear and love You so that I do not take my neighbor's money or possessions or get them in any dishonest way, but help him to improve and protect his possessions and income; through Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.
You shall not give false testimony against your neighbor.
Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me, a sinner.
Lord God, grant me the grace of Your Holy Spirit to fear and love You so that I do not tell lies about my neighbor, betray him, slander him, or hurt his reputation, but defend him, speak well of him and explain everything in the kindest way; through Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.
You shall not covet your neighbor's house.
Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me, a sinner.
Lord God, grant me the grace of Your Holy Spirit to fear and love You so that I do not scheme to get my neighbor's inheritance and house or get it in a way that only appears right, but help and be of service to him in keeping it; through Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.
You shall not covet your neighbor's wife, his manservant or maidservant, his ox or donkey, or anything that belongs to your neighbor.
Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me, a sinner.
Lord God, grant me the grace of Your Holy Spirit to fear and love You so that I do not seek to entice or force away my neighbor's wife, workers, or animals, or turn them against him, but urge them to stay and do their duty; through Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.
He says: I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God, punishing the children for the sins of the fathers to the third and fourth generation of those who hate me, but showing love to a thousand generations of those who love me and keep my commandments.
Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me, a sinner.
Lord God, since You threaten to punish all who break Your commandments, grant me the grace of Your Holy Spirit to fear Your wrath that I may not do anything against them; through Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.
Lord God, since You promise grace and every blessing to all who keep Your commandments, grant me the grace of Your Holy Spirit to love and trust in You and gladly do all that command; through Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.
I pray through the commandments like this four times. Then I pray the Our Father and sing the Gloria in Excelsis. By then, I'm sitting in traffic on the Poplar Street Bridge, waiting to enter St. Louis. |
