A “Daily Prayer Routine” is not a term that we hear of frequently. What does it actually mean? Do we really need to have a “routine” for prayer as such? Isn’t it enough to just go with the flow of the day, and pray whatever prayers we feel like on that given day? Well, that’s exactly what we’re about to delve into – but not before we first understand what “prayer” really means.

As stated in the Catechism of the Catholic Church (CCC 2559) – “Prayer is the raising of one’s mind and heart to God or the requesting of good things from Him.” Further, a quote from St. Teresa of Calcutta (Mother Teresa) explains that “Prayer is as necessary as the air, as the blood in our bodies, as anything to keep us alive – to keep us alive to the grace of God.” Putting these two complementary quotes together, we learn that prayer is not only the means by which we can commune with God in the most intimate way possible and present our petitions to Him, but also literally our sustenance in the life of grace. Therefore, we ought to take prayer seriously by creating a “Routine of Prayer” for ourselves – so that it becomes a daily habit, and not just an occasional activity that’s dependent on our mood.

However, when we think of a “Daily Prayer Routine”, it seems like something easier said than done. On some days, we’re “up there” – motivated, enthusiastic, and all charged up; while on some other days, we can barely get through even a single prayer during the day. Moreover, if our prayers are being answered quickly, that’s motivation enough to keep the daily prayer routine going; but if we’re not yet experiencing the joy of answered prayers, then keeping up with a routine becomes incredibly difficult. I’m sure we’ve all experienced this in our prayer life.

Yet, while all of this cannot be denied, it still holds true that a daily schedule of prayer is essential if we are serious about growing spiritually. Let’s think of it this way: An athlete will never excel in his sport if he compromises on his fitness regimen and skips practicing his sport regularly. Similarly, we will never mature in our spiritual lives if we do not begin to think of ourselves as “spiritual athletes” with a personal prayer plan that we follow religiously without a break. By thinking of ourselves in this way, we develop what is called a “Spiritual Discipline” – a strict regimen of prayer that keeps us firmly on the path of following Christ and doing whatever He tells us.

Why Do Catholics Need A Daily Prayer Routine?

Now that we have understood what a “Daily Prayer Routine” really is, let’s look into the specific reasons why we must have one:

1. A Deeper Relationship: It helps us enter into a deeper relationship with God by spending quality time with Him in prayer. St. Teresa of Avila, Doctor of Prayer in the Catholic Church, rightly puts it: “Prayer is an intimate sharing between friends; it means taking time frequently to be alone with Him who we know loves us.” Therefore, we develop a friendship with God through prayer.     

2. Keeps Us Fit: a daily prayer routine does for our soul what good exercise does for our body – it keeps our soul fit, healthy, alive and active. Prayerlessness causes our souls to grow cold before God – this weakness must be combatted with fervent prayer.

3. Keeps God At The Center: Through daily prayer, we invite God to be the center of our lives, so that we make life choices and decisions based on His counsel and guidance, rather than depending on human intellect and wisdom. Scripture tells us in Proverbs 3:5-6 that we must “lean not on our own understanding” but rather “acknowledge God in all our ways,” so that He will make our paths straight. Also, prayer helps us to walk by faith, and not by sight.

4. Control: It helps us to be in control of our days rather than our days taking control of us. We no longer simply move with the flow of our days, but rather bring an order to it, so that we can live victoriously within an organized schedule. Instead of becoming ‘slaves’ to our days, we rather ‘subdue’ it to the Life of the Spirit, and thereby gain mastery over it.

5. Focus: It helps us stay focused on God amid the distractions of our lives, so that we are governed by His peace rather than chaos. The Catechism of the Catholic Church (CCC 2697) teaches us that “we must remember God more often than we draw breath” – which means that we ought to keep turning to God in prayer so that we don’t go astray from the path that He intends for us.

How Can Catholics Create A Daily Prayer Routine?

When we know the “Why”, the “How” becomes easy. So, here’s how a daily prayer routine can be set:

1. Begin by listing the prayers/devotions that you would like to include in your daily prayer routine. Stick to a few in number initially – be realistic about your choices, and choose only those you know you can pray daily without missing. The aim is to first develop a simple routine that can be followed consistently and turned into a habit, before moving on to a more ambitious one. More prayers can be added later if the Holy Spirit leads you to do so, but less is more to begin with.

2. Compartmentalize your day into four parts – Morning, Noon, Evening, and Night – thereby bringing a structure to it. Allot a time slot for prayer within each of these parts, in a way that fits within your work/study schedule, because getting your day’s work done is equally as important as praying. Then, segregate your list of prayers/devotions into each of these time slots within the parts, making sure to distribute them evenly throughout the day and not crowd them into just one or two parts.

3. Note down your plan and place it in your Bible or put it up in a visible spot in your house, so that it serves as a visual aid and reminder that keeps you on track in following that routine diligently.

4. Now comes the most important step – Start! This is also the hardest step because converting a plan into action takes real effort. Day One will be tough, but begin nevertheless, and keep monitoring your consistency for a week. If you manage to get through the week successfully, then you’ve made a good start.

5. Repeat your routine daily for 30 to 45 days, until it becomes a habit. Pray to the Holy Spirit and ask for His help in this endeavor, but put in your effort as well. Try not to let distractions, lethargy, the desire for sleep or comfort, or sudden events disrupt it. Spiritual Discipline is built through repetition and consistency.

6. Prayerfully review your prayer routine at regular intervals to discern if the Holy Spirit is leading you to make any changes to it, and adapt accordingly. 

In order to help you chalk out your Daily Prayer Routine, here are a few suggested prayers/devotions that you could consider:

• The Holy Eucharist:

The Eucharist is the highest form of prayer. Therefore, it is a good practice to attend daily Mass if it fits into your schedule. Alternatively, you can also pick certain weekdays apart from Sunday to attend Mass. Some good choices are Friday – the Day of the Lord’s Passion and Death; Saturday – the day dedicated to Our Lady; and Wednesday – the day dedicated to St. Joseph.

• The Liturgy of the Hours:

The Liturgy of the Hours, also known as the Divine Office, is the official daily prayer of the Catholic Church, designed to sanctify the day by praying at set times. The Morning Prayer [also known as ‘Lauds’ or ‘Morning Praise,’ prayed at dawn (6 a.m.)] and the Evening Prayer [also known as ‘Vespers’ or ‘Evening Thanksgiving,’ prayed at dusk (6 p.m.)] are the “hinges” upon which the whole day hangs. Therefore, these two major hours, together known as the “Hinge Hours,” are recommended for the lay faithful in order to form a foundation of daily prayer. (These prayers can be accessed from the Universalis app or the DivineOffice.org website.)

• The Angelus or the Regina Caeli:

The Angelus (commemorating the Incarnation) and the Regina Caeli (celebrating the Resurrection) are daily Catholic devotions. The Angelus is prayed throughout the Liturgical Year (Ordinary Time and All Seasons), while the Regina Caeli replaces the Angelus during Eastertide (that is, from Easter Sunday to Pentecost). Both prayers are prayed three times a day – at dawn (6 a.m.), at noon (12 noon), and at dusk (6 p.m.). The prayers at dawn and dusk can also be combined with the Lauds and Vespers of the Liturgy of the Hours, since the times coincide, which will give your prayer routine a more solid structure.

• The Divine Mercy Chaplet:

The Divine Mercy Chaplet, famously known as the “3 o’clock Prayer,” can be prayed in an Adoration Chapel or even while watching Online Adoration. It is necessary to pray this Chaplet daily in order to ask for God’s mercy and cleanse our souls from all that keeps us away from Him.

• The Holy Rosary:

The Holy Rosary is a weapon against evil and is most often prayed as a family prayer at 7:00p.m. Alternatively, you can also pray the Rosary while commuting to work. The Catechism of the Catholic Church (CCC 2743) tells us that “it is possible to offer fervent prayer even while walking in public or strolling alone, or seated in your shop, while buying or selling, or even while cooking.”

• Miscellaneous Prayers:

Other prayers to consider include the Guardian Angel Prayer, the Prayer for Protection through the Precious Blood of Jesus, the St. Michael’s Prayer, and the Night Prayer (Compline) from the Liturgy of the Hours.

Some practices that can be included to your Daily Prayer Routine are:

• Eucharistic Adoration – You can spend a Holy Hour in Adoration weekly, or just 15 minutes daily, depending upon your availability of time and personal/professional commitments.

• Using a Bible Diary – This book is a very helpful aid for personal prayer since it contains Mass Readings, a Short Reflection, the Saint of the Day, and many other prayers/devotions.

• Bible Reading and Spiritual Reading – It is a good spiritual practice to set aside some quiet time every evening for Bible Reading, even if it is just 15 minutes. On the other hand, Spiritual Reading (such as the Lives of the Saints, or Catholic Teaching) can be done on the weekends, when you have more time in hand. Both of these are very necessary for your spiritual growth.

• Mental Prayer – This higher form of prayer consists of an intimate, frequent heart-to-heart conversation with Jesus. It is not merely a thoughtful reflection but a loving, personal relationship, a “friendly conversation” with the Lord, aimed at aligning our will with His Will. As St. Thérèse of Lisieux puts it: “I say very simply to God what I wish to say, without composing beautiful sentences, and He always understands me.”

We must remember that persistence in prayer is key, as God reveals Himself only to those who keep seeking Him faithfully without giving up along the way. Also, the Catechism of the Catholic Church (CCC 2562) teaches that “it is the heart that prays; therefore, if our heart is far from God, the words of prayer are in vain.” Hence, throughout our Daily Prayer Routine, we must ensure that we are praying not just with our lips but sincerely and “straight from the heart” because only that prayer will move the Heart of God. 

More Catholic Resources On Prayer

Searching for and Maintaining Peace: A Small Treatise on Peace of Heart

An Introduction to Prayer

The Rosary in a Year Prayer Guide

He Leadeth Me: An Extraordinary Testament of Faith

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