Most people live busy lives, and it’s easy sometimes to forget God in the midst of the activity. One way to remember God frequently throughout the day is by praying short prayers, also called aspirations, which we can pray even in the midst of our occupations.
St. Bernadine of Siena, a Franciscan well known for spreading devotion to the Holy Name of Jesus, had special aspirations for each particular day of the week. Here are several examples:
Sunday: “O Good Jesus, make me love Thee ardently!”
Monday: “Jesus, sweet Love, make me feel with what unbounded love You have loved us and still love us!”
Tuesday: “Most loving Jesus, I would love Thee, but, without Thee, I cannot.”
Aspirations can be little prayers of your own, Bible verses, or traditional ones such a:
Sacred Heart of Jesus, have mercy on us!
We adore You, O Christ, and we praise You, because by Your holy cross, You have redeemed the world.
O Mary, conceived without sin, pray for us who have recourse to thee!
This is just the tip of the iceberg! We have many more traditional aspirations for you which can be easily memorized.
What Are Aspirations?
Aspirations are brief prayers that lift the mind and heart to God. They do not replace the Mass, the Rosary, spiritual reading, or a regular time of prayer. Instead, they help unite ordinary activity with those deeper practices by returning our attention to God throughout the day.
Because they are short, aspirations can be prayed while beginning work, driving, waiting, caring for someone, or facing a difficult conversation. A single sincere phrase can turn a moment of stress into an act of trust, gratitude, praise, or repentance.
Build Short Prayers into Your Day
Choose one or two aspirations and connect them to familiar moments. Pray when you wake, before opening email, at the sound of a church bell, before a meal, or when moving from one task to another. Repetition helps the words become a quiet habit of the heart.
Begin with our collection of short Catholic aspirations. Select a few that speak to your present needs, memorize them, and return to them faithfully during the week.