Wednesday Prayers
Introductory Prayers
Step 1
The Sign of the Cross
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Step 2
The Apostles' Creed
I believe in God, the Father almighty, creator of heaven and earth.
I believe in Jesus Christ, God's only Son, our Lord, who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried; he descended to the dead. On the third day he rose again; he ascended into heaven, he is seated at the right hand of the Father, and he will come to judge the living and the dead.
I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy catholic Church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting. Amen.
Step 3
On the first large rosary bead, pray the Our Father:
Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us today our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one. Amen. (Matthew 6:9b-13 NIV)
Step 4
On each of the next three beads, pray the Jesus Prayer:
Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy upon me, a sinner.
Step 5
On the next large bead, pray Glory Be To the Father:
Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit; as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be forever. Amen. (1 Timothy 1:17)
Decades - The Glorious Meditations
Step 6
The First Meditation:
The Resurrection of Jesus - Luke 24:1-12
Meditative Fruit: Faith
On the first day of the week, very early in the morning, the women took the spices they had prepared and went to the tomb. They found the stone rolled away from the tomb, but when they entered, they did not find the body of the Lord Jesus. While they were wondering about this, suddenly two men in clothes that gleamed like lightning stood beside them. In their fright the women bowed down with their faces to the ground, but the men said to them, “Why do you look for the living among the dead? He is not here; he has risen! Remember how he told you, while he was still with you in Galilee: ‘The Son of Man must be delivered over to the hands of sinners, be crucified and on the third day be raised again.’ ” Then they remembered his words.
When they came back from the tomb, they told all these things to the Eleven and to all the others. It was Mary Magdalene, Joanna, Mary the mother of James, and the others with them who told this to the apostles. But they did not believe the women, because their words seemed to them like nonsense. Peter, however, got up and ran to the tomb. Bending over, he saw the strips of linen lying by themselves, and he went away, wondering to himself what had happened.
On the first rosary bead, pray the Our Father - Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us today our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one. Amen.
On each of the next ten beads, pray the Jesus Prayer x10 - Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy upon me, a sinner.
On the next large bead, pray a Glory Be To The Father - Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit; as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be forever. Amen.
Step 7
The Second Meditation:
The Ascension of Jesus - Luke 24:50-53
Meditative Fruit: Hope
When he had led them out to the vicinity of Bethany, he lifted up his hands and blessed them. While he was blessing them, he left them and was taken up into heaven. Then they worshiped him and returned to Jerusalem with great joy. And they stayed continually at the temple, praising God.
On the first rosary bead, pray the Our Father - Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us today our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one. Amen.
On each of the next ten beads, pray the Jesus Prayer x10 - Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy upon me, a sinner.
On the next large bead, pray a Glory Be To The Father - Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit; as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be forever. Amen.
Step 8
The Third Meditation:
The Descent of the Holy Spirit - Acts 2:1-4
Meditative Fruit: Love of God
When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place. Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them. All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them.
On the first rosary bead, pray the Our Father - Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us today our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one. Amen.
On each of the next ten beads, pray the Jesus Prayer x10 - Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy upon me, a sinner.
On the next large bead, pray a Glory Be To The Father - Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit; as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be forever. Amen.
Step 9
The Forth Meditation:
The Assumption of Mary - Luke 1:28
Meditative Fruit: Grace of a Happy Death
Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you.
On the first rosary bead, pray the Our Father - Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us today our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one. Amen.
On each of the next ten beads, pray the Jesus Prayer x10 - Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy upon me, a sinner.
On the next large bead, pray a Glory Be To The Father - Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit; as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be forever. Amen.
Step 10
The Fifth Meditation:
The Coronation of Mary as Queen of Heaven and Earth - Revelation 12:1
Meditative Fruit: Trust in Intercession
A great sign appeared in heaven: a woman clothed with the sun, with the moon under her feet and a crown of twelve stars on her head.
On the first rosary bead, pray the Our Father - Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us today our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one. Amen.
On each of the next ten beads, pray the Jesus Prayer x10 - Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy upon me, a sinner.
On the next large bead, pray a Glory Be To The Father - Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit; as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be forever. Amen.
Closing Prayers
Step 11
Pre-Trent Hail Mary, a part of the Magnificat, or Martin Luther’s Evangelical praise of the Mother of God (or all three)
Pre-Trent 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 Christ. Amen. (Luke 1:42)
The Magnificat
“My soul glorifies the Lord and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, for he has been mindful of the humble state of his servant. From now on all generations will call me blessed, for the Mighty One has done great things for me—holy is his name. His mercy extends to those who fear him, from generation to generation. He has performed mighty deeds with his arm; he has scattered those who are proud in their inmost thoughts. He has brought down rulers from their thrones but has lifted up the humble. He has filled the hungry with good things but has sent the rich away empty. He has helped his servant Israel, remembering to be merciful to Abraham and his descendants forever, just as he promised our ancestors.” (Luke 1: 46b-55 NIV)
Martin Luther’s Evangelical Praise of the Mother of God
O Blessed Virgin, Mother of God, what great comfort God has shown us in you, by so graciously regarding your unworthiness and low estate. This encourages us to believe that henceforth He will not despise us poor and lowly ones, but graciously regard us also, according to your example. Amen
Step 12
End with The Sign of the Cross
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Daily Readings
Bible in a Year
Revised Common Lectionary
Daily scripture readings that include OT, Psalms, and NT - dailyLectio.net