Prayer Requests
One of the many roles of the Church, the Body of Christ, is to pray. We pray for the world, for the broader community and for the needs of The Basilica community. We pray for the individual needs of our members‒ for if one member is in need, we all are in need. We invite you to share your prayer by filling in the information below or by contacting The Basilica office at 612.333.1381.
Your prayer submissions are greatly honored and respected. We take great care to insure the names are included in the Prayers of the Faithful and/or the Prayer Chain list.
To help us, we ask you to follow these guidelines:
- Prayer request are submitted for a two week cycle only. If you wish The Basilica community to continue praying for your particular needs, please resubmit the prayer request two weeks after your initial request.
- We respect the privacy of individuals we include in the Prayers of the Faithful. Some individuals are uncomfortable with their names being mentioned or they merely desire privacy. To speak a name publicly, we require that you have permission from the individual or from his/her immediate family. First names may be included in the Prayer Chain/List without permission as names are not publicly announced.
- Request for prayers to be mentioned during the Prayers of the Faithful should be submitted no later than 12:00 noon (CT) on Saturday.
- If you have any further questions, concerns, or are in need of any further pastoral care, please contact the pastoral care office at 612.317.3474. A qualified staff member will be able to direct you to many other ministries offered at The Basilica to support you.
Forms of Prayer
In addition to the Sacraments, the Catholic Church has many other forms of prayer, both individual and communal. Among those, the Liturgy of the Hours enjoys prominence of place.
The Liturgy of the Hours is intended to help us live out Jesus’ command to pray always. It comprises five moments of prayer intended to mark different times of the day.
- The Office of Readings: though traditionally celebrated during the middle of the night this prayer now may be recited at the beginning of the day or at any time of day.
- Morning Prayer or Lauds: celebrated at the beginning of the day, this prayer in intended to thank God for the new day and to ask for God's blessing on all we do.
- Daytime Prayer: celebrated mid-morning, midday or mid-afternoon, this short prayer calls us to focus on God in all we do.
- Evening Prayer or Vespers: celebrated at the end of the day this prayers gives thanks to God for all the blessings we received.
- Night Prayer or Compline: celebrated before going to sleep this prayer allows us to look back at our day and to ask for God's blessing on the night.
Prayer at the Rising of the Sun
Please join The Basilica staff as they mark the beginning of the day with 20 minutes of sung prayer.
When and where do we pray Morning Prayer?
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On Tuesday at 9:15am during Advent, Christmas and Lent in The Basilica Choir Stalls.
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On Thursday at 9:15am throughout the year in The Basilica Choir Stalls.
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Every day of the week at 9:15am during Holy Week in The Basilica Choir Stalls.
What happens during Morning Prayer?
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Singing of a hymn and psalms
- Proclamation of the Word of God
- Prayers for the Church and the world
Prayer at Midday
Midday Prayer is the opportunity to pause in the middle of the day in order to take stalk of our day and to focus on God.
When and where do we pray Midday Prayer?
- At noon during the Sacred Triduum (Holy Thursday and Holy Saturday)
- In the Choir Stalls of The Basilica
What happens during Midday Prayer?
- Singing of a hymn and a psalm
- Proclamation of the Word of God
- Prayers for the Church and the world
Prayer at the Setting of the Sun
Evening Prayer or Vespers is a quiet and beautiful way to end the day. Evening Prayer is sung by The Basilica Schola Cantorum.
When and where do we pray Evening Prayer?
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On Sundays during Advent, Christmas and Lent and other select Sundays at 3:00pm in the Basilica Choir Stalls.
What happens during Evening Prayer?
- Lighting of candles
- Blessing of the Light
- Singing of a hymn, psalms and a canticle
- Proclamation of the Word of God
- Prayers for the Church and the world
At the end of Sunday Evening Prayer everyone processes to the Chapel of the Immaculate Conception for the singing of the Marian antiphon.
End your Sunday with Gregorian Chant
Gregorian Vespers is Evening Prayer in its venerable ancient form using Gregorian Chant.
When and where do we pray Gregorian Vespers?
- On select Sundays of the year at 3:00pm
- In the Choir Stalls of The Basilica
What happens during Gregorian Vespers?
- Singing of a hymn and psalms in Latin
- Proclamation of the Word of God
- Prayers for the Church and the world
At the end of Vespers everyone processes to the Chapel of the Immaculate Conception for the singing of the Marian antiphon.
Lectio Divina
Invites us into scripture, meditation, prayer, contemplation and action.
Prayer Resources
Connect in prayer anytime online. Visit our collection of vespers and prayer services recorded live.