So many people are using the internet  as a highway to Hell. Why not, as Catholics, use our social media experience as a bridge to Heaven?

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The next time you’re sitting there at a loss, trying to think of some wise or witty social media status, maybe you should use it to share an indulged prayer instead.

The easiest indulgences are simple prayers suitable to use as statuses. In truth, even if they weren't indulged, they would be very worthy statuses because of their beauty and simplicity of worship.

Here are seven perfect prayers to help you and those who follow you online avoid temporal punishment for sins:

1.  Come, Holy Ghost (Veni, Sancte Spiritus), partial indulgence.

This one from the Roman Missal often finds its way onto my social media status line:

Come, Holy Ghost, fill the hearts of your faithful and enkindle in them the fire of your love.

2. Angel of God (Angele Dei), partial indulgence.

We all remember this one from childhood:

Angel of God, my guardian dear, to whom his love commits me here, enlighten and guard, rule and guide me. Amen.

3.  Eternal Rest (Requiem aeternam), partial indulgence/applicable only to the souls in purgatory.

This prayer from the Roman Breviary is a great response the online announcement of a death.

Eternal rest grant to them, O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon them. May they rest in peace.

4.  Hail, Holy Queen (Salve, Regina),  partial indulgence.

From the Roman Breviary and recited at the end of each rosary, this is one of my all time favorite prayers; it rolls off the tongue like beautiful poetry:

Hail, holy Queen, Mother of mercy; hail our life, our sweetness and our hope. To you do we cry, poor banished children of Eve. To you do we send up our sighs, mourning and weeping in this valley of tears. Turn then, most gracious Advocate, your eyes of mercy toward us. And after this our exile show unto us the blessed fruit of your womb, Jesus. O clement, O loving, O sweet Virgin Mary.

5. Magnificat (Magnificat), partial indulgence.

My second favorite Marian prayer always gets a lot of “likes” when I use part of it as a status :

My soul magnifies the Lord,

and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior;

Because he has regarded the lowliness of his handmaid;

for, behold, henceforth all generations shall call me blessed;

Because he who is mighty has done great things for me,

and holy is his name;

And his mercy is from generation to generation

on those who fear him.

He has shown might with his arm,

he has scattered the proud in the conceit of their heart.

He has put down the mighty from their thrones,

and has exalted the lowly.

He has filled the hungry with good things,

and the rich he has sent away empty.

He has given help to Israel, his servant,

mindful of his mercy --

Even as he spoke to our fathers --

to Abraham and to his posterity forever.

6. Remember, O most gracious Virgin Mary (Memorare, o piissima Virgo Maria), partial indulgence.

This prayer is indulged and my Bishop has asked people to join him in praying it for the preservation of religious freedom in America, so we can do double duty with one prayer!

Remember, O most gracious Virgin Mary, that never was it known that anyone who fled to your protection, implored your help or sought your intercession, was left unaided. Inspired with this confidence, I fly to you, O Virgin of virgins, my Mother; to you do I come, before you I stand, sinful and sorrowful. O Mother of the Word Incarnate, despise not my petitions, but in your mercy hear and answer me. Amen.

7. We give You thanks (Agimus tibi gratias), partial indulgence.

This brief prayer of the Roman Breviary is a lovely way to say “thanks” to God :

We give You thanks, Almighty God, for all your blessings: who live and reign for ever and ever. Amen.

If you’d like to find more prayers you can use online, Cool Tools For Catholics Blog has sorted the indulged prayers into a list with the shortest first.

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Copyright 2013 Jen Haganey