Prayers
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Prayer of St. Thomas Aquinas for Preparing for Holy Communion
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Short Prayer to be said at the Elevation of the Chalice at Mass
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Prayer of St. Thomas Aquinas in Thanksgiving for Holy Communion
Prayer before Mass
Eternal Father, I unite myself with the intentions and affections of our Lady of Sorrows on Calvary, and I offer to you the sacrifice that your beloved Son Jesus made of himself upon the cross, and now renews upon this holy altar:
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To adore you and give you the honour that is due to you, confessing your supreme dominion over all things, and the absolute dependence of everything upon you, who are our sole and our last end.
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To thank you for the countless benefits that I have received.
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To appease your justice, aroused against us by so many sins, and to make satisfaction for them.
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To implore grace for myself, for N., for all afflicted and sorrowing, for poor sinners, for all the world, and for the holy souls in purgatory. Amen.
Prayer of St. Thomas Aquinas for Preparing for Holy Communion
(to be said before Mass or immediately before Communion)
Almighty and eternal God, behold, I approach the Sacrament of Thine only-begotten Son, our Lord Jesus Christ. I approach as one who is sick to the physician of life, as one unclean to the fountain of mercy, as one blind to the light of eternal brightness, as one poor and needy to the Lord of heaven and earth. Therefore I beseech Thee, of Thine infinite goodness, to heal my sickness, to wash away my filth, to enlighten my blindness, to enrich my poverty, and to clothe my nakedness, that I may receive the Bread of angels, the King of kings, and the Lord of lords with such reverence and humility, with such contrition and devotion, with such purity and faith, with such purpose and intention, as may conduce to the salvation of my soul.
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Grant, I beseech Thee, that I may receive not only the Sacrament of the Body and Blood of our Lord, but also the fruit and virtue of this Sacrament. O most indulgent God, grant me so to receive the Body of Thine only-begotten Son, our Lord Jesus Christ, which He took of the Virgin Mary, that I may be found worthy to be incorporated with His mystical body and numbered among His members.
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O most loving Father, grant that I may one day contemplate for ever, face to face, Thy beloved Son, whom now on my pilgrimage I am about to receive under the sacramental veils; who liveth and reigneth with Thee God, world without end. Amen.
Prayer of St. Ambrose for Preparing for Holy Communion
(to be said before Mass or immediately before Communion)
O loving Lord Jesus Christ, I, a sinner, not presuming on my own merits, but trusting in Your mercy and goodness, with fear and awe approach the table of Your most sacred banquet. For I have stained both my heart and body with many sins, and have not kept a strict guard over my mind and tongue. Wherefore, O gracious God, O awful majesty, I, a wretched creature, entangled in difficulties, have recourse to You, the fount of mercy; to You I fly for healing and take refuge under Your protection, and I ardently desire to have Him as my Savior whom I am unable to face as my Judge.
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To You, Lord, I show my wounds, to You I lay bare my shame. I know that my sins are many and great and on their account I am filled with fear. But I trust in Your mercy, which is endless. Look down on me, therefore, with the eyes of mercy, Lord Jesus Christ, eternal King, God and Man, crucified for men. Hear me, for my hope is in You;
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have mercy on me, for I am full of sin and wretchedness, You who never cease to let flow the fountain of mercy.
Hail Victim of Salvation, offered for me and for all mankind on the tree of the cross. Hail, noble and precious Blood, flowing from the wounds of my crucified Lord Jesus Christ washing away the sins of the whole world. Remember, Lord, Your creature, whom You have redeemed with Your Blood. I am grieved because I have sinned. I desire to make amends for what I have done.
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Take away from me, therefore, O most merciful Father, all my iniquities and my sins, that, being purified both in soul and body, I may worthily partake of the Holy of Holies; and grant that this holy oblation of Your Body and Blood, of which though unworthy I purpose to partake, may be to me the remission of my sins, the perfect cleansing of all my offenses, the means of driving away all evil thoughts and of renewing all holy desires, the accomplishment of works pleasing to You, as well as the strongest defense for soul and body against the snares of my enemies.
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Amen.
An Act of Faith
I firmly believe, O my divine Jesus, that Thou art truly present in the Blessed Sacrament of the Altar. I believe that It really and substantially contains Thy Body and Blood, Thy soul and divinity. I acknowledge these truths; I believe these wonders; I adore the power that has wrought them, the same power that said: “Let there be light”, and light was made. Verily, Thou art a hidden God, the Saviour. Amen.
An Act of Hope
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Since Thou vouchsafest to come and dwell within me, O my Redeemer, what may I not expect from Thy bounty! I therefore present myself before Thee with that lively confidence which Thine infinite goodness inspires. Thou not only knowest all my wants, but Thou art also wiling and able to relieve them. Thou hast not only invited me, but also promised me Thy gracious assistance. Amen.
An Act of Charity
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O God, Who art Charity! Behold, he who abides in charity abides in Thee. I desire to receive Thee in this Sacrament, that I may be more strongly united to Thee in the bond of love. Who shall separate me from the love of Christ my Savoir? Oh, that neither life nor death, nor any accident of fortune, nor any creature may ever be able! Amen.
An Act of Contrition
O my God, I am heartily sorry for having offended Thee, and I detest all my sins, because I dread the loss of Heaven, and the pains of Hell; but most of all because I love Thee, my God, Who art all good and deserving of all my love. I firmly resolve, with the help of Thy grace, to confess my sins, to do penance, and to amend my life. Amen
Short Prayer to be said at the Elevation of the Host
My Lord and my God.
Short Prayer to be said at the Elevation of the Chalice at Mass
Be mindful, O Lord, of Thy creature whom Thou hast redeemed by Thy Most Precious Blood.
Thanksgiving after Communion
My good Jesus, I pray Thee to bless me; keep me in Thy love; grant me the grace of final perseverance. Help me to become a saint. Safeguarded by Thee in soul and in body, may I never swerve from the right road, but surely reach Thy kingdom, where — not in dim mysteries, as in this dark world of ours, but — face to face we shall look upon Thee. There wilt Thou satisfy me with Thyself and fill me with such sweetness that I shall neither hunger nor thirst forevermore: Who with God the Father and the Holy Spirit livest and reignest world without end. Amen.
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May the Heart of Jesus in the Most Blessed Sacrament be praised, adored, and loved with grateful affection, at every moment, in all the tabernacles of the world, even until the end of time. Amen.
Prayer of St. Thomas Aquinas in Thanksgiving for Holy Communion
I give Thee thanks, O holy Lord, Father Almighty, eternal God, Who hast vouchsafed, not for any merits of mine, but solely out of the condescension of Thy mercy, to satisfy me a sinner, Thine unworthy servant, with the precious Body and Blood of Thy Son our Lord Jesus Christ.
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I pray that his Holy Communion be not to me a condemnation unto punishment, but a saving plea unto forgiveness. May it be unto me the armor of faith and the shield of good will. May it be the emptying out of my vices, the extinction of all concupiscence and lust, the increase of charity and patience, of humility and obedience, and of all virtues; a strong defense against the snares of all enemies, visible and invisible; the perfect quieting of all my evil impulses, both fleshly and ghostly; a firm cleaving unto Thee, the one true God; and a pledge of a blessed destiny.
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And I beseech Thee, that Thou wouldst vouchsafe to bring me, a sinner, to that ineffable banquet, where Thou, with Thy Son and the Holy Spirit, art to Thy saints true light, fullness of content, eternal joy, gladness without alloy and perfect bliss. Through the same Christ our Lord. Amen.
Act of Self-Consecration of St. Ignatius of Loyola
Take, O Lord, all my liberty, receive my memory, my understanding, and my whole will. All that I am and all that have come to me from Thy bounty; I give it all back to Thee, and surrender it all to the guidance of Thy holy Will. Give me Thy Love and Thy Grace; with these I am rich enough and ask for nothing more. Amen.
Anima Christi
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Soul of Christ, sanctify me.
Body of Christ, save me.
Blood of Christ, inebriate me.
Water from the side of Christ, wash me.
Passion of Christ, strengthen me.
O Good Jesus, hear me.
Within your wounds hide me.
Do not let me be separated from you.
From the wicked foe, defend me.
At the hour of my death, call me
and bid me come to you
that with your saints I may praise you
forever and ever. Amen.
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Prayer of St. Bonaventure
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Dearest Lord Jesus, pierce the inmost depths of my being with the sweet and wholesome pang of Thy love, with true and tranquil and most holy apostolic charity, so that from sheer melting love and desire of Thee my soul may ever faint with longing, yearning for Thee and for Thy dwelling-place, asking only to be released from the flesh and to be with Thee.
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Grant that my soul my hunger for Thee, Who art the Bread of Angels, the food of holy souls, our daily, supernatural bread, all sweetness and delight to the taste. Let my heart ever hunger for Thee and feed upon Thee, Whom the Angels yearn to look upon, and let the depths of my being be filled with Thy sweet savor; let me ever thirst for Thee, Who art the source of life, source of wisdom and knowledge, source of eternal light, flood-tide of pleasure, God's own treasure-house. Let me ever desire Thee; seek Thee and find Thee; have Thee for my goal and my achievement; think and speak of Thee only, doing all that I do for the honor and glory of Thy Name, humbly and prudently, with love and delight, with ready goodwill, and with perseverance to the end.
Be Thou ever, Thou only, my hope and all my trust, my treasure and pleasure, my joy and delight, my rest, peace, and quiet, my sweet and delicious fragrance, my food and support, my refuge and help, my wisdom, my heritage of wealth, my very own. Let my heart and soul be set on Thee, firmly and immovably rooted in Thee henceforth and forever. Amen.
Prayer to St. Joseph
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O faithful Guardian and Father of virgins, Blessed Joseph, to whom was confided the care of Jesus and Mary, the Queen of Virgins, I most humbly supplicate thee, by the love Thou dost bear Jesus and Mary, to obtain for me that, being preserved from all stain during my whole life, I may be ever able to serve them with unspotted purity of mind and body. Amen.
Prayer Before a Crucifix
Look down upon me, good and gentle Jesus, While before Your face I humbly kneel and with burning soul, pray and beseech You, To fix deep in my heart, Lively sentiments of faith, hope and charity, True contrition for my sins And a firm purpose of amendment. While I contemplate with great love and tender pity, Thy five most precious wounds, Pondering over them within me, And calling to mind the words that David, Your prophet, said of You , my Jesus, "They have pierced My hands and feet, They have numbered all my bones."
Prayer of St. Augustine to the Holy Spirit
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Breathe into me Holy Spirit, that my thoughts may be holy.
Move in me, Holy Spirit, that my work too, may be holy.
Take my heart, Holy Spirit, that I may love only what is holy.
Strengthen me, Holy Spirit, that I may defend all that is holy.
Protect me, Holy Spirit, that I may always be holy. Amen.
A Prayer to Our Lady after Holy Communion
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O Mary, most holy Virgin Mother, lo, I have received thy well-beloved Son, Whom thou didst conceive in thy stainless womb, didst bring forth and suckle, and enfold in thy sweet embraces. See, humbly and lovingly I give back to thee the Son Whom it was all rapture and delight for thee to look upon, I offer Him to be clasped in thy arms, to be loved with all thy heart, and to be offered up to the Holy Trinity in the supreme homage of adoration, for thy honor and glory, and for my needs and those of all mankind. Most loving Mother, I beg thee to obtain for me forgiveness of all my sins, grace in abundance to serve Him more faithfully from now onward, and lastly, final perseverance, so that I may praise Him with thee forever and ever. Amen.
The Memorare of St. Bernard
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Remember, O most gracious Virgin Mary, that never was it known that anyone who fled to thy protection, implored thy help, or sought thy intercession, was left unaided. Inspired with this confidence, I fly unto thee, O Virgin of virgins, my Mother. To thee do I come, before thee I stand, sinful and sorrowful. O Mother of the Word Incarnate, despise not my petitions, but in thy mercy, hear and answer me. Amen.
Morning Offering
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O Jesus, through the Immaculate Heart of Mary, I offer you my prayers, works, joys, and suffering of this day in union with the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass throughout the world. I offer them for all the intentions of Your Sacred Heart: the salvation of souls, reparation for sins, and in particular for … (your special intentions). Amen
Prayer to Your Guardian Angel
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O my good Angel, whom God has appointed to be my guardian, enlighten and protect me, direct me and govern me during this day/night. Amen
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