PRAYER OF ST. AMBROSE
O loving Lord Jesus Christ, I a sinner, not presuming on my own merits but relying on Thy mercy and goodness, approach with fear and trembling the table of Thy most sweet feast. Both my heart and body are stained with many sins, neither have I kept strict guard over my thoughts and my tongue.
Wherefore, O gracious God, O dread Majesty, I, a wretched creature caught in difficulties, have recourse to Thee, the fount of mercy; to Thee do I hasten that I may be healed, and take refuge under Thy protection; and I ardently desire to have Him as my Savior, whom I am unable to face as my Judge. To Thee, O Lord, I show my wounds, to Thee I lay bare my shame. I know that my sins are many and grievous, and hence I am afraid. I trust in Thy countless mercies.
Look upon me, therefore, with the eyes of Thy mercy, O Lord Jesus Christ, eternal King, God and Man, crucified for men. Hearken to me whose trust is in Thee, have mercy upon me, who am full of sin and misery, O fount of mercy that will never cease to flow.
Hail, saving Victim, offered for me and all mankind upon the gibbet of the Cross. Hail, noble and precious Blood, flowing from the wounds of my crucified Lord Jesus Christ, and washing away the sins of the whole world.
Remember, O Lord, Thy creatures whom Thou hast redeemed with Thy Blood. I am sorry because I have sinned; I desire to make amends for what I have done.
Take away from me, therefore, O most merciful Father, all my iniquities and sins; that, being cleansed both in body and soul, I may worthily taste of the Holy of Holies.
Grant that this Holy Sacrifice of Thy Body and Blood, of which I though unworthy, purpose to partake, may obtain the remission of my sins, the perfect cleansing of my offenses, the banishment of all evil thoughts, the renewal of all holy desires, the accomplishment of works pleasing to Thee, and the strongest protection of soul and body against the wiles of my enemies. Amen.
PRAYER OF ST. THOMAS AQUINAS
Before Communion
Almighty, everlasting God, look down in mercy upon me, Thy servant, who now again draw near to the most Holy 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. I implore Thee, therefore, out of the abundance of Thy boundless mercy, that Thou wouldst vouchsafe to heal my sickness, to wash away my defilement, to give sight to my eyes, to enrich my poverty, and to clothe my nakedness; that I may receive the bread of angels, the King of kings, the Lord of lords, with such reverence and humility, such contrition and devotion, such purity and faith, such purpose and intention, as may tend to the salvation of my soul.
Grant to me, I beseech Thee, not only to receive the sacrament of the Body and Blood of the Lord, but to profit by its substance and virtue. O God most merciful, grant me the grace to receive the Body of Thine only-begotten Son, Jesus Christ, Our Lord, which he took of the Virgin Mary, in such wise, that I may be found worthy to be incorporated into His mystical body, and forevermore to be numbered among His members.
O Father, most loving, I am about to welcome into my heart Thine own beloved Son, hidden under His sacramental veil: may it, in Thy great goodness, be mine, in the end, for all eternity face to face to gaze upon Him:
Who with Thee liveth and reigneth, in the unity of the Holy Ghost, God, world without end. Amen.
PRAYER OF ST. THOMAS AQUINAS
After Communion
I give thanks to Thee, O Lord, most holy, Father almighty, eternal God, that Thou hast vouchsafed, for no merit of mine own, but out of Thy pure mercy, to appease the hunger of my soul with the precious Body and Blood of Thy Son, Our Lord Jesus Christ.
Humbly I implore Thee, let not this holy communion be to me an increase of guilt unto my punishment, but an availing plea unto pardon and salvation. Let it be to me the armor of faith and the shield of good will. May it root out from my heart all vice; may it utterly subdue my evil passions and all my unruly desires. May it perfect me in charity and patience; in humility and obedience; and in all other virtues. May it be my sure defense against the snares laid for me by my enemies, visible and invisible. May it restrain and quiet all my evil impulses, and make me ever cleave to Thee Who art the one true God. May I owe to it a happy ending of my life. And do Thou, O heavenly Father, vouchsafe one day to call me, a sinner, to that ineffable banquet, where Thou, together with Thy Son and the Holy Ghost, art to Thy saints true and unfailing light, fulness of content, joy forevermore, gladness without alloy, consummate and everlasting happiness.
Through the same Christ our Lord. Amen.
ANIMA CHRISTI
Anima Christi, sanctifica me.
Corpus Christi, salva me.
Sanguis Christi, inebria me.
Aqua lateris Christi, lava me.
Passio Christi, conforta me.
O bone Iesu, exaudi me.
Intra tua vulnera absconde me,
Ne permittas me separari a te.
Ab hoste maligno defende me.
In hora mortis meae voca me,
Et iube me venire ad te,
Ut cum sanctis tuis laudem te
In saecula saeculorum.
Amen.
PRAYER TO THE MOST BLESSED VIRGIN MARY
O Mary, most holy Virgin and Mother, behold, I have received your most beloved Son, Whom you conceived in your immaculate womb, Whom you brought forth, nourished and caressed with the sweetest embraces. Behold Him, in Whose sight you were joyful and filled with every delight; Him I humbly and lovingly bring back and offer to you to be embraced by your arms, loved by your heart, and offered to the most holy Trinity in the highest form of worship, for your own honor and glory and for my needs and those of the whole world. I therefore ask you, most devoted Mother, to obtain for me pardon of all my sins, then copious grace to serve Him more faithfully, and finally the ultimate grace, that I may be able to praise Him with you forever and ever. Amen.
PRAYER OF ST. AUGUSTINE
Before Thine eyes, O Lord, we bring our sins, and we compare them with the stripes we have received.
If we examine the evil we have wrought, what we suffer is little, what we deserve is great.
What we have committed is very grievous, what we have suffered is very slight.
We feel the punishment of sin, yet withdraw not from the obstinacy of sinning.
Under Thy lash our inconstancy is visited, but our sinfulness is not changed.
Our suffering soul is tormented, but our neck is not bent.
Our life groans under sorrow, yet emends not in deed.
If Thou spare us, we correct not our ways: if Thou punish, we cannot endure it.
In time of correction we confess our wrongdoing: after Thy visitation we forget that we have wept.
If Thou stretchest forth Thy hand, we promise amendment; if Thou withholdest the sword, we keep not our promise.
If Thou strikest, we cry out for mercy: if Thou sparest, we again provoke Thee to strike.
Here we are before Thee, O Lord, confessedly guilty: we know that unless Thou pardon we shall deservedly perish.
Grant then, O almighty Father, without our deserving it, the pardon we ask; Thou who madest out of nothing those who ask Thee. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.
V. Deal not with us, O Lord, according to our sins.
R. Neither reward us according to our iniquities.
Let us pray. O God, Who by sin art offended and by penance pacified, mercifully regard the prayers of Thy suppliant people, and turn away the scourges of Thy wrath, which we deserve for our sins. Through Christ our Lord.
R. Amen.
MAGNIFICAT
My soul doth magnify the Lord:
And my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Savior.
Because He hath regarded the lowliness of His handmaid.
For, behold, from henceforth all generations shall call me blessed.
For He that is mighty hath done great things to me, and holy is His Name.
And His mercy is from generation unto generations, to them that fear Him.
He hath showed might with His arm.
He hath scattered the proud in the conceit of their heart.
He hath put down the mighty from their seat, and hath exalted the lowly.
He hath filled the hungry with good things; and the rich He hath sent away empty.
He hath received Israel His servant, being mindful of His mercy.
As he spoke to our fathers, to Abraham and to his seed forever.