Prayer Before Mass
“He who eats my flesh and drinks my blood abides in me, and I in him.” — John 6:56
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Prayer Before Mass
The Prayer
Almighty and ever-living God,
I approach the sacrament
of Your only-begotten Son
Our Lord Jesus Christ,
I come sick to the doctor of life,
unclean to the fountain of mercy,
blind to the radiance of eternal light,
and poor and needy to the Lord
of heaven and earth.
Lord, in your great generosity,
heal my sickness,
wash away my defilement,
enlighten my blindness, enrich my poverty,
and clothe my nakedness.
May I receive the bread of angels,
the King of kings and Lord of lords,
with humble reverence,
with the purity and faith,
the repentance and love,
and the determined purpose
that will help to bring me to salvation.
May I receive the sacrament
of the Lord’s Body and Blood,
and its reality and power.
Kind God,
may I receive the Body
of Your only-begotten Son,
our Lord Jesus Christ,
born from the womb of the Virgin Mary,
and so be received into His mystical body
and numbered among His members.
Loving Father,
as on my earthly pilgrimage
I now receive Your beloved Son
under the veil of a sacrament,
may I one day see him face to face in glory,
who lives and reigns with You for ever.
Amen.
– Saint Thomas Aquinas
Public Domain: Going to Mass (n.d.) by David Roberts via Museum of New Zealand.
Public Domain: Going to Mass (n.d.) by David Roberts via Museum of New Zealand.
About This Prayer
This traditional prayer attributed to St. Thomas Aquinas is a beautiful preparation for receiving Holy Communion. It approaches Christ as the divine physician, the fountain of mercy, and the true Bread of Heaven. The prayer asks God for healing, purification, faith, repentance, and love so that we may receive Christ with a properly disposed heart. It also looks beyond the sacramental signs of the Eucharist toward the hope of seeing Christ face to face in eternal glory.
The Prayer
Almighty and ever-living God,
I approach the sacrament
of Your only-begotten Son
Our Lord Jesus Christ,
I come sick to the doctor of life,
unclean to the fountain of mercy,
blind to the radiance of eternal light,
and poor and needy to the Lord
of heaven and earth.
Lord, in your great generosity,
heal my sickness,
wash away my defilement,
enlighten my blindness, enrich my poverty,
and clothe my nakedness.
May I receive the bread of angels,
the King of kings and Lord of lords,
with humble reverence,
with the purity and faith,
the repentance and love,
and the determined purpose
that will help to bring me to salvation.
May I receive the sacrament
of the Lord’s Body and Blood,
and its reality and power.
Kind God,
may I receive the Body
of Your only-begotten Son,
our Lord Jesus Christ,
born from the womb of the Virgin Mary,
and so be received into His mystical body
and numbered among His members.
Loving Father,
as on my earthly pilgrimage
I now receive Your beloved Son
under the veil of a sacrament,
may I one day see him face to face in glory,
who lives and reigns with You for ever.
Amen.
– Saint Thomas Aquinas
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When To Pray
Pray this before Mass, during quiet preparation before the liturgy begins, or before receiving Holy Communion. It is especially appropriate when seeking a deeper sense of reverence and gratitude for the Real Presence of Christ in the Eucharist.
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More About This Prayer
About This Prayer
This traditional prayer attributed to St. Thomas Aquinas is a beautiful preparation for receiving Holy Communion. It approaches Christ as the divine physician, the fountain of mercy, and the true Bread of Heaven. The prayer asks God for healing, purification, faith, repentance, and love so that we may receive Christ with a properly disposed heart. It also looks beyond the sacramental signs of the Eucharist toward the hope of seeing Christ face to face in eternal glory.
When To Pray
Pray this before Mass, during quiet preparation before the liturgy begins, or before receiving Holy Communion. It is especially appropriate when seeking a deeper sense of reverence and gratitude for the Real Presence of Christ in the Eucharist.
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