Prayers for Communion

Communion Prayers:

BEFORE:

St. Thomas Aquinas -

Almighty and everlasting God, behold, I am about to 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 well-spring of mercy and goodness, as one blind to the light of eternal brightness, as one poor and needy to the Lord of heaven and earth. Wherefore, 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 Lord of lords with such reverence and humility, with such contrition and devotion, with such purity and faith, with such purpose and intention, as my conduce to the salvation of my soul. 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 the Sacrament. O most indulgent and merciful God, grant me so the 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. 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 a veil, Who liveth and reigneth with Thee in the unity of the Holy Ghost, God, for ever and ever, Amen.

AFTER:

St. Bonaventure -

Pierce, O most sweet Lord Jesus, my inmost soul with the most joyous and healthful wound of Thy love, with true, tranquil and most holy apostolic charity, that my soul may ever languish and melt with love and longing for Thee, that it may yearn for Thee and faint for Thy courts and long to be dissolved and to be with Thee. Grant that my soul may hunger after Thee, the bread of Angels, the comforting nourishment of holy souls, our daily and supersubstantial bread, having all sweetness and savour and every delight of taste; let my heart ever hunger after and feed upon Thee, upon Whom the Angels desire to look and may mine inmost soul be filled with the sweetness of Thy savour; may it ever thirst after Thee, the source of life, the fount of wisdom and knowledge, the fountain of everlasting light, the flood of pleasure, the richness of the house of God; may it ever compass Thee, seek Thee, find Thee, run to Thee, attain to Thee, meditate upon Thee, speak of Thee and do all things to the praise and glory of Thy name, with humility and discretion, with love and delight, with ease and affection and with perseverance unto the end; and mayest Thou alone be ever my hope, my entire assurance, my riches, my delight, my pleasure, my joy, my rest and tranquility, my peace, my sweetness, my fragrance, my sweet savour, my food, my refreshment, my refuge, my help, my wisdom, my portion, my possession and my treasure, in Whom may my mind and my heart remain fixed and firm and rooted immovably for evermore, Amen.