Private Prayers in Preparation for Holy Communion (May be said before Mass or immediately before Communion.)

O LORD, JESUS CHRIST, King of everlasting glory, behold I desire to come to Thee this day, and to receive Thy Body and Blood in this heavenly Sacrament, for Thy honor and glory and the good of my soul. I desire to receive Thee because it is Thy desire, and Thou hast so ordained: blessed be Thy Name forever. I desire to come to Thee like Magdalen, that I may be delivered from all my evils, and embrace Thee, my only Good. I desire to come to Thee, that I may be happily united to Thee, that I may henceforth abide in Thee, and Thou in me; and that nothing in life or death may ever separate me from Thee. 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 truth; I believe these wonders; I adore the Power that hath wrought them, the same Power that said: "Let there be light", and light was made. Verily, Thou art a hidden God, the Savior. Amen

AN ACT OF HOPE

Since Thou dost deign 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 of my wants, but Thou art also willing and able to relieve them. Thou hast not only invited me, but also promised me Thy gracious assistance. Amen

AN ACT OF CHARITY

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 Savior? Oh, that neither life nor death, nor any accident of fortune, nor any creature may ever be able!

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 they offend Thee, my God, Who art all good and serving 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.

Thanksgiving After Communion

My good Jesus, I pray Thee to bless me; to 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 Ghost livest and reignest world without end. Amen.

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.

Prayers of St. Ignatius Loyola Act of Self-Consecration

Take, O Lord, all my liberty, receive my memory, my understanding, and my whole will. All that I am and all that I 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.

Anima Christi

Soul of Christ, be my sanctification. Body of Christ, be my salvation. Blood of Christ, fill all my veins. Water of Christ's side, wash out my stains. Passion of Christ, my comfort be. O good Jesus, listen to me. In Thy wounds I fain would hide, Ne'er to be parted from Thy side. Guard me should the foe assail me. Call me when my life shall fail me. Bid me to come to Thee above, With Thy saints to sing Thy love World without end. Amen.

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O Most Merciful Jesus, lover of souls, by the agony of Thy Most Sacred Heart, an by the sorrows of Thine Immaculate Mother, cleanse in Thy Blood the sinners of the whole world, who are now in their agony, and are to die this day. Amen.

O Most Sacred Heart of Jesus, pour down Thy blessings abundantly upon Thy Church; upon the Supreme Pontiff, and upon the clergy; give perseverance to the just; convert sinners; enlighten unbelievers; bless our parents, friends, and benefactors; help the dying; free the souls in purgatory; and extend over all hearts the sweet empire of Thy love. Amen.

Heart of Jesus, burning with love for us, set our hearts on fire with love of Thee. Heart of Jesus, I put my trust in Thee. Sweet Heart of Jesus, grant that I may love Thee more and more.

Prayer Before A Crucifix

Look down upon me, good and gentle Jesus, while before Thy face I humbly kneel, and with burning soul pray and beseech Thee to fix deep in my heart lively sentiments of faith, hope, and charity, true contrition for my sins and a firm purpose of amendment; and 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 which David, Thy prophet, said of Thee, my Jesus: "They have pierced My hands and My feet; they have numbered all My bones."

Prayer to the Holy Spirit

Breathe into me, Holy Spirit, that my thought may all be holy. Move in me, Holy Spirit, that my work, too may be holy. Attract 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 always may be holy. Amen.

A Prayer to Our Lady

O Mary, most holy Virgin Mother, lo, I have receive 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 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.

-- jalapeno (jalapeno52000@hotmail.com), January 28, 2005

Answers

must read!

-- bumper (bump@hotmail.com), January 28, 2005.

They don't write 'em like that anymore.

-- jake (j@k.e), January 28, 2005.

No, they don't write them like this any more. :o( I just wonder why they were removed and what did people gain by not having these prayers any more? Also, did not write all of them. Left only a few out, but at least now many Catholics and others will see some beautiful prayers that are no longer available for all to read on Sundays at the Novus Ordo Mass. I hope these prayers move you the way they did me. May you grow spiritually and may you feel them in your heart and soul.

God Bless.

-- jalapeno (jalapeno52000@hotmail.com), January 28, 2005.

Yes they are nice, though all of the theeing and thouing is not my cup of tea. But they ARE still “available”. There is no prohibition on anyone who wants to from using them before Mass/Communion at ANY Mass.

-- Steve (55555@aol.com), January 28, 2005.

But they ARE still “available”. There is no prohibition on anyone who wants to from using them before Mass/Communion at ANY Mass.

***So where would someone who only goes to the Novus Ordo find them? I never knew they existed until I went to a Traditional Latin Mass. Why not have these where ALL will have access to them? Or maybe you know something I don't. Where you would go and buy them Steve and how would you know to look for them if you had never seen or heard of them?

God Bless.

-- jalapeno (jalapeno52000@hotmail.com), January 28, 2005.

Some Catholics prefer their prayers composed and arranged by somebody else. We have Jesus Christ's recommended prayer; ''Our Father who art in heaven,''

And the Ave; nothing can add to its perfection. The ''Glory be to the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit,'', acts of contrition, the Creed, etc,

--And wonderful composed prayers like Jalapeno's. No shortage of superb prayers. I like to improvise my silent prayers in the midst of worry, hard work and distress.

The prayers I find suitable for any occasion and possibly BEST at the last moment of my life;

''Lord; be merciful to me, a sinner!''

The other is: ''Most Glorious and Sacred Heart of Jesus, I adore Thee!''

-- eugene c. chavez (loschavez@pacbell.net), January 29, 2005.

I’m sure there are thousands of beautiful prayers that have been written yet I don’t know of them. That doesn’t mean they’re not “available”. Actually there are (modern-language versions of) some of your prayers printed in the back of my “novus ordo” Missal.

-- Steve (55555@aol.com), January 29, 2005.

There are various Devotionary books (Prayer Books) that have these and many other prayers composed by Saints: Thomas Aquinas, St. Ignatius, St. Francis of Assisi, St. Teresa of Avila, St. John of the Cross, St, Francis of Sales and many others etc. Any Catholic may recite them whenever he chooses: before Mass, after Mass, out of Mass, at home or any other place. So why make a big problem about it?

Enrique

-- Enrique Ortiz (eaortiz@yahoo.com), January 29, 2005.

Actually there are (modern-language versions of) some of your prayers printed in the back of my “novus ordo” Missal.

**Two of them I believe. They do change the ones on the back of the novus ordo yearly. Wouldn't it be so much better to have ALL I have listed every day never changing? Let them put a modern-language version of it too, but let all Catholics have these beautiful Catholic prayers.

Any Catholic may recite them whenever he chooses: before Mass, after Mass, out of Mass, at home or any other place. So why make a big problem about it?

***It's not a problem. I just don't understand why they are not available for all to read FREE on Sundays or any other day that they go to church. These prayers are not just any prayer either. They are our Catholic prayers that can help all grow spiritually. You are told when they are best prayed. As in, before going to confession, after confession, before Holy Communion, after Holy Communion. It also tells those who may not know the ten commandments which sins are which along with the others I listed. I did not type it all out either. The Holy Rosary, the Angelus, Regina Coeli, prayer of St. Thomas Aquinas (a different one), prayer of St. Bonaventure. Eucharist Heart of Jesus, have mercy on us!

I like to improvise my silent prayers in the midst of worry, hard work and distress. ''Our Father who art in heaven,'' And the Ave; nothing can add to its perfection. The ''Glory be to the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit,'', acts of contrition, the Creed, etc,

***I do too. My personal prayers change daily, but I also love praying the ones I've listed because they are humbling. The prayers you've mentioned are also in the Latin Mass. One of my daily prayers for years is very close to one that came from St. Augustine. Of course his was much better. Not saying that God is not pleased with our prayers either. I believe all of us can grow from the prayers I've posted.

Another thing, when the consecrated Host is lifted it tells all to, adore the Body of our Redeemer as the priest elevates the Host for our veneration. Say silently: My Lord and my God. (I say this three times) Then bow your head. When the priest elevates the Precious Blood, say silently: Be mindful, O Lord, of thy creature whom Thous hast redeemed by Thy most Precious Blood or My Lord and my God(3x's). Bow your head again after adoring Him. Now tell me this! For non Catholics going in wouldn't all of this be helpful? How many CAtholics don't know to do this? :o( One more prayer AFTER Holy Communion for all. Grant, O Lord, that what we have taken with our mouth, we may receive with a pure mind; and that from a temporal gift it may become for us an everlasting remedy.

May Thy Body, O Lord, which I have received and Thy Blood which I have drunk, cleave to my inmost parts, and grant that no stain of sin remain in me; whom these pure and holy Sacraments have refreshed. Who livest and reignest world without end. Amen.

God Bless.

-- jalapeno (jalapeno52000@hotmail.com), January 29, 2005.