Prayer Before Mass
Eternal Father, I unite myself with the intentions and affections of our Lady of Sorrows on Calvary, and I offer Thee the sacrifice which Thy beloved Son Jesus made of Himself on the Cross, and which He now renews on this holy Altar. I offer it in the name of all mankind, with the Masses which are now being offered, and all those which will be offered throughout the world this day:
To adore Thee and give Thee the honor which is due to Thee, confessing Thy supreme dominion over all things, and the absolute dependence of everything upon Thee, Who art our one and last End;
To thank Thee for innumerable benefits received;
To appease Thy justice, aroused against us by so many sins, and to make satisfaction for them;
To implore grace and mercy for myself, for Thy Church, for the afflicted and sorrowing, for poor sinners, for those whom I have promised prayers, for all the world, and for the holy souls in purgatory. Amen.
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| Rev. Irvin Mathias Udulutsch, OFM Cap (1920-2010) |
Fulda Melody |
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| O Jesus we adore Thee, Who In Thy love divine, con- ceal Thy mighty Godhead, in Forms of bread and wine. (Chorus) |
CHORUS O Sacrament Most Holy, O Sacrament Divine, All Praise and all thanksgiving, Be Ev’ry moment Thine. |
| O Jesus we adore Thee, our Victim and our Priest, Whose Precious Blood and Body, Be- come our Sacred feast. (Chorus) |
O Jesus we adore Thee, our Saviour and our King, and with the saints and angels, our humble homage bring. (Chorus) |
| O Jesus we adore Thee, come Live in us we pray, that All our thoughts and actions, be Thine alone today. (Chorus) |
O come all thee who labor, in Sorrow and in pain, come eat this Bread from heaven, thy peace and strength regain. (Chorus) |
Prayers before Communion
Prayer of St. Thomas Aquinas for Preparing for Holy 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.
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.
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.
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| H. W. Baker (1821-1877). | Orlando Gibbons (1583-1625). Song 13. |
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| 1. Jesu, grant me this, I pray, ever in Thy heart to stay; let me evermore abide hidden in Thy wounded side. |
2. If the world or Satan lay tempting snares about my way, I am safe when I abide in Thy heart and wounded side. |
| 3. If the flesh, more dangerous still, tempt my soul to deeds of ill, naught I fear when I abide in Thy heart and wounded side. |
4. Death will come one day to me; Jesu, cast me not from Thee: dying let me still abide in Thy heart and wounded side. Amen. |
Prayer of St. Ambrose for Preparing for Holy Communion
O loving Lord Jesus Christ, I, a sinner, not presuming on my own merits, but trusting in Thy mercy and goodness, with fear and awe approach the table of Thy 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 Thee, the fount of mercy; to Thee I fly for healing 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, Lord, I show my wounds, to Thee 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 Thy 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 Thee; have mercy on me, for I am full of sin and wretchedness, Thee 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, Thy creature, whom Thou hast redeemed with Thy Blood. I am grieved 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 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 Thy 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 Thee, as well as the strongest defense for soul and body against the snares of my enemies.
Amen.
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Direct your Intention
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 honour 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 for ever. 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.
Commemorate the Passion of Christ
O most loving Jesus, I desire, in the Most Holy Sacrifice of the Mass, to commemorate, as Thou hast commanded, all Thy sufferings and bitter Passion, whereby Thou hast wrought the redemption of the world.
I recall with sorrow and love: Thine agony in the Garden, Thy cruel scourging at the pillar, Thy crowning with thorns, Thy bearing of the heavy Cross, Thy dolorous crucifixion and death, Thy side pierced with a lance, and all Thy sacred wounds.
Grant, O Lord, that I may ever keep before my eyes this most precious memorial of Thy love, and that, by meditating upon Thy Passion, I may grow in contrition for my sins, in love for Thee, and in firm purpose to follow Thee more faithfully.
Unite me, O Lord, with Thine own oblation upon the altar, that I may offer myself in union with Thee to the Eternal Father, in reparation for sin and for the salvation of souls.
Through the intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of Sorrows, may I persevere in this holy remembrance all the days of my life, and come at last to the glory of Thy Resurrection.
Amen.
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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.
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| Fr. Jeremiah Williams Cummings (1814-1866) Songs for Catholic Schools and Aids to Memory for the Catechism (1860), p. 107 |
Sir Hubert Parry (1848-1918) Amberley |
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Great God! Whatever through Thy Church |
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An Act of Hope
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.
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| Fr. Jeremiah Williams Cummings (1814-1866) Songs for Catholic Schools and Aids to Memory for the Catechism (1860), p. 108 |
Philip James (1890-1975) Tregaron |
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My God! I firmly hope in Thee, |
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An Act of Charity
As the hart panteth after the fountains of water; so my soul panteth after thee, O God. My soul hath thirsted after the strong living God; when shall I come and appear before the face of God? For what have I in heaven? and besides Thee, what do I desire upon earth? Let blind and infatuated worldlings intoxicate themselves with the false, transient, and fading happiness of this life; for my part, nothing besides Thyself can content me, either in heaven or on earth. Come then, O Thou Lamb of God, Who takes away the sins of the world! Come, Thou Beloved of my heart! Adorable Flesh and precious Blood of my Savior! Come, to nourish, comfort, and enliven my sickly soul. O God of my heart! let me neither love, seek, nor think on any other object but Thyself alone; for Thou alone art my consolation, my treasure, my joy, my life, my all! “My heart and my flesh have rejoiced in the living God…Thou art, O Lord of hosts, my King and my God!” “Who will give me wings like a dove and will fly and be at rest!”
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| Fr. Jeremiah Williams Cummings (1814-1866) Songs for Catholic Schools and Aids to Memory for the Catechism (1860), p. 108 |
Arnold G.H. Bode (1866-1952) Laramie |
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With all my heart, and soul, and strength, |
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An Act of Humility
O God of infinite sanctity! Who am I that Thou shouldst deign to come to me? “The heavens are not pure in Thy sight,” and wilt Thou dwelt in my heart? “Lord! I am not worthy that Thou shouldst enter under my roof.” The consciousness of my unworthiness would prompt me to exclaim, “Depart from me, O Lord, for I am a sinner.” But oh, the wonderful condescension of Thy love! Thy pressing invitation encourages me and dispels my fears. “Here I am for Thou didst call me.” Come, then, O Jesus, take possession of a heart that wishes to belong to Thee. “Behold, they that go far from Thee shall perish.” But, O my God, this house of my heart is too narrow for Thee: do Thou enlarge it; it is falling to ruin; do Thou repair it; it has been defiled by sin: do Thou cleanse and purify it. “Look Thou upon me, and have mercy on me. Oh, heal my soul, for I have sinned against Thee! Let Thy tender mercies come unto me, and I shall live! Lord, I am not worthy that Thou shouldst enter under my roof; say but the word, and my soul shall be healed.”
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| 1) O Lord, I am not worthy That thou should’st come to me; But speak the word of comfort, My spirit healed shall be. |
4) Increase my faith, dear Jesus, In thy real presence here, And make me feel most deeply That thou to me art near. |
| 2) And humbly I’ll receive thee, The Bridegroom of my soul, No more by sin to grieve thee Or fly thy sweet control. |
5) O Sacrament Most Holy, O Sacrament Divine, All Praise and All Thanksgiving, Be Every Moment Thine. |
| 3) Eternal Holy Spirit, Unworthy though I be, Prepare me to receive him And trust the Word to me. |
Amen. |
Trinitarian Preparation for Holy Communion
From Father Rawes’ “Bread of Life”
I
Holy Ghost, help me to receive Jesus with love and reverence. Thou art my teacher and my sanctifier, and by Thee I live. Thou givest light and strength to my soul. Jesus, hidden in the Blessed Sacrament, is my Saviour and my God. I long to be with Him, that He may abide more in me and I in Him. He is the bread of life, the true bread of God. I long to feed with adoration on that living bread. Be with me, O blessed Spirit, as I draw near to the altar, and give me always more faithfulness to Jesus and more love for Him.
Jesus, Thou standest behind our wall, being hidden in the Blessed Sacrament. Thence Thou lookest through the lattices, searching our most secret thoughts. Give me grace to wait for Thee, and watch for Thee, that I may be always ready to meet Thee at Thy coming.
Thy head is full of dew, for as God Thou art all-merciful; and Thy locks are full of the drops of the night, for Thou wast a man of sorrows, and didst carry Thy cross for me.
I love Thee and adore Thee, Jesus, God and man. With hunger and thirst of soul I long to receive Thee in the mystery of the altar. Send forth Thy spirit more and more into my soul, that I may be ever nearer to Thee, my King and my God.
II
In the light of the tabernacle I ask Thee, O Holy Ghost, to fill my heart with pure desire for Jesus, the living bread. Give me grace to adore Him with the holy angels, that His will may be done on earth as it is in heaven, and that His will may be done in my soul. Help me to thank Him for all His gifts, and most of all for Himself. By this holy sacrament He strengthens souls on earth, and gives rest to souls in purgatory, and gladdens souls in heaven. He is the hidden manna, promised by Himself to all who overcome. Thy grace will bring me in safety to God. May I taste the sweetness of Jesus! May my soul be kept by Thee very bright for the coming of my spouse!
III
Cleanse my heart, O holy Spirit, by this heavenly food, wherein Jesus gives me Himself. Strengthen my faith, that I may see Jesus in this sacrament of His body and blood. There is in me a law by which I am in danger of falling into the captivity of sin. I have often to go on my heavenward way through darkness and many temptations, but Thou art my light and my strength. In Thee I trust. By Thy grace I can do all things that Jesus wishes me to do. Be ever in my soul as the dew of the light. With utter trust I rest upon Thee, and believe the testimony which Thou givest. Set up more and more Thy kingdom in my soul, that I may keep my body under, and bring it to subjection, lest I should be a castaway from Jesus and from Thee.
IV
O Holy Ghost, let my life be hidden with Jesus in God. Give me grace to live for God only, and to use creatures in Him and for His sake. Let the beauty of God blind me to the beauty of the world, and let the light of God blind me to the light of earth. Thou, O my God, art brighter than all things and sweeter. Take away from my soul all the dross and purify it, giving it light and strength. To Thee, Spirit of deathless love, I turn for help. Take from me all human respect; for wrong regard of creatures blights the soul, so that its fruits are withered. Help me to be more faithful to Jesus, my love, Who is coming to me from His altar. He is my life, as Thou art my life, and as the eternal Father is my life. Give me more love, that I may welcome Jesus as He comes to me in the hidden light, and in the freshness of the morning dew.
V
O Holy Ghost, fill me with the fear of the Lord, and drive far from me all thoughts of presumption. Save me from guilt like this. Keep me from offending God; and keep me from the wounds of His anger. Make me feel His goodness, and fill my heart with thankfulness. If I am faithful to Thee, Thou wilt give me much grace; if I am unfaithful, Thou wilt give me little grace, or, it may be, none at all. Dwell in my soul more and more, that I may be faithful with a great faithfulness, and inherit the fulness of Thy promises.
VI
O Holy Ghost, give me a great hunger for the bread of life. Do Thou, by that bread which is Jesus, satisfy my soul, and strengthen it, and make it full of life. I am needy with a great need; but this bread of heaven is the life of the poor; let it be my life. I am very poor and needy; but Thou, my own Lord, dost always care for me. Without Thee, blessed Spirit, I can not say, Jesus: without Thee, helper of the needy, I can not feed on Him Who is the bread from heaven.
O Spirit of peace, give me a great love for the holy sacrifice of the Mass.
O Spirit of reconciliation, help all darkened souls, and bring them back to life.
O Spirit of mercy, help the souls that are now suffering in the fire of Purgatory. I ask Thee, by Thine own goodness, to give them refreshment and joy and white robes of consoling love.
O Spirit most full of pity, give me a great joy in the sacrament of love. Thou dwellest in me, and by Thee I live to God. Thou makest me a temple of Thyself and of the Father and the Son. Thou makest me an heir of God. Bring me now, dear Spirit, in light to the altar; bring me in light to my grave; bring me in light to the city of the King and the song of the morning stars.
VII
Eternal Father, wash me from my sins in the blood of Jesus.
Eternal Son, fill me with the fire of Thy Heart.
Eternal Spirit, make me glad with the sweetness of the soul of Jesus.
O eternal Father, crush all the powers of evil under my feet. Let me walk upon the asp and the basilisk; let me trample under foot the lion and the dragon by the blood of Thy Son.
O eternal Son, pour into my soul abundant gifts of grace. Thou didst die for me on the cross. There Thou didst merit for me the treasures of grace which now Thou givest. Thou didst give me Thyself in shedding of blood and in dimness of death. Now Thou givest me Thyself in outpouring of gladness and in Thy deathless life. Thou wast dead and art alive forever.
O eternal Spirit, hide me more and more with God, and let there be in me more and more of the mind of Jesus. Touch the lips of my soul and give me a taste for this bread of God, that I may know the graciousness of my Jesus, and the sweetness of His blood. The love of God is shed abroad in my heart, for Thou, O Holy Ghost, art given to me. Oh, lift me up, dear Spirit, from the dust. Oh, bring me in Thine own good time to the pavement of pure gold as clear as crystal. Fill my soul with Thy dew; fill it with Thy fire. There is no dew like Thine; and there is no fire like Thine. They mingle together in the fruitfulness of the garden of the Spouse. They mingle with the blood of Jesus, and with the water from His side. Oh, fire of the Holy Ghost, gentle and sweet as dew! Oh, dew of the Holy Ghost, piercing and cleansing as fire! O Holy Ghost, Whom I love, lift Thy little one to Thine uncreated Heart.
O blessed Trinity, show me the hidden things of the blood of Jesus, the holy mystery of Thy Church.
VIII
O Jesus, Lamb of God, hidden in the darkness, give me grace to come to Thee.
O Jesus, Thou art God and man, miraculously conceived, miraculously born; give me light that I may know Thee.
O Jesus, conceived of the Holy Ghost, born of the Virgin Mary, give me strength to come to Thee.
O Jesus, Thou art in this most holy sacrament with Thy body and soul and Godhead; give me grace to find Thee and love Thee.
My Saviour, give me true sorrow for sin as I draw near to Thy altar, seeking for Thee.
My Saviour take from me all pride, all malice, all wickedness; that in newness of life, without guile and without vainglory, I may give Thee the praise of my life, and draw near to Thy altar, seeking Thee.
My Saviour, sprinkle me with Thy precious blood, and lead me in the way of Thy passion, and keep me beneath the shadow of Thy cross, that I may draw near to Thy altar, seeking Thee.
O most holy Jesus, purify my soul from all uncleanness and from every spot displeasing to Thee, that in holiness of heart I may feed upon this bread of God.
O most holy Jesus, keep me from every wound of sin, and lead me in the right way, that I may walk in the footsteps of those who loved Thee, and feed now upon this bread of God.
O most holy Jesus, give me an upright heart and a just heart, that I may love Thee, the King in Jerusalem, and wait for Thy coming, and feed now upon this bread of God.
O Jesus, incarnate Word, my King and my God, I come to Thee. Hungry and thirsty, my spirit fainteth within me; and I cry to Thee, O Thou lover of my soul. Thou, my Jesus, art the giver of bread: set a table for me in the wilderness. Thou, my Jesus, art the giver of drink: let me slake my thirst with living water from the Rock. Draw me, my Lord and my God; then I will come to Thee. Speak to me, my brother and my friend — then I will listen to Thee and follow in Thy steps.
Fasten me, O sweetest Jesus, to Thyself with a chain of gold which will not break, and let me rest on Thy Heart. In the everlasting home feed me with Thy beauty, with the vision of Thy face, with the vision of the face of God. O Jesus, Jesus, Jesus!
IX
O Holy Ghost, my helper and my comforter, Thou knowest all the suffering through which I may have to go, and Thou knowest the chains by which I am bound. Thou knowest, giver of holiness, how my soul cleaves to the dust. Thou knowest my need of grace, and how little I seek for it, and how I waste the graces which Thou in Thy goodness givest me. Thou knowest how I am stricken with the wounds of death in pain and sorrow and wasting of life. These things lead me onward to my grave. Help me, Spirit of life, and comfort me and hold me up with Thy Almighty hand. In all temptations of the Devil I come to Thee. In all temptations of my own heart I come to Thee. If I live according to the flesh, I die: but, if by Thee I kill the flesh, I live. If I am led by Thee as Thou longest to lead me, I am a child of God.
Wash me from all stain of sin, and save me.
I pray that the most holy body of Jesus may be in me as that balm of Gilead against which no diseases of the spirit can prevail. Let it be to me that light of salvation against which no thickness of darkness has power.
Jesus, coming to me from Thy altar, fill my soul with love, and bring me at last safely to the whiteness of the streets in Thy heavenly city, where Thy elect dwell with Thee for ever.