Prayer Before Holy Communion
By St. Thomas Aquinas
Almighty and ever-living God,
I approach the sacrament of Your only-begotten Son, our Lord Jesus Christ.
I come sick to the physician of life,
unclean to the fountain of mercy,
blind to the light of eternal brightness,
poor and needy to the Lord of heaven and earth.
Therefore, I ask You, of Your boundless mercy,
that You would deign to heal my sickness,
wash 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 such reverence and humility,
with such sorrow for sin and purity of heart,
with such faith and good purpose,
as may be profitable to my soul's salvation.
Grant me, I pray, the grace to receive
not only the sacrament of the Body and Blood of our Lord,
but also the grace and power of the sacrament.
O most loving Father,
grant that I may one day behold forever face to face Your beloved Son,
whom now, here on earth, I am about to receive veiled under the sacrament.
Who lives and reigns with You in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God, forever and ever. Amen.
From the Byzantine Liturgy
O Lord, I believe and profess that you are truly Christ, the Son of the living God, who came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am the first. Accept me as a partaker of your mystical supper, O Son of God; for I will not reveal your mystery to your enemies, nor will I give you a kiss as did Judas, but like the thief I confess to you: Remember me, O Lord, when you shall come into your kingdom. Remember me, O Master, when you shall come into your kingdom. Remember me, O Holy One, when you shall come into your kingdom. May the partaking of your Holy Mysteries, O Lord, be not for my judgment or condemnation, but for the healing of soul and body. O Lord, I also believe and profess that this, which I am about to receive, is truly your most precious Body and your life-giving Blood, which, I pray, make me worthy to receive for the remission of all my sins and for life everlasting.
Amen.
