CATHOLIC PRAYERS
prayers for before MAss
PRAYER TO THE HOLY GHOST
Incline, O most gracious Lord, your ears of mercy to our prayers, and enlighten our hearts by the grace of the Holy Ghost, so that we may worthily celebrate your mysteries and love you with an everlasting love.
O God, before whom every heart lies open and to whom every desire speaks and from whom no secret lies hid, cleanse the thoughts of our hearts by the pouring forth of your Holy Ghost, so that we may be worthy to love you perfectly and worthily to praise you.
Inflame, O Lord, our reins and our hearts with the fire of your Holy Ghost, so that we may serve you with a chaste mind and please you with a clean heart.
We beseech you, O Lord, that the Comforter, who proceeds from you, may enlighten our minds, and lead us, as your Son has promised, unto all truth.
May the power of your Holy Ghost, we beseech you, O Lord, be present unto us, mercifully to cleanse our hearts and to defend them from all harm.
O God, who taught the hearts of the faithful by the light of your Holy Ghost, grant that in the same spirit we may be truly wise and ever rejoice in his consolation.
Cleanse, we beseech you, O Lord, our consciences by your visitation, so that when our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, shall come he may find in us a dwelling prepared for him; who lives and rules with you in the unity of the Holy Ghost, God, world without end. Amen.
PRAYER OF ST. JOHN CHRYSOSTOM
O God, loose, remit, and forgive my sins against you. Whether in word, or in deed, or in thought, willingly or unwillingly, knowingly or unknowingly committed, forgive them all; for you are good and love mankind. And through the prayers of your most holy Mother, of your heavenly servants and holy powers, and of all the saints who have found favour in your sight, enable me to receive without condemnation your holy and immaculate body and your precious blood, to the healing of my soul and body, and to the driving away of all evil imaginations; for yours is the kingdom, the power, and the glory, Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, now and forever, and to ages of ages. Amen.
PRAYER TO THE BLESSED VIRGIN MARY
O Mother of love and of mercy, most blessed Virgin Mary, I, who am a wretched and unworthy sinner, fly unto you with all my heart and will. And I beseech your mercy that, even as you stood close to your most sweet Son as He hung upon the cross, so may you graciously be near to me and to all priests who offer Mass today, here and throughout all our holy Church; so that, aided by your grace, we may offer a worthy and acceptable sacrifice in the sight of the most high and undivided Trinity. Amen.
PRAYER TO ST. JOSEPH
Happy and blessed are you, O Joseph, to whom it has been given not only to see and to hear, but also to bear in your arms, to embrace, to clothe, and to watch over God himself, whom many kings have desired to see but have not seen, and to hear but have not heard.
V. Pray for us, O blessed Joseph.
R. That we may be worthy of the promises of Christ.
PRAYER OF ST. AMBROSE
Who can worthily be present at this sacrifice, unless you, O God, make him worthy? I know, O Lord, truly do I know, and I humbly do confess this to your loving kindness, that I am unworthy to approach so great a mystery, by reason of my numberless sins and negligences; but I know, and truly with my own heart do I believe, and with my tongue confess, that you can make me worthy, you who alone can make that clean which proceeds from that which is unclean, and sinners to be just and holy. By this your almighty power I pray you, O my God, to grant that I, a sinner, may assist at this sacrifice with fear and trembling, with purity of heart and plenteous tears, with spiritual gladness and heavenly joy. May my mind feel the sweetness of your most blessed presence, and the love of your holy angels, keeping watch around me. Amen.
PRAYERS BEFORE HOLY COMMUNION
PRAYER OF ST. THOMAS OF AQUINAS
Almighty and everlasting God, behold, I come to the sacrament of your only-begotten Son, our Lord Jesus Christ. I come as one infirm to the physician of life, as one unclean to the fountain of mercy, as one blind to the light of everlasting brightness, as one poor and needy to the Lord of heaven and earth. Therefore I implore the abundance of your measureless bounty to heal my infirmity, wash my uncleanness, enlighten my blindness, enrich my poverty, and clothe my nakedness, that I may receive the Bread of angels, the King of kings, the Lord of lords, with such reverence and humility, with such sorrow and devotion, with such purity and faith, with such purpose and intention as may be profitable to my soul’s salvation. Grant me, I pray, the grace of receiving not only the sacrament of our Lord’s body and blood, but also the grace and power of the sacrament. O most gracious God, grant me so to receive the body of your only-begotten Son, our Lord Jesus Christ, which he took from the Virgin Mary, as to merit to be incorporated into his Mystical Body, and to be numbered among his members. O most loving Father, give me grace to behold forever your beloved Son with unveiled face, whom I now purpose to receive veiled in the way. Amen.
ACT OF FAITH BEFORE HOLY COMMUNION
O my God, I firmly believe that by the words of consecration spoken during Mass, bread truly becomes the Body of Christ and wine His most Precious Blood, and that Thy Divine Son is offered to Thee upon the altar under appearances representing that separation of His Body and Blood which took place on Calvary. Therefore, do I believe with my whole heart, that this holy Victim is the same as that of the cross, whom I am about to receive, in order to unite my sacrifices to His own, by immolating myself with Him for Thy glory. Amen.
ACT OF HOPE BEFORE HOLY COMMUNION
O my God, I place all my hope in Jesus, my loving Saviour, truly present before me on the altar. He, who on the cross offered to Thee the superabundant merits of His Divine Blood, shed for our sins. Do Thou graciously accept the offering, which I now make to Thee at the hands of Thy priests, of the holy Victim who has reconciled us to Thyself, and being fully appeased by Him, grant to my soul the graces it needs in order to receive my Lord worthily and obtain through Him all the effects of Thy Fatherly goodness. Amen.
ACT OF LOVE BEFORE HOLY COMMUNION
O my God, I love Thee with all my heart, with all my soul, with all my strength and with no other desire than to be inseparably united to Thee. It is through Thy Divine Son that this union is about to be realised within me. In Holy Communion I long to identify myself with Him, that it will no longer be myself, but Him, who lives in me; and when I have received Jesus within myself, then I shall love and be loved by Thee in that same measure, in which I am united to Him. Hasten then, to give me Thy Divine Son, at the hands of Thy priest, that through Jesus, I may unite myself forever to Thee, O God the Father, in the unity of the Holy Ghost. Amen.
ACT OF CONTRITION BEFORE HOLY COMMUNION
O my God, at the moment of receiving within myself the Divine Victim of Calvary, I confess sincerely before Thy Divine Majesty and before the whole court of heaven, that I have offended Thee by thought, word and deed. By my sins I have contributed to the death of Jesus on the cross; but Thou hast forgiven me, washing my soul in the Blood of Thy Son and clothing it with the wedding garment of Thy grace. I come, therefore, contrite and repentant, but with a heart overflowing with boundless gratitude, to the holy table which Thou hast prepared for the prodigal child, who had abandoned Thee, and whom in Thy goodness Thou wouldst nourish with Heavenly Bread. Amen.
COMMUNION PRAYER
O my God
As you have given yourself to me
Now let me give myself to Thee
I give you my body that may be chaste and pure
I give you my soul that may be free from sin
I give you my heart that may always love you
I give you every breath that I shall breathe
And especially my last
I give you myself in life and in death
That I may be Thine forever and ever
Amen.
PRAYERS AFTER HOLY COMMUNION
& THANKSGIVING AFTER MASS
THANKSGIVING AFTER HOLY COMMUNION
I give Thee thanks, O holy Lord, Father Almighty, Eternal God, Who, notwithstanding my lack of merit and prompted only by Thy gracious mercy, hast condescended to replenish me, a sinner and useless servant of Thine, with the Precious Body and Blood of Thy Son, Jesus Christ, our Lord.
And I pray that this Holy Communion may not render me liable to punishment but may rather be a means of winning life-giving pardon. May It equip me with the armour of faith and the shield of a good will. May It empty me of all my vices, expel from me lust and evil desires, increase in me charity and patience, humility and obedience and all the other virtues; may It defend me securely against the wiles of all my enemies, both visible and invisible; may It give me perfect control of all my inclinations of body and soul; may It attach me solidly to Thee, the one true God and bring me to the perfect happiness of my last end.
I pray Thee further graciously to bring me to that unspeakable banquet where Thou, in union with Thy Son and the Holy Ghost, art the true light, the complete satisfaction, the eternal joy, the all-embracing gladness and perfect happiness of Thy saints. Through the same Christ our Lord. Amen.
ANIMA CHRISTI
Soul of Christ, sanctify me,
Body of Christ, save me.
Blood of Christ, inebriate me.
Water from the side of Christ, wash me.
Passion of Christ, strengthen me.
O good Jesus, hear me.
Within Thy wounds hide me.
Permit me not to be separated from Thee.
From the malicious enemy defend me.
In the hour of my death call me,
And bid me come to Thee,
That, with thy saints, I may praise Thee,
For ever and ever.
Amen.
PRAYERS OF ST. THOMAS AQUINAS
Almighty and everlasting God, the preserver of souls and the redeemer of the world, look favourably upon me, your servant, prostrate before your Majesty. Graciously accept this sacrifice at which, in honour of your name, I have been present, for the saving health of the faithful, living as well as departed, as also for all my sins and offences. Take away your anger from me; grant me your grace and mercy; open unto me the gates of Paradise; deliver me by your power from all evils; graciously forgive whatever guilt I have of my own sinfulness incurred; and let me so persevere in your precepts in this world that I may be worthy to be joined to the company of your elect; of your only gift, O my God, whose blessed name, honour, and dominion endures forever and ever. Amen.
I thank you, O Lord, holy Father, everlasting God, who through no merit of mine, but only out of your great mercy, has fed me, a sinner, your unworthy servant, with the precious body and blood of your Son, our Lord Jesus Christ; and I pray that this Holy Communion may not be for my judgement and condemnation, but for my pardon and salvation. Let it be for me an armour of faith and a shield of good purpose, a riddance of all vices, and a rooting out of all evil desires; an increase of love and patience, of humility and obedience, and of all virtues; a firm defence against the wiles of all my enemies, visible and invisible; a perfect quieting of all my impulses, carnal and spiritual; a cleaving unto you, the one true God; and a blessed consummation of my end when you call. And I pray that you would bring me, a sinner, to that ineffable feast where you, with your Son and the Holy Ghost, are to your holy ones true light, fullness of blessedness, everlasting joy, and perfect happiness. Through the same Christ our Lord. Amen.
PRAYERS OF ST. AUGUSTINE
O most holy, O most benign, O noble and glorious Virgin Mary, who was worthy to bear in your sacred womb the Creator of all and at your virginal breast to nourish Him whose true, real, and most holy body and blood I, an unworthy sinner, have just now dared to receive: I humbly ask you to intercede with Him for me, a sinner; that whatsoever, by ignorance or neglect, accident or irreverence, I have left undone or have done amiss, in this unspeakably holy sacrifice, may be pardoned through your prayers to the same our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who with the Father and the Holy Ghost lives and reigns world without end. Amen.
Before Thy eyes, O Lord, we bring our offences, and we compare them with the stripes we have received.
If we consider the evil we have wrought, what we suffer is little, what we deserve is great.
What we have committed is very grave, what we have suffered is very slight.
We feel the punishment of sin, yet withdraw not from the obstinacy of sinning.
Under Thy lash our inconstancy is visited, but our sinfulness is not changed.
Our suffering soul is tormented, but our neck is not bent.
Our life groans under sorrow, yet mends not in deed.
If Thou spare us we correct not our ways: if Thou punishest we cannot endure it.
In time of correction, we confess our wrong-doing: after Thy visitation, we forget that we have wept.
If Thou stretchest forth Thy hand, we promise amendment;
If Thou withhold the sword, we keep not our promise.
If Thou strike, we cry out for mercy: if Thou spare, we again provoke Thee to strike.
Here we are before Thee, O Lord, shameless criminals: we know that unless Thou pardonest, we shall deservedly perish. Grant then, almighty Father, without our deserving it, the pardon we ask for; Thou who made out of nothing those who ask Thee. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.
V. Deal not with us, O Lord, according to our sins.
R. Neither requite us according to our iniquities.
Let us pray. O God, Thou art offended by sin and pacified by penance; mercifully regard the prayers of Thy suppliant people, and turn away the scourges of Thy wrath, which we deserve for our sins. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.
PETITIONS OF ST. AUGUSTINE
O Lord Jesus, let me know myself, let me know Thee,
And desire nothing else but only Thee.
Let me hate myself and love Thee,
And do all things for the sake of Thee.
Let me humble myself, and exalt Thee,
And think of nothing else but Thee.
Let me die to myself, and live in Thee,
And take whatever happens as coming from Thee.
Let me forsake myself and walk after Thee,
And ever desire to follow Thee.
Let me flee from myself, and turn to Thee,
That so I may merit to be defended by Thee.
Let me fear for myself, let me fear Thee,
And be amongst those who are chosen by Thee.
Let me distrust myself, and trust in Thee,
And ever obey for the love of Thee.
Let me cleave to nothing but Thee,
And ever be poor for the sake of Thee.
Look upon me, that I may love Thee,
Call me, that I may see Thee,
And forever possess Thee. Amen.
I BESEECH THEE
I beseech Thee, my sweet Lord Jesus Christ, grant that Thy Passion may be to me a power by which I may be strengthened, protected and defended. May Thy wounds be to me food and drink, by which I may be nourished, inebriated and overjoyed. May the sprinkling of Thy Blood be to me, an ablution for all my sins. May Thy death prove to me life everlasting, and Thy cross be to me an eternal glory. In these, be my refreshment, my joy, my preservation and sweetness of heart. Who livest and reignest world without end. Amen.
THE GOLDEN ARROW
May the most holy, most sacred, most adorable, most incomprehensible and ineffable Name of God be forever praised, blessed, loved, adored and glorified in Heaven, on earth, and under the earth, by all the creatures of God, and by the Sacred Heart of our Lord Jesus Christ, in the Most Holy Sacrament of the Altar. Amen.
AN OBLATION (OF ST. IGNATIUS LOYOLA)
Take, O Lord, and receive all my liberty, my memory, my understanding, and my entire will, all that I have and possess. Thou hast given all to me. To Thee, O Lord, I return it. All is Thine; dispose of it wholly according to Thy will. Give me Thy love and Thy grace. With these I am rich enough, and I ask for nothing more.
O JESUS LIVING IN MARY
O Jesus living in Mary! Come and live in Thy servants, in the spirit of Thy holiness, in the fullness of Thy might, in the truth of Thy virtues, in the perfection of Thy ways, in the communion of Thy mysteries. Subdue every hostile power, in Thy spirit for the glory of the Father. Amen.
THE DIVINE PRAISES
Blessed be God.
Blessed be His holy name.
Blessed be Jesus Christ, true God and true Man.
Blessed be the name of Jesus.
Blessed be His most Sacred Heart.
Blessed be His most Precious Blood.
Blessed be Jesus in the most holy sacrament of the altar.
Blessed be the Holy Ghost, the Paraclete.
Blessed be the great Mother of God, Mary most holy.
Blessed be her holy and Immaculate Conception.
Blessed be her glorious Assumption.
Blessed by the name of Mary, Virgin and Mother.
Blessed be Saint Joseph, her most chaste spouse.
Blessed be God in his angels and in his saints.
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; while I contemplate with great love and tender pity Thy five most precious wounds, pondering over them within me, while I call 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.”
Our Father, Hail Mary & Glory Be
PRAYER OF ST. FRANCIS XAVIER
O God, I love you! I love you, not simply to be saved, and not because those who fail in love to you will be punished with eternal fire. You, you my Jesus, have all-embraced me on the cross. You have borne the nails, the lance, much ignominy, numberless griefs, sweatings and anguish, and death, and these on account of me and for me, a sinner. Why, therefore, should I not love you, O most loving Jesus? Not that in heaven you shall save me, nor lest for eternity you shall condemn me; not with the hope of any reward, but as you have loved me, so also will I love you – only because you are my King, and only because you are my God. Amen.
PRAYER TO ST. PAUL
O glorious St Paul, who from a persecutor of the Christian name became an apostle of burning zeal, and who, in order that Jesus Christ might be known to the furthermost bounds of the earth, joyfully suffered imprisonment, scourging, stoning, shipwreck, and every kind of persecution, and who finally shed your blood to the last drop: obtain for us the grace of accepting as divine favours the infirmities, torments, and calamities of this life, so that we may not be drawn from the service of God by the vicissitudes of this our exile, but on the contrary may prove ourselves more and more faithful and fervent. Amen.