A Book of Catholic Prayers

A BOOK OF CATHOLIC PRAYERS
Compiled by
Paul Gerard Horrigan
COPYRIGHT © 2000 By Paul Gerard Horrigan,

Ph.D, All Rights Reserved.
This HTML edition is provided free for noncommercial

and devotional use.
With ecclesiastical approval.

The Sign of the Cross
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
The Lord’s Prayer
Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be Thy name, Thy kingdom come, Thy will
be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us
our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into
temptation but deliver us from evil. Amen.
The Hail Mary
Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee. Blessed art thou among women, and
blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus. Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us
sinners, now and at the hour of our death. Amen.
The Apostles’ Creed
I believe in God, the Father Almighty, Creator of heaven and earth. I believe in Jesus
Christ, His only Son, our Lord. He was conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit and
born of the Virgin Mary. He suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and
was buried. He descended to the dead. On the third day He rose again. He
ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of the Father. He will come
again to judge the living and the dead. I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy Catholic
Church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the
body, and life everlasting. Amen.
The Nicene Creed
We believe in one God, the Father, the Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth, of all
that is, seen and unseen. We believe in one Lord, Jesus Christ, the only Son of God
eternally begotten of the Father, God from God, Light from Light, true God from true
God, begotten, not made, one in Being with the Father. Through Him all things were
made. For us men and for our salvation He came down from heaven: by the power
of the Holy Spirit He was born of the Virgin Mary and became man. For our sake He
was crucified under Pontius Pilate; He suffered, died, and was buried. On the third
day He rose again in fulfillment of the Scriptures; He ascended into heaven and is
seated at the right hand of the Father. He will come again in glory to judge the
living and the dead, and His kingdom will have no end. We believe in the Holy Spirit,
the Lord, the giver of life, who proceeds from the Father and the Son. With the
Father and the Son He is worshipped and glorified. He has spoken through the
Prophets. We believe in one holy Catholic and apostolic Church. We acknowledge
one baptism for the forgiveness of sins. We look for the resurrection of the dead,
and the life of the world to come. Amen.
The Glory Be
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit. As it was in the
beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end.
Hail Holy Queen
Hail, holy Queen, Mother of mercy; hail our life, our sweetness, and our hope. To
thee do we cry, poor banished children of Eve. To thee do we send up our sighs,
mourning and weeping in this valley of tears. Turn then, most gracious Advocate,
thy eyes of mercy toward us. And after this our exile show unto us the blessed fruit
of thy womb, Jesus. O clement, O loving, O sweet Virgin Mary.
The Angelus
V. The angel of the Lord declared unto Mary,
R. And she conceived of the Holy Spirit.
Hail Mary, etc.
V. Behold the handmaid of the Lord,
R. Be it done unto me according to Thy word.
Hail Mary, etc.
V. And the Word was made flesh,
R. And dwelt among us.

Hail Mary, etc.
V. Pray for us, O holy Mother of God.
R. That we may be worthy of the promises of Christ.
Let us pray.
Pour forth, we beseech Thee, O Lord, Thy grace into our hearts, that we to whom
the Incarnation of Christ Thy Son, was made known by the message of an angel,
may by His Passion and Cross be brought to the glory of His Resurrection. Through
the same Christ our Lord. Amen.
The Regina Coeli
To be said standing during Eastertide instead of the Angelus
Queen of heaven, rejoice; alleluia.
For He whom you did merit to bear; alleluia,
Has risen, as He said; alleluia.
Pray for us to God; alleluia.
V. Rejoice and be glad, O Virgin Mary; alleluia.
R. For the Lord has risen indeed; alleluia.
Let us pray.
O God, who gave joy to the world through the Resurrection of Thy Son, our Lord
Jesus Christ; grant that we may obtain, through His Virgin Mother, Mary, the joys of
everlasting life. Through the same Christ our Lord. Amen.
The Memorare
Remember, O most gracious Virgin Mary, that never was it known that anyone who
fled to your protection, implored your aid or sought your intercession, was left
unaided. Inspired with this confidence, I fly to you, O Virgin of virgins, my Mother; to
you I come, before you I stand sinful and sorrowful. O Mother of the Word Incarnate,
despise not my petition, but in your mercy hear and answer me. Amen.
Prayer to the Guardian Angel
Angel of God, my guardian dear,
To whom God’s love commits me here,
Ever this day be at my side,
To light and guard, to rule and guide. Amen.
Spiritual Communion
I wish Lord, to receive You with the purity, humility and devotion with which Your
most holy Mother received You; with the spirit and fervor of the saints.
THE HOLY ROSARY
The Joyful Mysteries (Mondays and Saturdays)
1. The Annunciation
2. The Visitation
3. The Nativity
4. The Presentation
5. The Finding in the Temple
The Luminous Mysteries (Thursdays)
1. The Baptism of Christ
2. The Wedding Feast at Cana
3. The Proclamation of God’s Kingdom and the Call to Conversion

4. The Transfiguration
5. The Institution of the Eucharist
The Sorrowful Mysteries (Tuesdays and Fridays)
1. The Agony in the Garden
2. The Scourging at the Pillar
3. The Crowning with Thorns
4. The Carrying of the Cross
5. The Crucifixion
The Glorious Mysteries (Wednesdays and Sundays)
1. The Resurrection
2. The Ascension
3. The Descent of the Holy Spirit
4. The Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary
5. The Coronation of the Blessed Virgin Mary as Queen of Heaven
MORNING PRAYERS
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen. Come Holy
Spirit, fill the hearts of Thy faithful, and kindle in them the fire of Thy love.
Most holy and adorable Trinity, one God in three Persons, I believe that Thou art
here present; I adore Thee with the deepest humility, and render to Thee, with my
whole heart, the homage which is due to Thy sovereign majesty.
O my God, I most humbly thank Thee for all the favors Thou hast bestowed upon me
up to the present moment. I give Thee thanks from the bottom of my heart that
Thou hast created me after Thine own image and likeness, that Thou hast
redeemed me by the precious blood of Thy dear Son, and that Thou hast preserved
me and brought me safe to the beginning of another day. I offer to Thee, O Lord, my
whole being, and in particular all my thoughts, words, actions, and sufferings of this
day. I consecrate them all to the glory of Thy name, beseeching Thee that through
the infinite merits of Jesus Christ my Saviour they may all find acceptance in Thy
sight. May Thy divine love animate them, and may they all tend to Thy greater
glory.
Adorable Jesus, my Saviour and Master, model of all perfection, I resolve and will
endeavor this day to imitate Thy example, to be, like Thee, mild, humble, chaste,
zealous, charitable, and resigned. I will redouble my efforts that I may not fall this
day into any of those sins which I have heretofore committed (here you may name
any besetting sin), and which I sincerely desire to forsake.
O my God, Thou knowest my poverty and weakness, and that I am unable to do

anything good without Thee; deny me not, O God, the help of Thy grace; proportion
it to my necessities; give me strength to avoid everything evil which Thou
forbiddest, and to practice the good which Thou hast commanded; and enable me
to bear patiently all the trials which it may please Thee to send me.
An Act of Faith
O my God! I firmly believe that Thou art one God in three Divine Persons, the
Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit; I believe that Thy Divine Son became man, and
died for our sins, and that He will come to judge the living and the dead. I believe
these and all the truths which the Holy Catholic Church teaches, because Thou hast
revealed them, who canst neither deceive nor be deceived.
An Act of Hope
O my God! Relying on Thy infinite goodness and promises, I hope to obtain pardon
of my sins, the help of Thy grace, and life everlasting, through the merits of Jesus
Christ, my Lord and Redeemer.
An Act of Charity
O my God! I love Thee above all things, with my whole heart and soul, because
Thou art all-good and worthy of all love. I love my neighbor as myself for the love of
Thee. I forgive all who have injured me, and ask pardon of all whom I have injured.
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 deserving 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.
O Holy Virgin, Mother of God, my Mother and Patroness, I place myself under thy
protection, I throw myself with confidence into the arms of thy compassion. Be to
me, O Mother of mercy, my refuge in distress, my consolation under suffering, my
advocate with thy adorable Son, now and at the hour of my death. Amen.
O faithful Guardian and Father of virgins, blessed Joseph, to whom was confided the
care of Jesus, and of Mary the Queen of Virgins, I most humbly supplicate thee, by
the love thou dost bear Jesus and Mary, to obtain for me that, being preserved from
every stain during my whole life, I may be ever able to serve them with unspotted
purity of mind and body. Amen.
May the power of the Father govern and protect me! May the wisdom of the Son
teach and enlighten me! May the influence of the Holy Spirit renew and quicken me!
May the blessing of the All-holy Trinity, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, be
with me, now and for evermore. Amen.
Grace Before Meals
Bless us, O Lord, and these Thy gifts, which we are about to receive from Thy
bounty. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.
Grace After Meals
We give Thee thanks, O Almighty God, for all Thy mercies. Who livest and reignest
world without end. Amen.
EVENING PRAYERS
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen. Come Holy
Spirit, fill the hearts of Thy faithful, and kindle in them the fire of Thy love.
O my God, I present myself before Thee at the end of another day, to offer Thee
anew the homage of my heart. I humbly adore Thee, my Creator, my Redeemer,
and my Judge! I believe in Thee, because Thou art Truth itself; I hope in Thee,
because Thou art faithful to Thy promises; I love Thee with my whole heart, because
Thou art infinitely worthy of being loved; and for Thy sake I love my neighbor as
myself.
Enable me, O my God, to return Thee thanks as I ought for all Thine inestimable
blessings and favors. Thou hast thought of me, and loved me from all eternity; Thou
hast formed me out of nothing; Thou hast delivered up Thy beloved Son to the
ignominious death of the Cross for my redemption; Thou hast made me a member
of Thy holy Church; Thou hast preserved me from falling into the abyss of eternal
misery, when my sins had provoked Thee to punish me; and Thou hast graciously
continued to spare me, even though I have not ceased to offend Thee. What return,
O my God, can I make for Thine innumerable blessings, and particularly for the
favors of this day? O all ye Angels and Saints, unite with me in praising the God of
mercies, who is so bountiful to so unworthy a creature.
Ask of God to discover the sins committed this day.
O my God, sovereign Judge of men, who desirest not the death of a sinner, but that
he should be converted and saved, enlighten my mind, that I may know the sins
which I have this day committed in thought, word, or deed, and give me the grace
of true contrition.
Here examine your conscience, then say:
O my God, I heartily repent, and I am grieved that I have offended Thee, because
Thou art infinitely good, and sin is infinitely displeasing to Thee. I humbly ask of
Thee mercy and pardon, through the infinite merits of Jesus Christ. I resolve, by the
assistance of Thy grace, to do penance for my sins, and I will endeavor never more
to offend Thee.
O God, hear my prayers on behalf of our Holy Father Pope N., our Bishop N., our
clergy, and for all that are in authority over us. Bless, I beseech Thee, the whole
Catholic Church, and convert all heretics and unbelievers. Pour down Thy blessings,
O Lord, upon all my friends, relations, and acquaintances, and upon my enemies, if I
have any. Help the poor and the sick, and those who are in their last agony. O God
of mercy and goodness, have compassion on the souls of the faithful in purgatory;
put an end to their sufferings, and grant to them eternal light, rest, and happiness.
Amen.
O Almighty and Eternal God, who savest all, and willest not that any should perish,
look, we beseech Thee, upon the souls that are led astray by the deceits of the
devil; that, rejecting all errors, the hearts of those who err may be converted, and
return to the unity of Thy truth. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.
Bless, O Lord, the repose I am about to take, that, my bodily strength being
renewed, I may better be the better enabled to serve Thee. Amen.
O Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of mercy, pray for me, that I may be preserved this
night from all evil, whether of body or soul. Blessed St. Joseph, and all ye Angels
and Saints, especially my guardian angel and my chosen patron, watch over me. I
commend myself to your protection now and always. Amen.
Holy, Holy, Holy, Lord, God of hosts: the earth is full of Thy glory. Glory be to the
Father, glory be to the Son, glory be to the Holy Spirit. Amen.
PRAYERS BEFORE CONFESSION
Imploration of Divine Assistance in Order to Make a Good Confession
O Almighty and most merciful God, who hast made me out of nothing, and
redeeemed me by the Precious Blood of Thine Only Son; who hast with so much
patience borne with me to this day, notwithstanding all my sins and ingratitude;
ever calling after me to return to Thee from the ways of vanity and iniquity, in which
I have been quite wearied out in the pursuit of empty toys and mere shadows;
seeking in vain to satisfy my thirst in unclean waters, and my hunger with husks of
swine: behold, O most gracious Lord, I now sincerely desire to leave all these my
evil ways, to forsake the region of death where I have so long lost myself, and to
return to Thee, the Fountain of Life. I desire, like the prodigal son, to enter seriously
into myself, and with the like resolution to arise without delay, and to go home to
my Father – though I am most unworthy to be called His child – in hopes of meeting
with the like reception from His most tender mercy. But, O my God, though I can go
astray from Thee of myself, yet I cannot make one step towards returning to Thee,
unless Thy divine grace move and assist me. This grace, therefore, I most humbly
implore, prostrate in spirit before the throne of Thy mercy; I beg it for the sake of
Jesus Christ, Thy Son, who died upon the Cross for my sins; I know that Thou
desirest not the death of a sinner, but that he may be converted and live; I know
Thy mercies are above all Thy works; and I most confidently hope that as in Thy
mercy Thou hast spared me so long, and hast now given me this desire of returning
to Thee, so Thou wilt finish the work which Thou hast begun, and bring me to a
perfect reconciliation with Thee.
I desire now to comply with Thy holy institution of the Sacrament of Penance; I
desire to confess my sins with all sincerity to Thee and to Thy minister; and
therefore I desire to know myself, and to call myself to an account by a diligent
examination of my conscience. But, O my God, how miserably shall I deceive myself
if Thou assist me not in this great work by Thy heavenly light. O then remove every
veil that hides any of my sins from me, that I may see them all in their true colors,
and may sincerely detest them. O let me no longer be imposed upon by the Enemy
of souls, or by my own self-love, so as to mistake vice for virtue, to hide myself from
myself, or in any way to make excuses in sins.
But, O my good God, what will it avail me to know my sins, if Thou dost not also
give me a hearty sorrow and repentance for them? Without this my sins will be all
upon me still, and I shall be still Thine enemy and a child of hell. Thou dost require
that contrite heart, without which there can be no reconciliation with Thee; and this
heart none but Thyself can give. O then, dear Lord, grant it unto me at this time.
Give me a lively faith, and a steadfast hope, in the Passion of my Redeemer; teach
me to fear Thee and to love Thee. Give me, for Thy mercy’s sake, a hearty sorrow
for having offended so good a God. Teach me to detest my evil ways; to abhor all
my past ingratitude; to hate myself now with a perfect hatred for my many treasons
against Thee. O give me a full and a firm resolution to lead henceforward a new life;
and unite me unto Thee with an eternal band of love which nothing in life or death
may ever break.
Grant me also the grace to make an entire and sincere confession of all my sins,
and to accept the confusion of it as a penance justly due to my transgressions. Let
not the Enemy prevail upon me to pass over anything through fear or shame; rather
let me die than consent to so great an evil. Let no self-love deceive me, as I fear it
has done too often. O grant that this confession may be good; and for the sake of
Jesus Christ, Thy Son, who died for me and for all sinners, assist me in every part of
my preparation for it; that I may perform it with the same care and diligence as I
should be glad to do at the hour of my death; that so, being perfectly reconciled to
Thee, I may never offend Thee more. Amen.
Prayers Before the Examination of Conscience
O Almighty God, Maker of heaven and earth, King of kings, and Lord of lords, who
hast made me out of nothing in Thine image and likeness, and hast redeemed me
with Thine own Blood; whom I a sinner am not worthy to name, or call upon, or think
of: I humbly pray Thee, I earnestly beseech Thee, to look mercifully on me, Thy
wicked servant. Thou who hadst mercy on the woman of Chanaan and Mary
Magdalen; Thou who didst spare the publican and the thief upon the cross, have
mercy upon me. Thou art my hope and my trust; my guide and my succor; my
comfort and my strength; my defense and my deliverance; my life, my health, and
my resurrection; my light and my longing; my help and my protection. I pray and
entreat Thee, help me and I shall be safe; direct me and defend me; strengthen me
and comfort me; confirm me and gladden me; enlighten me and come unto me.
Raise me from the dead; I am Thy creature, and the work of Thy hands. Despise me
not, O Lord, nor regard my iniquities; but according to the multitude of Thy tender
mercies have mercy upon me, the chief of sinners, and be gracious unto me. Turn
Thou unto me, O Lord, and be not angry with me. I implore Thee, most
compassionate Father, I pray Thee meekly, of Thy great mercy, to bring me to a
holy death, and to true penance, to a perfect confession, and to worthy satisfaction
for all my sins. Amen.
O Lord God, who enlightenest every man who cometh into this world, enlighten my
heart, I pray Thee, with the light of Thy grace, that I may fully know my sins,
shortcomings, and negligences, and may confess them with that true sorrow and
contrition of heart which I so much need. I desire to make full amends for all my sins
and to avoid them for the future to Thy honor and glory, and to the salvation of my
soul, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
I believe in Thee, O God, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, my Creator, my Redeemer,
and Sanctifier; I believe that Thou art all-holy, just, and merciful. I believe that Thou
art willing to pardon and to save me, if I repent and forsake my sins.
O my God, strengthen and increase my faith, and grant me the grace of a true
repentance, for Jesus Christ’s sake. Amen.
I hope in Thee, O my God, because Thou art almighty, faithful, and long-suffering. I
humbly trust that Thou wilt pardon my sins for the sake of Thy dear Son Jesus
Christ, who suffered and died for me upon the Cross; and that Thou wilt cleanse my
sinful soul in His precious Blood, and make me holy, and bring me to everlasting
life.
O Lord, in Thee have I hoped, let me never be confounded. Amen.
I love Thee, O my God, above all things, because Thou hast been so good, so
patient, so loving to me, notwithstanding all the sins by which I have so grievously
offended Thee. I love Thee, O Blessed Jesus, my Saviour, because Thou didst suffer
so much for love of me, an ungrateful sinner, and didst die on the Cross for my
salvation.
O make me love Thee more and more, and show my love to Thee by faithfully
keeping Thy Commandments all the days of my life. Amen.
O Mary Immaculate, Mother of Fair Love: obtain for me that love of God, which is so
necessary for true contrition. Amen.
Prayer After the Examination of Conscience
O my God, I cry unto Thee with the prodigal: Father, I have sinned against heaven
and before Thee ; I am no longer worthy to be called Thy Son.
I have gone astray like a sheep that is lost. O seek Thy servant, for I have not
forgotten Thy commandments.
Enter not into judgment with Thy servant, O Lord. O spare me for Thy mercy’s sake.
Prove me, O God, and know my heart ; examine me, and know my paths.
Thou whose property is always to have mercy and to spare, O meet me in pity,
embrace me in love, and forgive me all my sin.
I confess my sins unto Thee, O Christ, Healer of our souls, O Lord of Life. Heal me,
heal me of my spiritual sickness, Thou who art long-suffering and of tender mercy ;
heal me, O Lord Christ.
Accept my supplication, O Thou Holy Spirit, unto whom every heart is open, every
desire known, and from whom no secret is hid, and who givest life to our souls ;
hear and answer, O Spirit of God.
O Heavenly Father, who willest not that any sinner should perish, give me true
repentance for this my sin, that I perish not !
To what misery am I come by my own fault ! O merciful God, pity and forgive me for
Jesus’ sake.
Thine eyes, O God, are as a flame of fire searching my inmost heart. O pardon my
sin, for it is great !
Thou, God, seest me in all the foulness of my sins ! Blessed Jesus, speak for me,
plead for me, come between my soul and my offended God, that I perish not. Amen.
The 7 Penitential Psalms
Psalm 6
O Lord, reprove me not in your anger, nor chastise me in your wrath.
Have pity on me, O Lord, for I am languishing ; heal me, O Lord, for my body is in
terror ;
My soul, too, is utterly terrified ; but you, O Lord, how long?
Return, O Lord, save my life ; rescue me because of your kindness,
For among the dead no one remembers you ; in the nether world who gives you
thanks?
I am wearied with sighing ; every night I flood my bed with weeping ; I drench my
couch with my tears.
My eyes are dimed with sorrow ; they have aged because of all my foes.
Depart from me, all evildoers, for the Lord has heard the sound of my weeping ;
The Lord has heard my plea ; the Lord has accepted my prayer.
All my enemies shall be put to shame in utter terror ; they shall fall back in sudden
shame.
Psalm 31
Happy is he whose fault is taken away, whose sin is covered.
Happy is the man to whom the Lord imputes not guilt, in whose spirit there is no
guile.
As long as I would not speak, my bones wasted away with my groaning all the day,
For day and night your hand was heavy upon me ; my strength was dried up as by
the heat of summer.
Then I acknowledged my sin to you, my guilt I covered not.
I said, “I confess my faults to the Lord,” and you took away the guilt of my sin.
For this shall every faithful man pray to you in time of stress.
Though deep waters overflow, they shall not reach him.
You are my shelter ; from distress you will preserve me ; with glad cries of freedom
you will ring me round.
I will instruct you and show you the way you should walk ; I will counsel you,
keeping my eye on you.
Be not senseless like horses or mules: with bit and bridle their temper must be
curbed, else they will not come near you.
Many are the sorrows of the wicked, but kindness surrounds him who trusts in the
Lord.
Be glad in the Lord and rejoice, you just ; exult, all you upright of heart.
Psalm 37
O Lord, in your anger punish me not, in your wrath chastise me not ;
For your arrows have sunk deep in me, and your hand has come down upon me.
There is no health in my flesh because of your indignation ; there is no wholeness in

my bones because of my sin,
For my iniquities have overwhelmed me ; they are like a heavy burden, beyond my
strength.
Noisome and festering are my sores because of my folly,
I am stooped and bowed down profoundly ; all the day I go in mourning,
For my loins are filled with burning pains ; there is no health in my flesh.
I am numbed and severely crushed ; I roar with anguish of heart.
O Lord, all my desire is before you ; from you my groaning is not hid.
My heart throbs ; my strength forsakes me ; the very light of my eyes has failed me.
My friends and my companions stand back because of my affliction ; my neighbors

stand afar off.
Men lay snares for me seeking my life ; they look to my misfortune, they speak of
ruin, treachery they talk of all the day.
But I am like a deaf man, hearing not, like a dumb man who opens not his mouth.
I am become like a man who neither hears nor has in his mouth a retort.
Because for you, O Lord, I wait ; you, O Lord my God, will answer
When I say, “Let them not be glad on my account who, when my foot slips, glory
over me.”
For I am very near to falling, and my grief is with me always.
Indeed, I acknowledge my guilt ; I grieve over my sin.
But my undeserved enemies are strong ; many are my foes without cause.
Those who repay evil for good harass me for pursuing good.
Forsake me not, O Lord ; my God, be not far from me!
Make haste to help me, O Lord, my salvation!
Psalm 50 (The Miserere)
Have mercy on me, O God, in your goodness ; in the greatness of your compassion
wipe out my offense.
Thoroughly wash me from my guilt and of my sin cleanse me.
For I acknowledge my offense, and my sin is before me always:
“Against you only have I sinned, and done what is evil in your sight” –
That you may be justified in your sentence, vindicated when you condemn.
Indeed, in guilt was I born, and in sin my mother conceived me ;
Behold, you are pleased with sincerity of heart, and in my inmost being you teach
me wisdom.
Cleanse me with hyssop, that I may be purified ; wash me, and I shall be whiter than
snow.
Let me hear the sounds of joy and gladness ; the bones you have crushed shall
rejoice.
Turn away your face from my sins, and blot out all my guilt.
A clean heart create for me, O God, and a steadfast spirit renew within me.
Cast me not out from your presence, and your holy spirit take not from me.
Give me back the joy of your salvation, and a willing spirit sustain in me.
I will teach transgressors your ways, and sinners shall return to you.
Free me from blood guilt, O God, my saving God ; then my tongue shall revel in
your justice.
O Lord, open my lips, and my mouth shall proclaim your praise.
For you are not pleased with sacrifices ; should I offer a holocaust, you would not
accept it.
My sacrifice, O God, is a contrite spirit ; a heart contrite and humbled, O God, you
will not spurn.
Be bountiful, O Lord, to Sion in your kindness by rebuilding the walls of Jerusalem ;
Then shall you be pleased with due sacrifices, burnt offerings and holocausts ; then
shall they offer up bullocks on your altar.
Psalm 101
O Lord, hear my prayer, and let my cry come to you.
Hide not your face from me in the day of my distress.
Incline your ear to me ; in the day when I call, answer me speedily.
For my days vanish like smoke, and my bones burn like fire.
Withered and died up like grass is my heart ; I forget to eat my bread.
Because of my insistent sighing I am reduced to skin and bone.
I am like a desert owl ; I have become like an owl among the ruins.
I am sleepless, and I moan ; I am like a sparrow alone on the housetop.
All the day my enemies revile me ; in their rage against me they make a curse of
me.
For I eat ashes like bread and mingle my drink with tears,
Because of your fury and your wrath ; for you lifted me up only to cast me down.
My days are like a lengthening shadow, and I whither like grass.
But you, O Lord, abide forever, and your name through all generations.
You will arise and have mercy on Sion, for it is time to pity her, for the appointed
time has come.
For her stones are dear to your servants, and her dust moves them to pity.
And the nations shall revere your name, O Lord, and all the kings of the earth your
glory,
When the Lord has rebuilt Sion and appeared in his glory ;
When he has regarded the prayer of the destitute, and not despised their prayer.
Let this be written for the generation to come, and let his future creatures praise
the Lord :
“The Lord looked down from his holy height, from heaven he beheld the earth,
To hear the groaning of the prisoners, to release those doomed to die” –
That the name of the Lord may be declared in Sion ; and his praise, in Jerusalem,
When the peoples gather together, and the kingdoms, to serve the Lord.
He has broken down my strength in the way ; he has cut short my days.
I say: O my God,
Take me not hence in the midst of my days ; through all generations your years
endure.
Of old you established the earth, and the heavens are the work of your hands.
They shall perish, but you remain though all of them grow old like a garment.
Like clothing you change them, and they are changed, but you are the same, and
your years have no end.
The children of your servants shall abide, and their posterity shall continue in your
presence.
Psalm 129
Out of the depths I cry to you, O Lord ; Lord, hear my voice!
Let your ears be attentive to my voice in supplication :
If you, O Lord, mark iniquities, Lord, who can stand?
But with you is forgiveness, that you may be revered.
I trust in the Lord ; my soul trusts in his word.
My soul waits for the Lord more than sentinels wait for the dawn.
More than sentinels wait for the dawn, let Israel wait for the Lord,
For with the Lord is kindness and with him is plenteous redemption ;
And he will redeem Israel from all their iniquities.

Psalm 142
O Lord, hear my prayer ; hearken to my pleading in your faithfulness ; in your

justice answer me.
And enter not into judgment with your servant, for before you no living man is just.
For the enemy pursues me ; he has crushed my life to the ground ; he has left me
dwelling in the dark, like those long dead.
And my spirit is faint within me, my heart within me is appalled.
I remember the days of old ; I meditate on all your doings, the works of your hands I
ponder.
I stretch out my hands to you ; my soul thirsts for you like parched land.
Hasten to answer me, O Lord, for my spirit fails me.
Hide not your face from me lest I become like those who go down into the pit.
At dawn let me hear of your kindness, for in you I trust.
Show me the way in which I should walk, for to you I lift up my soul.
Rescue me from my enemies, O Lord, for in you I hope.
Teach me to do your will, for you are my God.
May your good spirit guide me on level ground.
For your name’s sake, O Lord, preserve me ; in your justice free me from distress,
And in your kindness destroy my enemies ; bring to naught all my foes, for I am
your servant.
Prayer Before Confession
Accept my confession, O my loving, most gracious Lord Jesus Christ, on whom alone
my soul trusts for salvation. Grant me, I beseech Thee, contrition of heart, and give
tears to mine eyes, that I may sorrow deeply for all my sins with humility and
sincerity of heart.
O good Jesus, Saviour of the world, who gavest Thyself to the death of the Cross to
save sinners, look on me, a miserable sinner who calls upon Thy name. Spare me,
Thou that art my Saviour, and pity my sinful soul ; loose its chains, heal its sores.
Lord Jesus, I desire Thee, I seek Thee, I long for Thee ; show me the light of Thy
countenance, and I shall be saved ; send forth Thy light and Thy truth into my soul,
to show me fully all the sins and shortcomings which I must still confess, and to aid
and teach me to lay them bare without reserve and with a contrite heart ; O Thou
who livest and reignest with God the Father, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God,
world without end. Amen.
O most gracious Virgin Mary, beloved Mother of Jesus Christ, my Redeemer,

intercede for me with Him. Obtain for me the full remission of my sins, and perfect
amendment of life, to the salvation of my soul and the glory of His name. Amen.
I implore the same grace of thee, O my Guardian Angel ; of you, my holy Patrons, N.
N. ; of you, O blessed Peter and holy Magdalen, and of all the Saints of God.
Intercede for me a sinner, repenting of my sins, firmly resolving to confess them,
and to avoid them for the future. Amen.
Act Before Confession (St. Alphonsus de Liguori)
O God of infinite majesty, behold at Thy feet a traitor, who has offended Thee over
and over again, but who now humbly seeks forgiveness. O Lord, reject me not ;
Thou dost not despise a heart that humbles itself : A contrite heart and humbled
heart, O God, Thou wilt not despise. I thank Thee that Thou hast waited for me till
now, and hast not let me die in sin, casting me into hell, as I deserved. Since Thou
hast waited for me, my God, I hope that, by the merits of Jesus Christ, Thou wilt
pardon me in this confession for all the offences I have committed against Thee ; I
repent, and am sorry for them, because by them I have merited hell and lost
paradise. But above all, it is not so much on account of hell which I have merited,
but because I have offended Thee, O Infinite Goodness! that I am sorry from the
bottom of my heart. I love Thee, O Sovereign Good! and because I love Thee, I
repent of all the insults I have offered Thee. I have turned my back upon Thee ; I
have not respected Thee ; I have despised Thy grace and Thy friendship. O Lord! I
have lost Thee by my own free-will ; forgive me all my sins for the love of Jesus
Christ, now that I repent with all my heart ; I hate, detest, and abominate them
above every evil. And I repent not only of mortal sins, but also of venial sins,
because these are also displeasing to Thee. I resolve for the future, by Thy grace,
never more wilfully to offend Thee. Yes, my God, I will rather die than ever sin
again.
PRAYERS AFTER CONFESSION
O most merciful God, who according to the multitude of Thy mercies dost so put
away the sins of those who truly repent that Thou rememberest them no more: look
graciously upon me, Thine unworthy servant, and accept my confession for Thy
mercy’s sake ; receive my humble thanks, most loving Father, that of Thy great
goodness Thou hast given me pardon for all my sins. O may Thy love and pity
supply whatsoever has been wanting in the sufficiency of my contrition, and the
fulness of my confession. And do Thou, O Lord, vouchsafe to grant me the help of
Thy grace, that I may diligently amend my life and persevere in Thy service unto
the end, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Psalm 102
Bless the Lord, O my soul ; and all my being, bless His holy name.
Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all His benefits ;
He pardons all your iniquities, He heals all your ills.
He redeems your life from destruction, He crowns you with kindness and
compassion,
He fills your lifetime with good ; your youth is renewed like the eagle’s.
The Lord secures justice and the rights of all the oppressed.
He has made known all His ways to Moses, and His deeds to the children of Israel.
Merciful and gracious is the Lord, slow to anger and abounding in kindness.
He will not always chide, nor does He keep His wrath forever.
Not according to our sins does he deal with us, nor does He requite us according to
our crimes.
For as the heavens are high above the earth so surpassing is His kindness toward
those who fear Him.
As far as the east is from the west, so far has He put our transgressions from us.
As a father has compassion on his children, so the Lord has compassion on those
who fear Him,
For He knows how we are formed ; he remembers that we are dust.

Man’s days are like those of grass ; like a flower of the field he blooms ;
The wind sweeps over him and he is gone, and his place knows him no more.
But the kindness of the Lord is from eternity to eternity toward those who fear Him,
And His justice toward children’s children among those who keep His covenant and
remember to fulfill His precepts.
The Lord has established His throne in heaven, and His kingdom rules over all.
Bless the Lord, all you His angels, you mighty in strength, who do His bidding,
obeying His spoken word.
Bless the Lord, all you His hosts, His ministers, who do His will.
Bless the Lord, all His works, everywhere in His domain.
Bless the Lord, O my soul!
Psalm 15
Preserve me, O Lord, for in Thee have I put my trust: I have said to the Lord, Thou
art my God, for Thou hast no need of my goods.
To the saints who are in His land: He hath made wonderful all my desires in them.
Their infirmities were multiplied: afterwards they made haste.
I will not gather together their meetings for blood-offerings: nor will I make mention
of their names with my lips.
The Lord is the portion of my inheritance and of my cup: Thou art He that will
restore my inheritance unto me.
The lines are fallen unto me in goodly places: for my inheritance is goodly unto me.
I will bless the Lord, who hath given me understanding: moreover my reins also
have corrected me even till night.
I set the Lord always in my sight: for He is at my right hand, that I be not moved.
Therefore my heart hath been glad, and my tongue hath rejoiced: moreover my
flesh shall rest in hope.
For Thou wilt not leave my soul in hell: nor wilt Thou give Thy holy one to see
corruption.
Thou hast made known unto me the ways of life: Thou shalt fill me with joy with Thy
countenance: at Thy right hand are delights forevermore.
Psalm 19
May the Lord hear thee in the day of trouble: may the name of the God of Jacob
protect thee.
May He send thee help from the sanctuary: and defend thee out of Sion.
May He be mindful of all thy sacrifices: and may thy whole burnt-offerings be made
fat.
May He give unto thee according to thine own heart: and confirm all thy counsels.
We will rejoice in thy salvation: and in the name of our God we shall be exalted.
The Lord fulfill all thy petitions: now have I known that the Lord hath saved His
anointed.
He will hear him from His holy heaven: the salvation of His right hand is powerful.
Some trust in chariots, and some in horses: but we will call upon the name of the
Lord our God.
They are entangled and have fallen: but we are risen, and stand upright.
O Lord, save the king: and hear us in the day that we shall call upon Thee.
Prayer Before Performing Penance
Since I have so grievously insulted Thee, O most tender and loving God, by my
manifold sins and negligences, I am ready now to make perfect satisfaction to Thy
divine justice to the utmost of my ability. To this end I will faithfully and most
reverently perform the penance appointed me by my confessor in Thy name ; and
would that I could perform it with so great devotion and love as to give Thee an
honor and delight greater than the insult and outrage of my sins! And that this may
be so, I unite and blend this my penance with all the works of satisfaction which Thy
beloved Son accomplished during the three-and-thirty years of His life on earth, and
in union with His fastings, His watchings, and His prayers, I offer Thee this my
penance and my prayer. Look down, therefore, O most loving Father, upon me Thy
most bounden debtor, now prostrate at Thy feet, desiring to make thee adequate
satisfaction and reparation for all the insults and injuries I have done Thee ; and
grant me strength and grace to say this prayer according to Thy most holy will.
Amen.
Here perform your sacramental Penance, and then say:
O most holy Father, I offer Thee this my confession and my satisfaction in union
with all the acts of penance which have ever been done to the glory of Thy holy
name: beseeching Thee that Thou wouldst vouchsafe to accept it, and to render it
availing through the merits of the Passion of Thy beloved Son, and through the
intercession of the ever-blessed Virgin Mary, and of all Thy holy Apostles, Martyrs,
Confessors, and Virgins. Whatever has been lacking to me in sincere and earnest
preparation, in perfect contrition, in frank and clear confession, I commend to the
most loving heart of Thine only-begotten Son, that Treasury of all good and of all
grace, from whose overflowing abundance all debts to Thee are fully acquitted ;
that, through it, all my negligences and defects in the reception of this holy
Sacrament may be fully and perfectly supplied to Thine everlasting praise and
glory: through Jesus Christ our Lord, who liveth and reigneth with Thee in the unity
of the Holy Spirit, one God, world without end. Amen.
A Prayer for the Priest
O Lord Jesus Christ, bless, I beseech Thee, Thy servant who has now ministered to
me in Thy name. Help me to remember his good counsel and advice, and to perform
duly what he has rightly laid upon me. And grant him the abundance of Thy grace
and favor, that his own soul may be refreshed and strengthened for Thy perfect
service, and that he may come at last to the joy of Thy heavenly kingdom. Who
livest and reignest with the Father and the Holy Spirit, ever one God, world without
end. Amen.
Prayers for Pardon and Amendment
I:
O most sweet Lord Jesus Christ, I, an unworthy sinner, would beg Thee to be mindful
of all holy thoughts which have been Thine from eternity until now ; above all, that
one by which Thou, O Eternal Word, didst will to become man.
Our Father.
O most merciful Lord, I pray Thee, from the bottom of my heart, to pardon me all
the vain, foul, and evil thoughts which, up to this hour, I have entertained, or in any
way have caused others to entertain, against or beside Thy will.
Our Father.
II.
O most compassionate Lord Jesus Christ, I, a miserable sinner, would beg Thee to be
mindful of all the good and saving words which Thou didst ever speak when on
earth.
Our Father.
I humbly pray Thee, O good Jesus, to forgive me all the words which up to this hour I
have uttered or caused others to utter against Thy holy will.
Our Father.
III.
O most sweet Jesus Christ, I, an unworthy sinner, yet redeemed by Thy precious
Blood, would beg Thee to be mindful of all the good works which Thou wroughtest
on the earth for our salvation. I beseech Thee, most compassionate Lord, pardon
me whatsoever, by my ill deeds, I have at any time knowingly or unknowingly
committed, or have caused others to commit, against Thy law and the glory of Thy
name.
Our Father.
And now, O most gracious Lord, direct and order all my thoughts, words, and works
according to Thy good pleasure, and to the praise of Thy name ; and conform them
to the perfect pattern of Thy most holy life and conversation. I am Thine, and will be
Thine, O Lord, in life and in death ; into Thy hands I commend myself and all that I
have.
Our Father.
Prayers Against the Seven Deadly Sins
Prayer Against Pride

O Lord Jesus Christ, Pattern of humility, who didst empty Thyself of Thy glory, and
take upon Thee the form of a servant: root out of us all pride and conceit of heart,
that, owning ourselves miserable and guilty sinners, we may willingly bear
contempt and reproaches for Thy sake, and, glorying in nothing but Thee, may
esteem ourselves lowly in Thy sight. Not unto us, O Lord, but to Thy name be the
praise, for Thy loving mercy and for Thy truth’s sake. Amen.
Prayer Against Covetousness
O Lord Jesus Christ, who though Thou wast rich yet for our sakes didst become poor,
grant that all over-eagerness and covetousness of earthly goods may die in us, and
the desire of heavenly things may live and grow in us: keep us from all idle and vain
expenditures, that we may always have to give to him that needeth, and that giving
not grudgingly nor of necessity, but cheerfully, we may be loved of Thee, and be
made through Thy merits partakers of the riches of Thy heavenly treasure. Amen.
Prayer Against Lust
O Lord Jesus Christ, Guardian of chaste souls, and lover of purity, who wast pleased
to take our nature and to be born of an immaculate Virgin: mercifully look upon my
infirmity. Create in me a clean heart, O God: and renew a right spirit within me ;
help me to drive away all evil thoughts, to conquer every sinful desire, and so pierce
my flesh with the fear of Thee that, this worst enemy being overcome, I may serve
Thee with a chaste body and please Thee with a pure heart. Amen.
Prayer Against Anger
O most meek Jesus, Prince of Peace, who, when Thou wast reviled, didst not revile,
and on the Cross didst pray for Thy murderers: implant in our hearts the virtues of
gentleness and patience, that, restraining the fierceness of anger, impatience, and
resentment, we may overcome evil with good, for Thy sake love our enemies, and
as children of our heavenly Father seek peace and evermore rejoice in Thy love.
Amen.
Prayer Against Glutony
O Lord Jesus Christ, Mirror of abstinence, who, to teach us the virtue of abstinence,
didst fast forty days and forty nights, grant that, serving Thee and not our own
appetites, we may live soberly and piously with contentment, without greediness,
gluttony, or drunkenness, that Thy will being our meat and drink, we may hunger
and thirst after justice, and finally obtain from Thee that food which endureth unto
life eternal. Amen.
Prayer Against Envy
O most loving Jesus, Pattern of charity, who makest all the commandments of the
law to consist in love towards God and towards man, grant to us so to love Thee
with all our heart, with all our mind, and all our soul, and our neighborfor Thy sake,
that the grace of charity and brotherly love may dwell in us, and all envy,
harshness, and ill-will may die in us ; and fill our hearts with love, kindness, and
compassion, so that by constantly rejoicing in the happiness and success of others,
by sympathizing with them in their sorrows, and putting away all harsh judgments
and envious thoughts, we may follow Thee, who art Thyself the true and perfect
love. Amen.
Prayer Against Sloth
O Lord Jesus Christ, eternal Love, who in the garden didst pray so long and so
fervently that Thy sweat was, as it were, drops of blood falling down to the ground:
put away from us, we beseech Thee, all sloth and inactivity both of body and mind ;
kindle within us the fire of Thy love ; strengthen our weakness, that whatsoever our
hand is able to do we may do earnestly, and that, striving heartily to please Thee in
this life, we may have Thee hereafter as our reward exceedingly great. Amen.
SEVEN THANKSGIVING PRAYERS FOR THE SEVEN SHEDDINGS OF OUR

LORD’S BLOOD (AGAINST THE SEVEN DEADLY SINS)
I.
O most humble Lord and Master, Jesus Christ, true God and true Man, eternal praise
and thanksgiving be to Thee, because in Thy tenderest age, on the eighth day of
Thy mortal life, Thou didst vouchsafe to shed Thy precious and innocent Blood for
us, and as a true Son of Abraham to bear the pain of circumcision.
By this most holy shedding of Thy Blood, I beg of Thee the grace of humility against
all pride and worldly vanity.
Our Father.
O Saviour of the world, who by Thy Cross and precious Blood hast redeemed us:
save us, and help us, we humbly beseech Thee, O Lord.
II.
O Thou whose love is like the pelican’s for her young, Jesus Christ, true God and
true Man, eternal praise and thanksgiving be to Thee, because in the Garden, out of
the exceeding anguish of Thy Heart, Thou didst pour forth a bloody sweat, and,
wholly resigning Thyself to death, didst offer it to Thy Father.
By this most holy shedding of Thy Blood, I ask of Thee the grace of liberality against
all covetousness and avarice.
Our Father.
O Saviour of the world, etc.
III.
O most chaste Spouse, Jesus Christ, true God and true Man, eternal praise and
thanksgiving be to Thee, because Thou didst suffer Thyself to be mercilessly bound
in Pilate’s judgment hall, and Thy virginal flesh to be cruelly scourged and mangled.
By this most holy shedding of Thy Blood, I implore of Thee the grace of chastity
against all sensuality and lust.
Our Father.
IV.
O most meek Lamb, Jesus Christ, true God and true Man, eternal praise and
thanksgiving be to Thee, because Thou didst suffer Thy sacred Head to be crowned
with piercing thorns and struck with a hard reed.
By this most holy shedding of Thy Blood, I pray Thee for the grace of meekness
against all anger and desire of revenge.
Our Father.

V.
O most sweet Jesus Christ, Pattern of temperance and self-denial, true God and true
Man, eternal praise and thanksgiving be to Thee, because Thou didst allow Thy
garments to be torn from Thy bleeding body both before and after the carrying of
Thy Cross, which opened Thy wounds again, and caused them to bleed afresh.
By this most holy shedding of Thy Blood, I beseech of Thee the grace of temperance
and abstinence against all greediness and gluttony.
Our Father.
VI.
O good and faithful Samaritan, Jesus Christ, true God and true Man, eternal praise
and thanksgiving be to Thee, because out of Thy burning love for us Thou didst
suffer Thy sacred Hands and Feet to be pierced and nailed to the Cross for our
redemption.
By this most holy shedding of Thy Blood, I beg of Thee the grace of brotherly love
against all envy and jealousy.
Our Father.
VII.
O most zealous High-Priest, true God and true Man, eternal praise and thanksgiving
be to Thee, because Thou didst suffer Thy sacred side to be pierced, opened, and
wounded with a spear.
By this most holy shedding of Thy Blood, I earnestly pray Thee for the grace of holy
zeal and fervor against all sloth and weariness in Thy service, and in every religious
exercise.
Our Father.
Act After Confession (St. Alphonsus de Liguori)

My dear Jesus! how much do I not owe Thee. By the merits of Thy blood I hope that I
have this day been pardoned. I thank Thee above all things. I hope to reach heaven,
where I shall praise Thy mercies forever. My God, if I have hitherto lost Thee so
often, I now desire to lose Thee no more. From this day forward I will change my life
in earnest. Thou dost merit all my love ; I will love Thee truly ; I will no longer see
myself separated from Thee. I have promised Thee this already ; now I repeat my
promise of being ready to die rather than offend Thee again. I promise also to avoid
all occasions of sin, and to use such means as will prevent me from falling again. My
Jesus, Thou knowest my weakness: give me grace to be faithful to Thee till death,
and to have recourse to Thee when I am tempted. Most holy Mary, help me! Thou
art the mother of perseverance ; I place my hope in thee.
PRAYERS BEFORE HOLY COMMUNION
Prayer for Help
O my God, help me to make a good communion. Mary, my dearest Mother, pray to

Jesus for me. My dear Guardian Angel, lead me to the altar of God.
Act of Faith
O God, because Thou hast said it, I believe that I shall receive the Sacred Body of
Jesus Christ to eat, and His precious Blood to drink. My God, I believe this with all
my heart.
Act of Humility
My God, I confess that I am a poor sinner ; I am not worthy to receive the Body and
Blood of Jesus on account of my sins. Lord, I am not worthy that Thou shouldst enter
under my roof ; say but the word, and my soul shall be healed.
Act of Sorrow
My God, I detest all the sins of my life. I am sorry for them, because they have
offended Thee, my God, Who art so good. I resolve never to commit sin anymore.
My good God, pity me, have mercy on me, forgive me. Amen.
Act of Adoration
O Jesus, great God, present on the Altar, I bow down before Thee, I adore Thee.
Act of Love and Desire
Sweet Jesus, I love Thee, I desire with all my heart to receive Thee. Most sweet
Jesus, come into my poor soul, and give me Thy flesh to eat and Thy blood to drink.
Give me Thy whole self, Body, Blood, Soul, and Divinity, that I may live forever with
Thee.
Act of Faith
Awake, slumbering soul, to bless the Lord for all His mercies. Remember that thy
God became man for thee ; and remember that the same God Who was born for
thee, Who lived thirty-three years for thee, Who died for thee, and is now in heaven
on His throne, is also really and truly present in the most Holy Sacrament, nay, is
now standing before the door of thy heart, therein to take His abode.
Indeed so it is, O my God ! I believe it firmly that in receiving the sacred Host I will
receive that very Jesus, Who has redeemed the world.
Act of Adoration
O my soul, what art thou doing ! Yet a little while, and the God that made heaven
and earth will come to dwell within thee. O God, what can I do, but most humbly
adore Thee ! So come then, Mary, my tender mother ; come, all ye Angels and
Saints, and help me to adore my Jesus. Obtain for me a lively faith, and a profound
veneration for the Sacrament I am about to receive.
Act of Hope
O Jesus, dearest hope of my soul, I rely on Thy divine promises with unshaken
confidence. I hope in Thee with all the hope of my soul. I hope firmly that Thou,
Whom I am about to receive, will sanctify my body and soul. So come then, my only
hope ; come and enrich me !
Act of Love
O Jesus, center of my love ! God of my heart, how worthy art Thou of my love, and
of all the pure affections of my heart ! O God, I love Thee with all the faculties of my
soul. Thou art my Creator ; Thou art my Redeemer ; Thou art my Sanctifier ; Thou
art my only God. O Love ! O Love ! O eternal Love ! O that I could praise and bless,
and love Thee as the Angels and Saints do in heaven !
O God, inflame my love, that it may be worthy of Thee !
Mary, mother of pure love, pray that I may love my God with all my strength.
Act of Contrition
My loving Jesus, by my sins I have crowned Thee with a crown of thorns ; I have
fastened Thee to the cross ; I have drenched Thy lips with vinegar and gall ; I have
thrust the spear into Thy side ; I have caused Thee to die. How could I be worthy to
receive Thee ? But my God, Thou art infinite goodness. For an act of true penance,
for a hearty tear of contrition and love Thou forgivest all my sins, restorest me to
Thy favor, and makest me once more Thy child. Oh, in truth Thou art my God,
infinitely kind, infinitely great, faithful and loving. Ah, how great is Thy goodness in
giving Thyself to me – a miserable sinner ! O that I had never offended Thee ! O
Jesus, purify with Thy most Precious Blood this sin-stained soul of mine till it is made
a fit tabernacle for Thy majesty.
Act of Humility
O Lord, Thou art that God, before Whom heaven and earth fade into nothingness.
Oh, how unworthy then am I to appear in Thy sight ! Yet I hasten to receive Thee,
for this is Thy will and command. Let the Seraphim, let the Saints, let the ever
blessed Mary satisfy for my defects and want of devotion. O Lord, I am not worthy
to love, and receive Thee, but Thou deservest to be loved, and received by me.
Act of Desire
So come then, Thou bread of Angels, and satisfy the cravings of my soul. Come,
Thou glowing furnace of charity, and inflame my soul with the fire of Thy divine
love. Come, divine Shepherd, and guide me. Come my hope, my life, my joy, and
source of all of my happiness. Come, Thou Comforter of the sorrowful ; Thou solace
and refreshment of the weary ! Come, and delay not ; come, and heal my miseries !
Come, Jesus, come !
R. P. QUADRUPANI:
Act of Confidence
It is obedience, O my God ! that leads me to Thy Holy Table: the tender words by
which Thou hast invited us would not have sufficed to draw me, for in the troubled
state of my soul I cannot be sure they are addressed to me. Misery and infirmity are
claims for admission to Thy Feast, but nothing can dispense from the nuptial
garment. Therefore when I turn my eyes on myself, after having raised them to
Thee, I doubt, I hesitate, I tremble ; for if I go from Thee I flee from life, and if I
approach unworthily, to my other sins I add the crime of sacrilege. But Thy merciful
wisdom, O my God, whilst foreseeing our every need, has forseen all our
weaknesses and has prepared helps for us against both presumption and distrust.
For if Thou hast not willed that, certain of Thy grace, we should ever advance with
the assurance of the Pharisee and say like him: I come to the altar of the Lord
because I know I am just in His eyes : neither hast Thou permitted that a sacrament
of love should become for us a torture and an unavoidable snare. I therefore obey,
O my God, and in the darkness that envelops me I wish to follow implicitly the
guidance of him whom Thou hast appointed to lead me to Thee. I shall approach the
Holy Table without wishing for any other warrant than the words spoken by my
confessor, or rather by Thee: You may receive Holy Communion. I accept, O my
God ! -- be it a well merited punishment or a salutary trial, -- this privation of light
and sensible devotion, this coldness and distraction, which accompany me even into
Thy presence when all the faculties of my soul should be absorbed and confounded
in sentiments of adoration and of love. Faith, hope, and charity seem to be extinct
in my heart, but I know that Thou never withdrawest these virtues when we do not
voluntarily renounce them.
Act of Faith
Notwithstanding, then, the doubts that cross my mind, I wish to believe, O my God !
and I do believe all that Thy holy Church has taught me. I have not forgotten that
brilliant light of Faith which Thou didst cause to illumine my soul in the days of
mercy in order that the precious remembrance of it should serve me as support in
the days of trial and temptation.
Act of Hope
In spite of these vague fears that seem to extinguish hope within my soul, I know
that although Thou art the mighty and strong God before whom the cherubim veil
themselves with their wings, the just and all-seeing God who discovers blemishes in
the purest souls, still Thou wishest to be in the most Holy Sacrament only the Victim
whose Blood effaces the sins of the world ; the Good Shepherd who hastens after
the strayed sheep and carries it tenderly and unreproachfully back to the fold ; the
divine Mediator who comes not to judge but to save. All this I know, O my God ! and
therefore I hope.
Act of Love
Notwithstanding the coldness and insensibility that benumb my soul, I know that I
love Thee, O my God ! since my will prefers Thy service to all the joys of this world,
since Thy grace is the sole good to which I aspire, and because I suffer so much by
reason of my lack of sensible love for Thee.
Act of Desire
No, I am not indifferent, Thou knowest, O my God ! that I am not indifferent to this
Most Holy Sacrament which I approach unmoved by any sensible feeling : for Thou
seest that although I find in Holy Communion neither relish nor consolation, I would
yet make any sacrifice in order to receive it.
Act of Contrition
I feel neither hatred nor horror of sins to which the world does not attach shame
and contempt ; I experience no sensible sorrow for the sins I have committed, but I
know, O my God ! that, with the assistance of Thy grace, my will denounces them,
for I am resolved to commit them no more. I have taken this resolution because sin
displeases Thee and because all that swerves from eternal order is abhorrent to Thy
infinite sanctity. I believe, then, that I am contrite, O my God ! because I believe in
Thy promises, and if Thou dost not always grant us the consolation of realizing our
contrition, Thou wilt never refuse its justifying virtue to those who humbly implore
it ; and this I do.
No, my God, I shall not pray Thee to grant me sensible enjoyment, not even that of
Thy spiritual gifts: what I implore of Thy grace is to keep my will ever turned
towards Thee and never to permit it to fall or wander anew on the earth. Lord ! into
Thy hands I commend my spirit.
ST. LEONARD OF PORT MAURICE:
Prayer
Arise, my soul ; revive thy faith, which tells thee that thy God became man, that
same Jesus Who was born in the stable of Bethlehem, that Jesus Who rose
triumphant from the grave, that Jesus Who now sits glorious at the right hand of the
Father, is now present with thee in the Most Holy Sacrament. O Faith ! O Faith !
what greater thing can be said and believed ? God is here, in order to enter my
heart and become entirely mine – the Almighty God !
Act of Faith
My Jesus, Thou Truth infallible, since it is part of Thy revelation, I believe that Thou
art present, soul, body, and divinity, in the consecrated host. I believe that in
Communion I receive the same Jesus Who died, and Who rose again ; and that in
Him I receive the Father and the Holy Spirit.
Act of Adoration
O my soul, what art thou about ? What thoughts engage thee ? In a few minutes,
thy God will enter within Thee ! O God, I profoundly humble myself, and I adore
Thee. I adore Thee, beloved Jesus, in the Sacrament. Most holy Virgin, ye angels,
saints, and souls who love God, adore with me my Jesus ; make up for my defect of
worship, beseech for me living faith and profound veneration, now that I approach
and receive Jesus Christ.
What can be wanting to thee, O my soul, now that the Almighty comes to visit
thee ? He comes to illuminate thee, to unite Himself heart to heart with thee, in
order to give thee a lively pledge of that glory which He keeps prepared for thee in
heaven. Up ! arise ! enlarge thy heart, increase thy confidence ; know that so much
as thou hath promised to hear thee, and, bound by His word, He can give thee
every good thing ; it costs Him no more than the opening of his hand. Thy Jesus is to
thee as a Father ; much He loveth thee, and wishes to bestow on thee every sort of
benefit. Thy Jesus, who is faithful, hath promised to hear thee, and, bound by His
word, He will do thee great favors. Well, then, to grow rich in soul you need only to
seek His graces, and ardently to hope.
Act of Hope
My Jesus, my hope, confiding in Thy promises through the blood which Thou hast
shed for me, I hope, O Infinite Pity, I hope that in receiving Thee, Thou wilt sanctify
my soul, and enkindle within it heavenly desires ; so that I may live and die loving
only Thee, O Infinite Good. Yes, O my dearest God, God of all my hopes, Sanctifier
of souls, sanctify me.
What more could God do, in order to get loved by thee ? God has made Himself
man, was born in a stable, died upon a cross and dwells in the Sacrament for love of
thee. Nay, that infinite love invites thee to receive Him, calls thee to Himself with a
desire so strong that He cannot endure thy delays. O ingenious devices of love ! The
great God of infinite beauty and majesty wishes this morning to confer upon me
such a favor as He hath never bestowed on the seraphim. He purposes to come to
dwell in my heart ; He wishes to unite Himself to me. And thou, my soul, dost thou
not burn and flame with love toward a God Who is all love toward thee ?
Act of Love
O my Jesus, my love, God of my soul, how good Thou art, how loving, how every
way dear and worthy to be loved ! My God, I love Thee with all my soul, my life, my
heart, my mind, and all my faculties and strength. I love Thee more than myself,
Thou one object of all my desires, my beginning and my last end. O that I had
infinite tongues with which to praise and bless Thee ! O that I could at any sacrifice
carry Thy most holy name through the world, to make Thee known and loved ! O
God ! I would willingly waste myself away in labors for the love of Thee. I desire to
burn with love, I desire to bless Thee, to thank Thee, to love Thee, with the love that
the most holy Mary bore to Thee ; I desire to love Thee more than all created beings
united. I love Thee, my Jesus, my treasure, my Father, my life, my hope, my heaven.
Spouse of my soul, I love Thee, because Thou deservest to be loved – because Thou
art God ! Ah, Lord ! would that I were all love, would that I did nothing but love
Thee ! My soul, created by God to love God, love Him then, love thy God ; my heart,
which can find no peace or satisfaction out of God, drive from thee every mere
earthly attachment, and give welcome to thy God. Ah, Mary, mother of holy love,
obtain for me to love my God !
How shouldst thou burn, my soul, to receive a God of infinite purity, holiness, and
majesty, thou art an abyss of vice, ingratitude, and sins ! Hast thou forgotten all
thou hast done against thy God ? Ah, how often hast thou been more cruel, more
afflicting to Jesus than Calvary itself ! Jesus has been crucified in thee, so often as
thou hast mortally sinned.
Act of Contrition
Dear Lord Jesus, by my sins I have crowned Thee with thorns, I have nailed Thee on
the cross, I have given Thee gall to drink, I have pierced Thy side, I have put Thee to
death ! I am not worthy to live, far less to receive Thee. I deserve that the earth
should swallow me, that heaven should hurl thunderbolts on my head, that all
created things should turn in anger upon me. But, O my God, how good Thou art !
How often have I trodden under foot Thy blood, insulted Thy name, dishonored Thy
authority ; yet not only dost Thou pardon me, but Thou art the first to propose to be
at peace with me ; and for an act of penitence, for one tear of grief and affection,
Thou forgivest me all my sins, Thou replacest me in Thy favor, and Thou makest me
anew Thy friend and Thy son. And this is God – that it is that is meant by God ! Oh,
how I rejoice when I think that Thou art God ; that is, infinite liberality, infinite
magnanimity, infinite fidelity, infinite love ; an abyss of infinite glories, attributes,
and perfections ! It suffices to say that Thou art good and in giving Thyself to me
Thou knowest how to ordain for Thy greater glory, and for the greater good of my
soul, even my very bygone sins. Glory to Thee ! Ah, I could wish to die of grief for
having offended so good a God. I am sorry that I have offended Thee ! Forgive me,
O my Lord. I do not heed my own interest ; I only desire that Thou, great God,
shouldst be honored and glorified by me, without ever being again offended by me.
Wash, O beloved Jesus, my soul with Thy blood, and make it become a fit abode for
Thy divine Majesty. O most holy Mary, obtain for me tears of true contrition.
My soul, thou art about to feed upon the blessed body of Jesus. And hast thou well
considered what thou art, and who God is ? If thou wert a seraph of love, if thou
hadst the love felt by all the angels, the virtues of all the saints, wouldst thou even
then be worthy of even once receiving God ?
An Act of Humility
Behold, O my Jesus, the hour is come when Thou shalt be put into the power of this
great sinner. O have patience with me ; endure me by the bowels of Thy
compassion ! Ah, Lord, Thou art that God before the splendor of Whose holiness
heaven and earth vanish into nothing. I confess the truth, in looking at Thy Majesty
and at my unworthiness ; I am so confounded and ashamed, that I should wish to
hide myself in the abyss of my own nothingness. Yes, I must needs approach to
receive Thee, for Thou incitest and commandest me, and like a son, I must obey
Thee, O my King. Let the seraphim make up, let the saints make up, let Mary make
up – above all, let Thine own infinite goodness make up for all my shortcomings in
right devotion and love. O Lord, if I do not deserve to receive Thee and to love Thee,
Thou deservest to be received and loved by me !
Dispose of me for Thine own honor, make me worthy of so great a favor, give me all
that I am wanting in, make me altogether Thine.
The hour is come, my soul, the blessed moment is come, when thou hast to receive
thy dearest Jesus. Behold the King of kings, behold the Lord of lords, behold the
Friend, behold the Father, behold the Spouse, behold the Joy of paradise, behold the
Delight of heaven, behold thy God Himself, behold all the Most Holy Trinity in the
Divine Sacrament ! Ecce Sponsus venit, exite obviam ei. “Behold the Bridegroom
cometh ; go forth to meet Him.”[1] But how, my soul, how standest thou thus so
frozen, without one burning desire to feed upon that sacred body ? Ah, should not
the overflowing of the divine compassion all enkindle thee with love ? And here
Shepherd, guide me. Come, O my Father, my Spouse, my Treasure, my Life, my
Bliss, and my Rest. Come, Thou one end of all my longings. Come, light of souls,
refreshment of hearts, consoler of the sorrowing. Come, Thou expected One of all
nations, sighed for by the holy patriarchs, desire of the eternal hills, joy of angels,
delight of heaven, beatitude of the saints. Come, art thou all frozen ! If it wert to do
only once in all thy life, with what fervor wouldst thou not do it ! But now, while the
Infinite Goodness waits ever ready at thy pleasure, thou goest up so tepid, so dull of
heart, to receive a God so great ! Enamoured souls have burned with desire of this
Communion, and have run like thirsty stags to that fount divine. Up, up, my soul ;
awake, kindle in thyself a most ardent longing to receive Jesus ; sigh after that
Supremest Good, desire Him, call on Him with tears and with sighs, and with a heart
in flames of holy love.
An Act of Desire
[
Come, O thou divine food, and nourish my hungry soul. Come, furnace of charity,
and kindle me ; come, flaming fire of love, inflame me by thy flames. Come,
heavenly for Thou hast wounded me with love ; come, delay not, for my heart is
failing, and I feel that life would not be life without Thee. Arise for pity, O my Jesus,
and come.
Most holy Virgin, already I am at hand, and about to receive thine and my Jesus.
From thy hands I purpose to receive Him. Hold Him forth to me, as thou didst to the
shepherds, and the holy kings and to holy Simeon. Prepare me to receive Him with
love. Give Him to me quickly, and pray to Him to fill me with His dearest
benediction ; and do thou accompany it with thine.
An Act of Offering
I protest, O my God, that I purpose to unite this my Communion with the

Communion of most holy Mary, of Thy apostles, of thy saints, and of all the just who
receive Thee this morning, or who shall ever receive Thee in time to come. My
desire and purpose is, to make all their devout acts, all their preparations, all their
thanksgivings ; and I mean to offer the whole in union with those virtues, that merit,
that holiness, with which Thou, O my Jesus, didst receive Thyself in the sacrament,
at the Last Supper. May the Church triumphant and militant now supply my defects
of love, and worship, and thanks.
Psalm 83
How lovely are Thy tabernacles, O Lord of hosts : my soul longeth and fainteth for
the courts of the Lord.
My heart and my flesh have rejoiced in the living God.
For the sparrow hath found her a house : and the turtle a nest for herself, where she
may lay her young :
Even Thine altars, O Lord of hosts : my king and my God.
Blessed are they that dwell in Thy house, O Lord : they shall praise Thee for ever
and ever.
Blessed is the man whose help is in Thee : in his heart he hath disposed to ascend
by steps, in the vale of tears, in the place which he hath set.
For the lawgiver shall give a blessing : they shall go from strength to strength : the
God of gods shall be seen in Sion.
O Lord God of hosts, hear my prayer: give ear, O God of Jacob.
Behold, O God, our protector : and look upon the face of Thy Christ.
For one day in Thy courts : is better than a thousand.
I had rather be despised in the house of my God, than to dwell in the tents of
sinners.
For God loveth mercy and truth : the Lord will give grace and glory.
He will not withhold good things from them that walk in innocence: O Lord of hosts,
blessed is the man that hopeth in Thee.
Glory be to the Father, etc.
Psalm 84
Thou hast blessed Thy land, O Lord: Thou hast turned away the captivity of Jacob.
Thou hast forgiven the iniquity of Thy people : Thou hast covered all their sins.
Thou hast softened all Thine anger : Thou hast turned away from the wrath of Thine
indignation.
Convert us, O God our Saviour : and turn away Thine anger from us.
Wilt Thou be angry with us for ever : or wilt Thou stretch out Thy wrath from
generation to generation ?
Thou shalt turn again, O God, and quicken us : and Thy people shall rejoice in Thee.
Show us Thy mercy, O Lord : and grant us Thy salvation.
I will hearken what the Lord God shall say within me : for He will speak peace unto
His people :
And unto His saints : and unto them that are converted in heart.
Surely His salvation is nigh unto them that fear Him : that glory may dwell in our
land.
Mercy and truth have met together : justice and peace have kissed each other.
Truth is sprung out of the earth : and justice hath looked down from heaven.
For the Lord shall give goodness : and our earth shall yield her fruit.
Justice shall walk before Him : and shall set His steps in the way.
Psalm 85
Incline Thine ear, O Lord, and hear me : for I am needy and poor.
Preserve my soul, for I am holy : O my God, save Thy servant, that trusteth in Thee.
Have mercy upon me, O Lord : for unto Thee have I cried all the day. Give joy to the
soul of Thy servant, for unto Thee, O Lord, have I lifted up my soul.
For Thou, O Lord, art sweet and mild ; and plenteous in mercy unto all that call upon
Thee.
Give ear, O Lord, unto my prayer : and attend to the voice of my petition.
I have called upon Thee in the day of my trouble : for Thou hast heard me.
Among the gods there is none like unto Thee, O Lord : and there is none that can do
works like unto Thy works.
All the nations whom Thou hast made shall come and worship before Thee, O Lord :
and shall glorify Thy name.
For Thou art great, and doest wondrous things : Thou art God alone.
Lead me, O Lord, in Thy way, and I will walk in Thy truth : let my heart rejoice that it
may fear Thy name.
I will praise Thee, O Lord my God, with my whole heart : and I will glorify Thy name
for ever.
For great is Thy mercy toward me : and Thou hast delivered my soul out of the
lower hell.
O God, the wicked are risen up against me ; and the assembly of the mighty have
sought after my soul : and they have not set Thee before their eyes.
And Thou, O Lord, art a God full of compassion, and merciful : long-suffering, and of
much mercy, and true.
O look upon me, and have mercy on me : give Thy strength unto Thy servant, and
save the son of Thine handmaid.
Show me a token for good : that they who hate me may see, and be confounded :
because Thou, O Lord, hast helped me, and hast comforted me.
Psalm 115
I believed, and therefore did I speak : but I was humbled exceedingly.
I said in mine excess : All men are liars.
What shall I render unto the Lord : for all the things that He hath rendered unto
me ?
I will take the chalice of salvation ; and call upon the name of the Lord.
I will pay my vows unto the Lord, in the presence of all His people : precious in the
sight of the Lord is the death of His saints.
O Lord, I am Thy servant : I am Thy servant, and the son of Thine handmaid.
Thou hast broken my bonds in sunder : I will offer unto Thee the sacrifice of praise,
and will call upon the name of the Lord.
I will pay my vows unto the Lord in the sight of all His people : in the courts of the
house of the Lord, in the midst of thee, O Jerusalem.
Psalm 129
Out of the depths have I cried unto Thee, O Lord : Lord, hear my voice.
O let Thine ears consider well : the voice of my supplication.
If Thou, O Lord, wilt mark iniquities : Lord, who shall abide it ?
For with Thee there is merciful forgiveness : and because of Thy law I have waited
for Thee, O Lord.
My soul hath waited on His word : my soul hath hoped in the Lord.
From the morning watch even until night : let Israel hope in the Lord.
For with the Lord there is mercy : amd with Him is plenteous redemption.
And He shall redeem Israel : from all his iniquities.

Ant. Remember not, O Lord, our offences, nor those of our parents ; nor take Thou
revenge of our sins : Spare us, good Lord, spare Thy people whom Thou hast
redeemed with Thy most Precious Blood, and be not angry with us for ever.
Lord, have mercy.
Christ, have mercy.
Lord, have mercy.
Our Father (inaudibly).
V. And lead us not into temptation.
R. But deliver us from evil.
V. I said : O Lord, be Thou merciful unto me.
R. Heal my soul, for I have sinned against Thee.
V. Return, O Lord, for a little space.
R. And be entreated in favor of Thy servants.
V. Let Thy mercy, O Lord, be upon us.
R. As we have hoped in Thee.
V. Let Thy priests be clothed with justice.
R. And let Thy saints rejoice.
V. From my secret sins cleanse me, O Lord.
R. And from those of others spare Thy servant.
V. O Lord, hear my prayer.
R. And let my cry come unto Thee.
Let us pray
O merciful Lord, incline Thine ears to our prayers, and enlighten our hearts by the
grace of Thy Holy Spirit : that we may worthily receive Thy holy Mysteries, and love
Thee with an everlasting love.
O God, unto whom every heart is open, every desire known, and from whom no
secret is hid : cleanse the thoughts of our hearts by the inspiration of Thy Holy
Spirit, that we may perfectly love Thee and worthily praise Thee.
Inflame, O Lord, our reins and our hearts with the fire of the Holy Spirit : that we
may serve Thee with a chaste body, and please Thee with a pure mind.
We pray Thee, O Lord, that the Comforter who proceedeth from Thee may illumine
our minds, and lead us, as Thy Son hath promised, into all truth.
May the power of Thy Holy Spirit, O Lord, be present with us to cleanse us from all
evil and defend us from all adversities.
O God, who didst teach the hearts of Thy faithful by the light of Thy Holy Spirit :
grant us by the same Spirit to have a right judgment in all things, and evermore to
rejoice in His holy comfort.
Visit, O Lord, we beseech Thee, and cleanse our consciences, that Thy Son, our Lord
Jesus Christ, when He cometh, may find in us a mansion prepared for Himself, who
liveth and reigneth with Thee in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, world without
end. Amen.
Prayer of St. Thomas Aquinas
Almighty, Everlasting God, lo, I draw near to the Sacrament of Thine Only-begotten
Son, our Lord Jesus Christ. As sick, I come 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. I implore Thee, therefore, out of the abundance of Thy
boundless mercy, that Thou wouldst vouchsafe to heal my sickness, to wash my
defilements, 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, the Lord of
lords, with such reverence and humility, such contrition and devotion, such purity
and faith, such purpose and intention, as is expedient for the health of my soul.
Grant, I beseech Thee, that I may receive not only the Sacrament of the Body and
Blood of the Lord, but also the whole grace and virtue of that Sacrament. O most
merciful 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 into His mystical Body, and accounted among His members. And, O
most loving Father, grant that whom now I purpose to receive under a veil I may at
last behold with unveiled face, even Thy beloved Son, who with Thee and the Holy
Spirit ever liveth and reigneth, one God, world without end. Amen.
Prayers of St. Ambrose
I.
O great High-Priest, the true Pontiff, Jesus Christ, who didst offer Thyself to God the
Father a pure and spotless Victim upon the Altar of the Cross for us miserable
sinners, and didst give us Thy Flesh to eat and Thy Blood to drink, and didst ordain
this Mystery in the power of Thy Holy Spirit, saying, Do this for the commemoration
of Me : I pray Thee, by the same Thy Blood, the great price of our salvation ; I pray
Thee, by that wonderful and unspeakable love wherewith Thou deignedst so to love
us, miserable and unworthy, as to wash us from our sins in Thine own Blood : teach
me, Thine unworthy servant, by Thy Holy Spirit, to approach so great a Mystery with
that reverence and honor, that devotion and fear, which is due and fitting. Make
me, through Thy grace, always so to believe and understand, to conceive and firmly
to hold, to think and to speak, of that exceeding Mystery, as shall please Thee and
be good for my soul.
Let Thy good Spirit enter my heart, and there be heard without utterance, and
without the sound of words speak all truth. For Thy Mysteries are exceeding deep,
and covered with a sacred veil. For Thy great mercy’s sake, grant me to approach
Thy holy Mysteries with a clean heart and a pure mind. Free my heart from all
defiling and unholy, from all vain and hurtful thoughts. Fence me round about with
the holy and faithful guard and mighty protection of Thy blessed Angels, that the
enemies of all good may go away ashamed. By the virtue of this mighty Mystery,
and by the hand of Thy holy Angel, drive away from me and from all Thy servants
the hard spirit of pride and vainglory, of envy and blasphemy, of impurity and
uncleanness, of doubt and mistrust. Let them be confounded that persecute us ; let
them perish who are bent upon our ruin.
II.
King of virgins and Lover of chastity and innocence, extinguish in my frame, by the
dew of Thy heavenly blessing, the fuel of evil concupiscence, that I may be pure
both in soul and in body. Mortify in my members the lusts of the flesh and all
harmful emotions, and give me true and persevering chastity with Thine other gifts
which please Thee in truth, so that I may with chaste body and pure heart offer unto
Thee the sacrifice of praise. For with what contrition of heart and fountain of tears,
with what reverence and awe, with what chastity of body and purity of soul, should
not that divine and heavenly Sacrifice be celebrated, wherein Thy Flesh is indeed
eaten, where Thy Blood is indeed drunk, wherein things lowest and highest, earthly
and divine, are united, where the holy Angels are present, and where Thou art in a
marvellous and unspeakable manner both Sacrifice and Priest !
III.
Who can worthily be present at this Sacrifice, unless Thou, O God, makest him
worthy ? I know, O Lord, yea, truly do I know, and this do confess to Thy 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 mouth confess, that Thou canst make me worthy, who alone
canst make that clean which proceedeth from that which is unclean, and sinners to
be just and holy. By this Thine Almighty power I beseech Thee, 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 Thy most blessed Presence, and the love of Thy holy Angels,
keeping watch around me.
IV.
Mindful then, O Lord, of Thy worshipful Passion, I approach Thine Altar, sinner
though I am, to join in offering unto Thee that Sacrifice which Thou hast instituted
and commanded to be offered in remembrance of Thee for our well-being. Receive
it, I beseech Thee, O God most High, for Thy holy Church, and for the people whom
Thou hast purchased with Thine own Blood. Let not, through my unworthiness, the
price of their salvation be wasted, whose saving Victim and Redemption Thou didst
Thyself vouchsafe to be. Also behold in pity, O Lord, the sorrows of Thy people,
which I bring before Thee ; the perils of Thy servants, the sorrowful sighing of
prisoners ; the miseries of widows and orphans, and all that are desolate and
bereaved ; the necessities of strangers and travellers ; the helplessness and
sadness of the weak and sickly ; the depressions of the languishing ; the weakness
of the aged and of children ; the trials and aspirations of young men ; and the vows
of virgins.
V.
For Thou hast mercy upon all, O Lord, and hatest nothing that Thou hast made.
Remember how frail our nature is, and that Thou art our Father and our God. Be not
angry with us for ever, and shut not up Thy tender mercies in displeasure. For it is
not for our just works that we present our prayers before Thy face, but for the
multitude of Thy tender mercies. Take away from us, O Lord, our iniquities, and
mercifully kindle in us the fire of Thy Holy Spirit. Take away from us the heart of
stone, and give us a heart of flesh, a heart to love and adore Thee, a heart to
delight in, to follow, and to enjoy Thee. And we entreat Thy mercy, O Lord, that
Thou wouldst look down graciously upon Thy family, as it pays its vows to Thy most
holy name ; and that the desire of none may be in vain, and the petitions of none
unfulfilled, do Thou inspire our prayers, that they may be such as Thou delightest to
hear and answer.
VI.
We pray Thee also, O Lord, Holy Father, for the souls of the faithful departed : that
this great Sacrament of Thy love may be to them health and salvation, joy and
refreshment. O Lord, my God, grant them this day a great and abundant feast of
Thee, the living Bread, who camest down from heaven and givest life unto the
world ; even of Thy holy and blessed Flesh, the Lamb without spot, who takest away
the sins of the world ; that Flesh, which was taken of the Blessed Virgin Mary, and
conceived by the Holy Spirit ; and of that Fountain of mercy which, by the soldier’s
lance, flowed from Thy most sacred Side ; that they be thereby fed and satisfied,
refreshed and comforted, and may rejoice in Thy praise and in Thy glory. I pray Thy
loving mercy, O Lord, that on the bread and wine to be offered unto Thee may
descend the fulness of Thy blessing and the sanctification of Thy Divinity. May there
descend also the invisible and incomprehensible Majesty of Thy Holy Spirit, as it
descended of old on the sacrifices of the Fathers, which shall make these oblations
Thy Body and Blood ; and may this offering be acceptable unto Thee, through Him
who offered Himself a sacrifice to Thee, O Father, even Jesus Christ, Thine only Son
our Lord.
VII.
I entreat Thee also, O Lord, by this most holy mystery of Thy Body and Blood,
wherewith we are daily fed, and cleansed, and sanctified in Thy Church, and are
made partakers of the one Supreme Divinity, grant unto me Thy holy virtues, that
filled therewith I may with a good conscience draw near unto Thy holy Altar, so that
these heavenly mysteries may be made unto me salvation and life ; for Thou hast
said with Thy holy and blessed lips : The Bread which I will give is My Flesh, for the
life of the world. I am the living Bread which came down from heaven. If any man
eat of this Bread, he shall live for ever. O most sweet Bread, heal the palate of my
heart, that I may taste the sweetness of Thy love. Heal it of all infirmities, that I may
find sweetness in nothing out of Thee. O most pure Bread, having all delight and all
savor, which ever refreshest us, and never failest, let my heart feed on Thee, and
may my inmost soul be filled with the sweetness of Thy savor. The Angels feed on
Thee fully ; let pilgrim man feed on Thee after his measure, so that, refreshed by
this nourishment, he may not faint by the way. Holy Bread ! Living Bread ! Pure
Bread ! who didst come down from heaven, and who givest life to the world, enter
into my heart and cleanse me from all impurity of flesh and spirit. Come into my
soul ; heal and cleanse me within and without ; be the protection and continual
health of my soul and body. Drive far from me all foes that lie in wait : let them flee
afar off at the presence of Thy power ; that, strengthened by Thee without and
within, I may by a straight way arrive at Thy kingdom, where, not as now in
mysteries, but face to face, we shall behold Thee ; when Thou shalt have delivered
up the kingdom to God Thy Father, and shalt be God All in all. Then shalt Thou
satisfy me with Thyself by a wondrous fulness, so that I shall never hunger nor thirst
anymore for ever. Who with the same God the Father, and the Holy Spirit, ever
livest and reignest world without end. Amen.
VIII.
O gracious Lord Jesus Christ, I, a sinner, nothing presuming on my own deserts, but
trusting in Thy mercy and goodness, with fear and trembling approach to the Table
of Thy most sweet Feast. For my heart and body are stained with many sins ; my
thoughts and lips not diligently guarded. Wherefore, O gracious God, O awful
majesty, in my extremity I turn to Thee, the Fount of Mercy ; to Thee I hasten to be
healed, and take refuge under Thy protection ; and Thee, before whom as my Judge
I cannot stand, I long for as my Saviour. To Thee, O Lord, I show my wounds, to
Thee I lay bare my shame. I know my sins are many and great, for which I am
afraid. My trust is in Thy mercies, of which there is no end. Look therefore upon me
with the eyes of Thy mercy, O Lord Jesus Christ, God and Man, crucified for man ;
hearken unto me, whose trust is in Thee ; have mercy upon me, who am full of sin
and misery, O Thou fount of mercy, that wilt never cease to flow. Hail, saving
Victim, offered for me and all mankind on the Cross of suffering and shame. Hail,
noble and precious Blood, flowing from the wounds of my crucified Lord and Saviour
Jesus Christ, and washing away the sins of the whole world. Be mindful, O Lord, of
Thy creature, whom Thou hast redeemed with Thine own Blood. I repent that I have
sinned ; I desire to amend what I have done. Take therefore away from me, O most
merciful Father, all my iniquities and sins : that, being cleansed both in body and
soul, I may worthily taste the Holy of Holies ; and grant that this holy feeding on Thy
Body and Blood, of which, unworthy as I am, I purpose to partake, may be for the
remission of my sins, and the perfect cleansing of all my offences, for the driving
away of all evil thoughts and the renewal of all holy desires, for the healthful
bringing forth of fruit well-pleasing unto Thee, and the most sure protection of my
soul and body against the wiles of all my enemies. Amen.
Act of Contrition
I desire, O my Saviour, humbly to offer Thee the sacrifice of a troubled spirit and a
contrite heart. I grieve from my inmost heart that I have ever offended Thee by my
sins, Thee my God and my chief good, Thee who art so gracious to me, and so oft
refreshest me in Thy Blessed Sacrament. I grieve especially for the sins of ... which
Thou knowest, Thou searcher of our hearts, and which I, a miserable sinner, do
confess in the bitterness of my soul. Would that I had never offended Thee ! Yet a
contrite and humble heart, O God, Thou wilt not despise ; Thou who for love of us
didst give to us Thine Only-Begotten Son, to wash us from our sins in His own Blood.
Resolution of Amendment
I desire, O Lord, earnestly longing for the help of Thy grace, to renew all my
baptismal vows to Thee, to renounce all that displeaseth Thee, and to walk more
perfectly in newness of life. I renounce the devil and all his works and pomps, the
glory of the world with all its covetous desires, all sinful excesses in things lawful,
and whatever may lead my heart from Thee or hinder my duty towards Thee ; also, I
renounce all the sinful lusts of the flesh, with everything in thought, word, or deed,
which displeaseth Thee, especially..., from all which let it be Thy good pleasure to
deliver me, and to turn the whole stream of my affections to the love of Thee, that
Thy will and Thy love may be the sole rule and guide of my life, and I may love
whatever Thou lovest, and hate whatever Thou hatest.
Act of Faith
Of a truth I firmly believe, O Good Jesus, and with lively faith confess, that Thou
Thyself, equal to God the Father in glory and in power, true God and Man, art verily
and indeed present in this Sacrament. For Thou, the very Truth itself, hast said, This
is My Body, This is My Blood. I believe whatever the Son of God hath said. Nothing
can be truer than this word of Him who is the Truth. I do believe, Lord ; help my
belief, increase my faith.
Act of Hope
O Christ Jesus, I am sinful dust and ashes, but Thou callest to Thee all who labor and
are burdened, that Thou mayest refresh them. Art not Thou my refuge ? To whom
else shall I go ? Thou hast the words of eternal life, Thou alone canst comfort me in
every trouble. Lord, I am weak and sick, but Thou art my salvation. Those who are
well need not a physician, but those who are sick. Therefore I come to Thee, my
physician and my refuge, hoping that this Communion may be to me the increase of
Faith, Hope, and Charity ; a firm defense against the snares of my enemies ; a help
to the removal of the fault and defect of ...., and to the bringing forth of works well-
pleasing unto Thee, especially...., and a pledge of future glory. This is the hope and
desire which I cherish in my heart, for Thou art compassionate and of tender mercy,
and in all Thy promises most faithful.
Act of Love
O most Sweet Saviour Jesus Christ, how great was Thy love, which drew Thee from
the bosom of the Father to this vale of tears, to take our flesh and endure infinite
miseries and wrongs, yea, even the death of the Cross, and that only for us
miserable sinners and for our salvation. O how great was Thy Love ! Thou mightest
have condemned us, and Thou didst rather choose to save us: we were guilty, and
Thou, the sinless One, didst endure our punishment to set us free. Out of love it was
that Thou camest down to take our flesh ; and when about to depart from this world
to the Father, Thou didst leave to us this Sacrament as a pledge of Thy love, that
after a new and wondrous manner Thou mightest abide with us for ever ; Thou
whose delights are to be with the children of men. O Lord, how worthy art Thou of
love, who dost so much for love of us ! Wherefore I will love Thee, O Lord, my
Strength, my Refuge, and my Deliverer. O God, Thou art true Love ! He that
dwelleth in love dwelleth in Thee. I desire to receive Thee in this Sacrament, that I
may be more firmly united with Thee in the bond of love. Who shall separate me
from the love of Christ my Saviour ? O that neither life, nor death, nor any creature
may have power to do so.
Act of Humility
How dare I approach Thee, O Lord ? Art Thou not, O God, my Lord, my Creator, my
Redeemer, the King of heaven and earth ? And who am I ? A poor worm of the
earth, and what is yet more unworthy, so often a disobedient and ungrateful sinner
against Thee ! Of a truth, Lord, I am not worthy that Thou shouldst enter under my
roof ; yet remember, O Lord, that, although Thou wast Lord of all, yet Thou didst
take upon Thyself the form of a servant, and coming unto us didst converse
familiarly with publicans and sinners ; and lastly didst humble Thyself and become
obedient unto death. Let this Thy humility move Thee, I beseech Thee, not to
despise me, vile and worthless as I am, but graciously to come unto me, and
mercifully to receive me, who come to Thee.
Act of Reparation
O Lord, my God and Saviour, who, as Thou didst endure for our salvation the
outrages of those who crucified Thee, so now deignest to bear with those who by
careless or unworthy Communions approach and touch Thee, not discerning Thee,
and endurest all irreverences rather than withhold Thy sacred Presence from our
Altars : I bewail these indignities, and most earnestly desire to prevent, to the
utmost of my power, whatever thus still grieves Thee. I beseech Thee, accept this
sorrow and this desire as the only offering I can make in reparation of so great
dishonor. O Lord, increase my faith, and preserve me from the least profanation of
this adorable Mystery, and kindle in me and in the hearts of all Thy people,
especially of all who celebrate or assist in its ministration, such reverence and
devotion that Thy most holy name may more and more be honored and glorified in
this Sacrament of love. Amen.
Offering of the Holy Mass
Accept, Most Holy Trinity, this sacrifice fulfilled at one time by the Divine Word and
now renewed on this altar by the hands of Your priest. I unite myself to the
intentions of Jesus Christ, Priest and Victim, that I may be entirely offered for Your
glory and for the salvation of men. I intend through Jesus Christ, with Jesus Christ
and in Jesus Christ to adore Your eternal majesty, to thank Your immense goodness,
to satisfy Your offended justice, and to beseech Your mercy for the Church, for my
dear ones, and for myself.
Acts of Faith, Hope and Love
Act of Faith
Jesus, eternal Truth, I believe You are really present in the holy Host. You are here
with Your body, blood, soul, and divinity. I hear Your invitation: “I am the living
bread descended from heaven,” “take and eat ; this is my body.” I believe, O Lord
and Master, but increase my weak faith.
Act of Hope
Jesus, sole Way of salvation, You invite me: “Learn from me.” But I resemble You so
little! Lord, I am not worthy to receive You, but only say the word and I shall be
healed. Jesus, You pleased the Father; You are my Model. Draw me to Yourself, and
give me the grace to imitate You especially in the virtue I need most.
Act of Love
O Jesus Master, You assure me: “I am the Life,” “whoever eats my flesh will have
eternal life.” In Baptism and in confession You have communicated to me this life of
Yours. Now You nourish it by making Yourself my food.
Take my heart ; detach it from the goods, pleasures, joys and vanities of the earth.
With all my heart and above all else I love You, infinite Good and eternal happiness.
ST. ALPHONSUS DE LIGUORI:
Prayer before Holy Communion
My Beloved Jesus, true Son of God, who didst die for me in the cross in a sea of
sorrow and ignominy, I firmly believe that Thou art present in the Most Holy
Sacrament ; and for this faith I am ready to give my life.
My dear Redeemer, I hope by Thy goodness, and through the merits of Thy blood,
that when Thou dost come to me this morning, Thou wilt inflame me with Thy holy
love, and wilt give me all those graces which I need to keep me obedient and
faithful to Thee till death.
Ah, my God ! true and only lover of my soul, what couldst Thou do more to oblige
me to love Thee ? Thou wert not satisfied, my love, with dying for me, but Thou
wouldst also institute the Most Holy Sacrament, making Thyself my food, and giving
Thyself all to me ; thus uniting Thyself most closely to such a miserable and
ungrateful creature. Thou dost Thyself invite me to receive Thee, and dost greatly
desire that I should receive Thee. O Infinite Love ! A God gives himself all to me ! O
my God, O Infinite love, worthy of infinite love, I love Thee above all things ; I love
Thee with all my heart ; I love Thee more than myself, more than my life ; I love
Thee because Thou art worthy of being loved ; and I love Thee also to please Thee,
since Thou dost desire my love ! Depart from my soul, all ye earthly affections ; to
Thee alone, my Jesus, my treasure, my all, will I give all my love. This morning Thou
dost give Thyself all to me, and I give myself all to Thee. Permit me to love Thee ;
for I desire none but Thee, and nothing but what is pleasing to Thee. I love Thee, O
my Saviour, and I unite my poor love to the love of all the angels and saints, and of
Thy Mother Mary, and the love of Thy Eternal Father ! Oh, that I could see Thee
loved by all ! Oh, that I could make Thee loved by all men, and loved as much as
Thou dost deserve !
Behold, O my Jesus, I am now about to draw near to feed on Thy most sacred Flesh !
Ah, my God, who am I ? And who art Thou ? Thou art a Lord of infinite goodness,
and I am a loathsome worm, defiled by so many sins, and who have driven Thee out
of my soul so often.
Domine, non sum dignus. Lord, I am not worthy to remain in Thy presence ; I ought
to be in hell forever, far away, and abandoned by Thee. But out of Thy goodness
Thou callest me to receive Thee : behold, I come, I come humbled and in confusion
for the great displeasure I have given Thee, but trusting entirely to Thy mercy and
to the love Thou hast for me. I am exceedingly sorry, O my loving Redeemer, for
having so often offended Thee in time past ! Thou didst even give Thy life for me ;
and I have so often despised Thy grace and Thy love, and have exchanged Thee for
nothing. I repent, and I am sorry with all my heart for every offence which I have
offered Thee, whether grievous or light, because it was an offence against Thee,
who art infinite goodness. I hope Thou hast already pardoned me ; but if Thou hast
not yet forgiven me, pardon me, my Jesus, before I receive Thee. Ah, receive me
quickly into Thy grace, since it is Thy will soon to come and dwell within me.
Come, then, my Jesus, come into my soul, that sighs after Thee. My only and infinite
good, my life, my love, my all, I would desire to receive Thee this morning with the
same love with which those souls who love Thee most have received Thee, and with
the same fervor with which Thy Most Holy Mother received Thee ; to her
Communions I wish to unite this one of mine. O Blessed Virgin, and my Mother
Mary, give me thy Son ; I intend to receive him from thy hands ! Tell him that I am
thy servant, and thus will he press me more lovingly to his heart now that he is
coming to me.
An Act of Faith
Behold, He cometh leaping upon the mountains, skipping over the hills.[2] Ah, my
most amiable Saviour, over how many, what rough and craggy mountains, hast
Thou had to pass in order to come and unite Thyself to me by means of this most
holy sacrament ! Thou, from being God, hadst to become man ; from being
immense, to become a babe ; from being Lord, to become a servant. Thou hadst to
pass from the bosom of Thy Eternal Father to the womb of a Virgin ; from heaven
into a stable ; from a throne of glory to the gibbet of a criminal. And on this very
morning Thou wilt come from Thy seat in heaven to dwell in my bosom.
Behold, He standeth behind our wall, looking through the windows, looking through
the lattices.[3] Behold, O my soul, thy loving Jesus, burning with the same love with
which he loved thee when dying for thee on the Cross, is now concealed in the Most
Blessed Sacrament under the sacred species ; and what is he doing ? Looking
through the lattices. As an ardent lover, desirous to see you correspond to his love,
from the Host, as from within closed lattices, whence he sees without being seen,
he is looking at you, who are this morning about to feed upon his divine flesh ; he
observes your thoughts, what is it that you love, what you desire, what you seek for,
and what offerings you are about to make to him.
Awake, then, my soul, and prepare to receive thy Jesus ; and, in the first place, by
faith, say to him : So, then, my beloved Redeemer, in a few moments Thou art
coming to me ? O hidden God, unknown to the greater part of men, I believe, I
confess, I adore Thee in the Most Holy Sacrament as my Lord and Saviour ! And in
acknowledgement of this truth I would willingly lay down my life. Thou comest to
enrich me with Thy graces and to unite Thyself entirely to me ; how great, then,
should be my confidence in this Thy so loving visit !
An Act of Confidence
My soul, expand thy heart. Thy Jesus can do Thee every good, and, indeed, loves
thee. Hope thou for great things from this thy Lord, who, urged by love, comes all
love to thee.
[
Yes, my dear Jesus, my hope, I trust in Thy goodness, that, in giving Thyself to me
this morning, Thou wilt enkindle in my poor heart the beautiful flame of Thy pure
love, and a real desire to please Thee ; so that, from this day forward, I may never
will anything but what Thou willest.
An Act of Love
Ah, my God, my God, true and only love of my soul, and what more couldst Thou
have done to be loved by me ? To die for me was not enough for Thee, my Lord ;
Thou wast pleased to institute this great sacrament in order to give Thyself all to
me, and thus bind and unite Thyself heart to heart with so loathesome and
ungrateful a creature as I am. And what is more, Thou Thyself invitest me to receive
Thee, and desirest so much that I should do so ! O boundless love !
incomprehensible love ! infinite love ! a God would give himself all to me ! -- My
soul, believest thou this ? And what doest thou ? what sayest thou ? O God, O God,
O infinite amiability, only worthy object of all love, I love Thee with my whole heart,
I love Thee above all things, I love Thee more than myself, more than my life ! Oh,
could I but see Thee loved by all ! Oh, could I but cause Thee to be loved by all
hearts as much as Thou deservest ! I love Thee, O most amiable God, and I unite
my miserable heart in loving Thee to the hearts of the Seraphim, to the heart of the
most blessed Virgin Mary, to the Heart of Jesus, thy most loving and beloved Son.
So that, O Infinite Good, I love Thee with the love with which the saints, with which
Mary, with which Jesus love Thee. And I love Thee only because Thou art worthy of
it, and to give Thee pleasure. Depart, all earthly affections, that are not for God,
depart from my heart. Mother of fair love, most holy Virgin Mary, help me to love
that God whom Thou dost so ardently desire to see loved !
An Act of Humility
Then, my soul, thou art even now about to feed on the most sacred flesh of Jesus !
And art thou worthy ? My God, and who am I, and who art Thou ? I indeed know
and confess who Thou art that givest Thyself to me ; but dost Thou know what I am
who am about to receive Thee ? And is it possible, O my Jesus, that Thou who art
infinite purity desirest to come and reside in this soul of mine, which has been so
many times the dwelling of Thy enemy, and soiled with so many sins ? I know, O my
Lord, Thy great Majesty and my misery ; I am ashamed to appear before Thee.
Reverence would induce me to keep at a distance from Thee ; but if I depart from
Thee, O my life, whither shall I go ? to whom shall I have recourse ? and what will
become of me ? No, never will I depart from Thee ; nay, even I will ever draw nearer
and nearer to Thee. Thou art satisfied that I should receive Thee as food, Thou even
invitest me to this. I come then, O my amiable Saviour, I come to receive Thee this
morning, all humbled and confused at the sight of my defects ; but full of
confidence in Thy tender mercy, and in the love which Thou bearest me.
An Act of Contrition
I am indeed grieved, O God of my soul, for not having loved Thee during the time
past ; what is still worse, so far from loving Thee, and to gratify my own inclinations,
I have greatly offended and outraged Thy infinite goodness : I have turned my back
upon Thee, I have despised Thy grace and friendship ; in a word, O my God, I was
deliberate in my will to lose Thee. Lord, I am sorry, and grieve for it with my whole
heart. I detest the sins which I have committed, be they great or small, as the
greatest of all my misfortunes, because I have thereby offended Thee, O Infinite
Goodness. I trust that Thou hast already forgiven me ; but if Thou hast not yet
pardoned me, oh, do so before I receive Thee: wash with Thy blood this soul of
mine, in which Thou art so soon about to dwell.
An Act of Desire
And now, my soul, the blessed hour has arrived in which Jesus will come and take
up his dwelling in thy poor heart. Behold the King of Heaven, behold thy Redeemer
and God, who is even now coming ; prepare thyself to receive him with love, invite
him with the ardor of thy desire.
Come, O my Jesus, come to my soul, which desires Thee. Before Thou givest Thyself
to me, I desire to give Thee, and I now give Thee, my miserable heart ; do Thou
accept it, and come quickly to take possession of it. Come, my God ! hasten ; delay
no longer. My only and Infinite Good, my treasure, my life, my Paradise, my love,
my all, my wish is to receive Thee with the love with which the most holy and loving
souls have received Thee ; with that with which the most blessed Virgin Mary
received Thee ; to their Communions I unite this Communion of mine.
Most holy Virgin and my Mother Mary, behold, I already approach to receive thy
Son. Would that I had the heart and love with which thou didst communicate ! Give
me this morning thy Jesus, as thou didst give him to the shepherds and to the kings.
I intend to receive him from thy most pure hands. Tell him that I am thy servant and
thy client ; for he will thus look upon me with a more loving eye, and now that he is
coming, will press me more closely to himself.
Affections and Prayers
O my Jesus ! what has induced Thee to give Thyself entirely to us for our food ?
After this gift, what more remains for Thee to give us in order to oblige us to love
Thee ? Ah, Lord ! give us light, make us understand the excess of Thy love in
becoming food in order to unite Thyself to poor sinners ! But, if Thou givest Thyself
entirely to us, it is just that we too give our whole being to Thee. O my Redeemer !
how have I been able to offend Thee, who hast loved me so tenderly, and who hast
done so much to gain my love ? Thou hast become man for my sake, Thou hast died
for me, Thou hast become my food ; tell me, what more couldst Thou have done ? I
love Thee, O infinite Goodness ! I love Thee, O infinite Love ! Lord, come often to my
soul ; inflame my whole heart with Thy holy love ; grant that I may forget all things
in order to think only of Thee, and to love nothing but Thee. Most Holy Mary, pray
for me, and, by thy intercession, make me worthy to receive thy Son frequently in
the Holy Sacrament.
O infinite love of Jesus, worthy of infinite love ! Ah ! my Jesus, when shall I love Thee
as Thou hast loved me ? Thou couldst do nothing more to make me love Thee ; and
I have forsaken Thee, O infinite Good ! for the sake of vile and miserable goods !
Ah ! enlighten me, O my God ! discover to me always more and more the greatness
of Thy goodness, that my whole soul may be enamoured of Thee, and that I may
labor to please Thee. I love Thee, O my Jesus ! my love, my all ; and I wish to unite
myself frequently to Thee in this sacrament, in order to detach myself from all
things, and to love Thee alone, who art my life. Through the merits of Thy Passion,
assist me, O my Redeemer ! O Mother of Jesus, and my Mother ! do thou, too, assist
me ; beg of him to inflame my whole heart with his holy love.
O enamoured of souls, O my Jesus ! it is not in Thy power to give us greater proofs

of love in order to show us that Thou lovest us. And what more couldst Thou invent
to induce us to love Thee ? Ah ! grant, O infinite Goodness ! that I may love Thee
tenderly and with all my strength ! And who is there that has greater claims on the
affections of my heart, than Thou, my Redeemer, who, after having given Thy life
for my salvation, hast given me Thyself entirely in this sacrament ? Ah ! Lord, that I
always remembered Thy love in order to forget all things, and to love Thee alone
without interruption and without reserve ! I love Thee, O my Jesus, above all things,
and I wish to love Thee alone. Banish from my heart, I entreat Thee, all affections
which are not for Thee. I thank Thee for giving me time to love Thee and to weep
over the offences I have offered to Thee. My Jesus, I desire that Thou mayest be the
only object of my affections. Assist me, save me, and let my salvation consist in
loving Thee with my whole heart, and in loving Thee always in this life and in the
next. Mary, my Mother, obtain for me the grace to love Jesus Christ ; pray to him for
me.
O Jesus, my Redeemer, O love of my soul ! how much has it cost Thee to remain
with us in the sacrament ? To be able to remain on our altars, Thou hadst first to
suffer death ; afterward, in order to aid us by Thy presence, Thou hadst to submit to
so many grievous insults in this sacrament. And, after all this, we are so slothful and
negligent in visiting Thee, though we know that Thou so ardently desirest our visits
for the purpose of enriching us with Thy graces when Thou seest us in Thy
presence. Lord, pardon me ; for I too have been one of these ungrateful souls. From
this day forward, O my Jesus ! I wish to visit Thee often, and to remain as long as I
can in Thy presence, to thank Thee, to love Thee, and to ask Thy graces ; for it is for
this purpose that Thou remainest on earth shut up in our tabernacles, and made our
prisoner of love. I love Thee, O infinite Goodness ! I love Thee, O God of love ! I love
Thee, O sovereign Good ! amiable above every good. Grant that I may forget myself
and all things, in order to remember only Thy love and to spend the remainder of
my life wholly occupied in pleasing Thee. Grant that from this day forward I may
relish no pleasure more than that of remaining at Thy feet. Inflame my whole soul
with Thy holy love. Mary, my mother, obtain for me a great love for the Most Holy
Sacrament ; and whenever Thou seest that I am negligent, remind me of the
promise I now make of going every day to visit the Holy Sacrament.
Since then, my beloved Jesus, Thou remainest on our altars to hear the
supplications of the miserable who have recourse to Thee, hear the prayer which I,
a miserable sinner, present to Thee. O Lamb of God ! sacrificed and lifeless on the
cross, I am a soul redeemed by Thy blood ; pardon me all the offences I have
offered to Thee, and assist me by Thy grace, that I may never lose Thee again.
Impart to me, O my Jesus ! a portion of the sorrow which Thou didst feel in the
garden of Gethsemane for my sins. O my God ! that I had never offended Thee ! My
dear Lord, had I died in sin, I could never more love Thee ; but Thou hast waited for
me that I might love Thee. I thank Thee for the time which Thou givest me : and
since I can now love Thee, I wish to love Thee. Give me the grace of Thy holy love,
but of a love which will make me forget all things, to think only of pleasing Thy most
loving heart. Ah, my Jesus ! Thou hast spent Thy whole life for me : grant that I may
spend at least the remainder of my life for Thee. Draw me entirely to Thy love ;
make me all Thine before I die. I hope for all graces through the merits of Thy
Passion. I also hope in thy intercession, O Mary ! Thou knowest that I love thee :
have pity on me.
Ah, my Jesus ! make Thyself known, make Thyself loved. Thou art so amiable, Thou
canst do nothing more to induce men to love Thee ; how then does it happen that
so few among them love Thee ? Alas ! I have been among these ungrateful
wretches. I have been sufficiently grateful to creatures, who have bestowed no gift
or favor upon me : to Thee only, who hast given me Thyself, have I been ungrateful,
so as often to offend Thee grievously, and insult Thee by my sins. But I see that,
instead of abandoning me, Thou continuest to seek after me, and to ask my love. I
feel that Thou continuest to propose to me this loving precept – “Thou shalt love
the Lord thy God with thy whole heart.” Since, then, Thou didst wish to be loved
even by me after my ingratitude, I desire to love Thee. Thou wishest for my love,
and at present through Thy grace, I desire only to love Thee. I love Thee, my love,
my all. Through that blood which Thou hast shed for me, help me to love Thee. My
beloved Redeemer ! I place all my hopes in this blood, and also in the intercession
of Thy most holy Mother, whom Thou wishest to assist me by her prayers in the
work of my salvation. O Mary, my Mother ! pray to Jesus for me. Thou inflamest all
thy lovers with the divine love ; I love thee tenderly ; procure it also for me.
Loving Aspirations to Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament
Before Holy Communion
I.
Egredimini et videte, filiae Sion, regem Salomonem in diademate, quo coronavit

illum mater sua in die desponsationis illius[4] -- “Go forth, ye daughters of Sion, and
see king Solomon in the diadem wherewith his mother crowned him in the day of
his espousals.”
O daughters of grace, O ye souls who love God quit the darkness of the earth, and
behold Jesus, your king, crowned with a crown of thorns ; the crown of contempt
and suffering with which the impious synagogue, his mother crowned him on the
day of his espousals, -- that is to say, on the day of his death, by means of which he
espoused himself on the Cross to our souls. Go forth again, and behold him all full of
[
compassion and love, now that he comes to unite himself to thee in this sacrament
of love.
Has it indeed, then, cost Thee so much, my beloved Jesus, before Thou couldst
come and unite Thyself to souls in this most sweet Sacrament ? Wert Thou indeed
obliged to suffer so bitter and ignominious a death ? Oh, come, then, without delay,
and unite Thyself to my soul also. It was at one time Thy enemy by sin ; but now
Thou desirest to espouse it by Thy grace. Come, O Jesus, my spouse, for never more
will I betray Thee ; I am determined to be ever faithful to Thee. As a loving spouse,
my whole thought shall be to find out Thy pleasure. I am determined to love Thee
without reserve ; I desire to be all Thine, my Jesus, -- all, all, all.
II.
Fasciculus myrrhae Dilectus meus mihi, inter ubera mea commorabitur[5] -- “A

bundle of myrrh is my Beloved to me ; he shall abide between my breasts.”
The myrrh plant, when pricked, sends forth tears, and a healthful liquor from the
wounds. Before his Passion, our Jesus determined to pour forth his divine blood from
his wounds in so painful a way to give it afterwards all to us for our salvation in this
bread of life.
Come then, O my beloved bundle of myrrh, O my enamored Jesus ; Thou art indeed
a subject of grief and pity to me when I consider Thee all wounded for me on the
Cross : but then, when I receive Thee in this most sweet Sacrament, Thou becomest
indeed to me more sweet and delicious than a bunch of the choicest grapes can be
to one who is parched with thirst : A cluster of cypress my Love is to me, in the
vineyards of Engadai.[6] Come, then, to my soul, and revive and satiate me with Thy
holy love. Ah, what sweetness do I feel in my soul at the thought, that I have to
receive within myself that same Saviour of mine who for my salvation was pleased
to be drained of all his blood, and sacrificed on a cross ! He shall abide between my
breasts. No, my Jesus, never more will I drive Thee hence ; and Thou shalt never
more have to leave me. I am determined ever to love Thee, and to be always united
and closely bound up with Thee. I will always belong to Jesus, and Jesus will be
always mine : forever, forever, forever He shall abide between my breasts.
[
III.
Dum esset Rex in accubitu suo, nardus mea dedit odorem suum[7] -- “While the King
was at His repose my spikenard sent forth the odor thereof.”
When Jesus comes to dwell in a soul in the Holy Communion, oh, how clearly does
she see and know her own nothingness by the bright light which the king of heaven
brings with him ! As the spikenard is the most lowly among plants, so does the soul
confess itself the most vile of all creatures ; and when thus humbled, oh, how sweet
is the odor which she breathes forth to her beloved king ! and for this reason he
invites her to unite herself to him in closer and closer bonds.
If, then, my soul, thou desirest that thy Jesus should repose in thee, consider thy
own nothingness. Who art thou ? what dost thou deserve ? Humble thyself as thou
shouldst do, by casting away from thyself all self-esteem which may keep Jesus at a
distance from thee, or prevent him from coming to repose in thee.
Come to me, my dear Redeemer, come ; and by thy divine light make me to see my
own lowliness, my misery, my nothingness, that Thou mayest be enabled to repose
in me with satisfaction to Thyself, to separate Thyself no more from me.
IV.
Sentite de Domino in bonitate[8] -- “Think of the Lord in goodness.”
My soul, why art thou so timid and fearful at the sight of the goodness and infinite
love of thy Lord ? why such distrust ? Now that thou art made worthy to receive
within thee Jesus Christ, let thy sentiments correspond to this grace, by confiding in
that goodness of God, who gives thee all himself. Truly his judgments are terrible
but they are terrible only to the proud and to the obstinate ; but to the humble and
penitent, who desire to love and please him, his judgments are all mercy and love,
emanating from a heart full of compassion and kindness. So that David, considering
these judgments of God, superabounds with hope : I have more than hoped in Thy
[
[
judgments. These judgments made him happy and consoled him : Thy judgments
are delightful ; I remembered Thy judgments, and was comforted.[9] Ah ! our great
God is only too loving and generous to those who seek him with love : The Lord is
good to the soul that seeketh Him.[10] How good is God to those who seek to unite
their will to the divine will : How good is God to Israel, to those that are of a right
heart.[11]
My God, my love, my hope, my all, I desire Thee, and Thee alone, -- to love Thee, to
please Thee, and to do Thy will in all things. Let me always find Thee ; make me
agreeable to Thee ; and never let me leave Thee again. So be it. Amen, amen.
V.
Vox Dilecti mei pulsantis : Aperi mihi, soror mea, amica mea, columba mea,
immaculata mea[12] -- “The voice of my Beloved knocking: Open to Me, My sister, My
love, My dove, My undefiled.”
Such are the words which Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament speaks to those who love
and desire him. Open to me, he says, O soul, thy heart, and there I will come to
unite myself to thee ; so that, being one with me, thou mayest become my sister by
resemblance, my friend by participation in my riches, my dove by the gift of
simplicity, my undefiled by the gift of purity, which I shall communicate to thee. And
then he goes on to say, Open to me, for my head is full of dew and my locks of the
drops of the night. As if he said: Consider, my beloved, that I have waited for thee
all the night of the bad life thou hast led in the midst of darkness and error. Behold,
now, instead of bringing scourges to chastise thee, I come in the Blessed
Sacrament, with my hair full of heavenly dew, to extinguish in thee all impure
desires towards creatures, and to kindle in Thee the happy fire of my love. Come,
then, O my beloved Jesus, and work in me what Thou wilt. I renounce the love of all
things, in order to be all Thine, and that Thou mayest make me as Thou wouldst
have me, entirely united to Thy will.
[
VI.
Veniat Dilectus meus in hortum suum, et comedat fructum pomorum suorum.[13]

“Let my beloved come into His garden, and eat the fruit of His apple-trees.”
Cornelius à Lapide says that this is precisely the invitation that a soul desirous of
the Holy Communion makes to Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament. Come, my beloved,
she says, into my poor heart, which at one unhappy time did not belong to Thee ;
but which now, by the help of Thy grace, has returned to Thee : Come and eat the
fruit of Thy apple-trees. Come and taste in me those virtues which Thou dost bring
with Thyself when Thou comest to me. O my Lord, at least for the honor of Thy
majesty, purify my heart, adorn it, inflame it with Thy love, and make it beautiful in
Thy sight, that it may be a worthy dwelling-place for Thee.
VII.
Ad ubera portabimini[14] -- “You shall be carried at the breasts.”
It is thus that Jesus from the sacred altars invites our souls. Come, he says, and
suck my divine milk, which I give you in this Sacrament, wherein I offer you my own
blood to drink. But what shepherd, says St. John Chrysostom,[15] ever feeds his
sheep with his own blood ? Even mothers give their children to nurses to be fed. But
Thou, O divine Pastor, art so enamoured of our souls as to wish to nourish them with
Thine own blood. St. Catharine of Sienna, then, did well in approaching the holy
Communion as if panting to suck the divine milk, in the same way as an infant
presses anxiously to suck the milk from its mother’s breasts. And well might the
Sacred Spouse say to her Beloved, Thy breasts are better than wine,[16] signifying
that she esteemed the milk of this sacrament, as the sacred interpreters explain it,
above all the pleasures of the world, which are transitory and vain, as are transitory
and vain also the joys and pleasures of wine.
O my beloved Jesus, since Thou wilt feed me this morning with Thine own blood in
the Holy Communion, it is but reasonable that I should willingly renounce all the
[
[
delights and pleasures which the world might give me. Yes, I give them all up ; I
protest that I choose rather to suffer all evils united to Thee, than to enjoy all the
goods of the world away from Thee. It is sufficient happiness for me to please Thee,
who art worthy of all that we can do to please Thee. I will say, then, with St. Ignatius
of Loyola, give me, I pray Thee, but Thy love and Thy grace ; that is sufficient for
me, and I am contented.
VIII.
Comedite, amici, et bibite, et inebriamini, charissimi[17] – “Eat, O friends, and drink,

and be inebriated, my dearly beloved.”
The “friends,” that is beginners, who scarcely enjoy the divine friendship, when they
receive the Holy Communion, feed indeed on the flesh of Jesus Christ, but they eat
with labor ; while those who are on the way to perfection eat with less difficulty. But
by the “dearly beloved” are meant the perfect, who, inebriated with holy love, live
almost out of the world, forgeting all things, even themselves, and think only how
they may love and please their God.
My beloved Jesus, I am not yet perfect ; but Thou canst make me perfect. I am not
dear to Thee, and it is my own fault, because I have been ungrateful and unfaithful ;
but Thou canst make me become so, by inebriating me this morning with Thy love.
Thy kingdom come.[18] Come, my beloved Lord, and take possession of my whole
soul. Establish Thy kingdom in me ; so that Thou alone mayest reign in me, that Thy
love alone may command me, and that Thy love only may I obey. Inebriate me,
inebriate me entirely ; make me forget all creatures, myself, my interests, and all,
that I may love nothing but Thee, my God, my treasure, all my good, my all ; may I
sigh for Thee alone, seek Thee alone, think of Thee alone, and please Thee alone.
Do this by the merits of Thy Passion. This only do I ask of Thee ; this I hope.
IX.
Fulcite me floribus, stipate me malis ; quia amore langueo[19] – “Stay me up with

flowers, compass me about with apples: because I languish with love.”
[
The languor of the soul is when, forgetful of herself and her affairs, she thinks only
of seeking refreshment for her languishing love by holy desires, which are the
flowers, and by good works, which are the fruits of divine love.
O my God, O Blessed Sacrament, since Thou wilt have me to be all Thine, make me
what Thou wouldst have me. Make me forget everything that does not belong to
Thy love. Increase in me always more and more the desire of pleasing Thee. Grant
that these flowers may not always remain flowers ; make them also become fruits,
by my doing and suffering something for Thee, who hast done and suffered only too
much for me. O God, O God of my soul, make Thyself loved, but really loved, by me,
-- not only in word, but in deed, -- before death comes upon me.
X.
Dilectus meus candidus et rubicundus, electus et millibus[20] – “My Beloved is white

and ruddy, chosen out of thousands.”
Our beloved Jesus is all white by his purity, and all red by the flames of his divine
love.
My spotless Lamb, all burning with love for me, when shall I make myself like to
Thee, pure as Thou art, O lily, burning with love of Thee as Thou dost burn with love
of me ? Yes, I do renounce all other love, and choose for myself Thy sweet love, my
God, my all. Begone, ye creatures ! what do you want with me ? Go and enjoy the
love of those who seek you. I wish only for my God ; for God alone will I keep all my
hearts and all my affections.
XI.
Benignitas et humanitas apparuit Salvatoris nostri Dei[21] – “The goodness and

kindness of God our Saviour appeared.”
[
St. Paul says that God, by making himself man, showed the world how far his
goodness towards us went. But by giving himself in this sacrament, he makes us
know the depth of the tenderness of his love towards our souls. “Does it not seem
madness to say, Eat my flesh, and drink my blood ?” St. Augustine says, does it not
seem a madness, Jesus Christ saying to us, as he said in that blessed night,[22] Take
and eat, this is My body ?[23] O men, he says, to make you understand how much I
love you, I will that you should come and feed on my very flesh. O holy faith ! And
who among us would have been able to demand so much ? Who could have even
thought of it, if Jesus had not thought it and done it ? Some of the followers of Jesus
Christ, when they heard that from his mouth, that is, that he wished to give them
his body to eat, said that this was too hard a thing, and that they could neither
believe nor hear it : This saying is hard, and who can hear it ?[24] And they went so
far as to leave him, because they would not believe it: but yet it is of faith that so it
is. But what else does Jesus Christ ask of us, by all this he has done for us, but that
we should love him ? as the Lord had once before instructed his people: And now,
Israel, what does the Lord thy God require of thee, but that thou... love Him and
serve Him with all thy heart ?[25]
O my most loving Jesus, what dost Thou not give, what dost Thou not promise to
those that love Thee ? Thou dost promise them Thy love : I love those that love
Me.[26] Thou dost promise them Thy caresses, even when they have already turned
their backs upon Thee : Turn ye to Me, and I will turn to you.[27] Thou dost promise to
come with the Father and the Holy Spirit to abide forever in their souls: He who
loveth Me shall be loved of My Father, ...and We will come to him and make our
abode with him.[28] And what more hast Thou to promise and to give, to entice men
to love Thee ? My dearest Lord, I see how it is ; Thou dost wish also to be loved by
me : yes, I love Thee with all my heart ; and if I do not love Thee, do Thou teach me
to love Thee ; make me to love Thee, and to love Thee above all things : “Give what
Thou commandest, and command what Thou wilt.”[29]
[
XII.
Nolite me considerare quod fusca sim, quia decoloravit me sol[30] – “Do not consider
me, that I am brown ; for the sun has discolored me.”
The heat of my passions, said the Sacred Spouse (and still more ought I to say it, O
my dear Jesus), has deformed and blackened me: I am black, but beautiful.[31] But I
am black by my own works ; I am beautiful by Thy merits, O my Redeemer. I was
black at one time, when I was alone and separated from Thee ; but now that I am
united to Thee, Thy grace, Thy beauty, Thy love has made me beautiful.
Yes, my Jesus, so do I hope. Mayest Thou be blessed forever. Never permit me to

lose Thee again, and to return to my former depravity. I love Thee, O infinite
beauty ; I wish also that my soul should be beautiful, always beautiful, that it may
be always pleasing in Thy divine sight, and that Thou mayest always love it.
THOMAS A KEMPIS:
Prayer for Help
O my God, help me to make a good Communion. Mary, my dearest Mother, pray to

Jesus for me. My dear Guardian Angel, lead me to the altar of God.
Act of Faith
O God, because Thou hast said it, I believe that I shall receive the Sacred Body of
Jesus Christ to eat, and His precious Blood to drink. My God, I believe this with all
my heart.
Act of Humility
[
My God, I confess that I am a poor sinner ; I am not worthy to receive the Body and
Blood of Jesus on account of my sins. Lord, I am not worthy that Thou shouldst enter
under my roof ; say but the word, and my soul shall be healed.
Act of Sorrow
My God, I detest all the sins of my life. I am sorry for them, because they have
offended Thee, my God, Who art so good. I resolve never to commit sin any more.
My good God, pity me, have mercy on me, forgive me. Amen.
Act of Adoration
O Jesus, great God, present on the altar, I bow down before Thee, I adore Thee.
Act of Love and Desire
Sweet Jesus, I love Thee. I desire with all my heart to receive Thee. Most sweet
Jesus, come into my poor soul, and give me Thy Flesh to eat and Thy Blood to drink.
Give me Thy whole self, Body, Blood, Soul, and Divinity, that I may live forever with
Thee.
PRAYERS AFTER HOLY COMMUNION
Act of Faith
O Jesus, I believe that I have received Thy Flesh to eat and Thy Blood to drink,
because Thou hast said it, and Thy word is true.
Act of Adoration
O Jesus, my God, my Creator, I adore Thee, because from Thy hands I came and
with Thee I am to be happy forever.
Act of Humility
O Jesus, I am but dust and ashes, and yet Thou hast come to me, and my poor heart
may speak to Thee.
Act of Love
Sweet Jesus, I love Thee ; I love Thee with all my heart. Thou knowest that I love
Thee and wish to love Thee daily more and more.
Act of Thanksgiving
My good Jesus, I thank Thee with all my heart. How good, how kind Thou art to me,
sweet Jesus. Blessed be Jesus in the most Holy Sacrament of the Altar.
Act of Offering
Jesus, receive my poor offering. Jesus, Thou hast given Thyself to me, and now let
me give myself to Thee :
I give Thee my body, that it may be chaste and pure.
I give Thee my soul, that it may be free from sin.
I give Thee my heart, that it may always love Thee.
I give Thee every breath that I shall breathe, and especially my last ; I give Thee
myself in life and in death, that I may be Thine forever and ever.
O Jesus, wash away my sins with Thy precious Blood.
O Jesus, the struggle against temptation is not yet finished. My Jesus, when
temptation comes near me, make me strong against it. In the moment of
temptation, may I always say : “Jesus, mercy ! Mary, help !”
O Jesus, may I lead a good life ; may I die a happy death. May I receive Thee before
I die. May I say when I am dying: “Jesus, Mary, Joseph, I give you my heart and my
soul.”
Listen now for a moment to Jesus Christ ; perhaps He has something to say to you.
There may be some promise you have made and broken, which He wishes you to
make again and keep. Answer Jesus in your heart, and tell Him all your troubles.
Then pray for others.
O Jesus, have mercy on Thy Holy Church ; take care of it.
O Jesus, have pity on poor sinners, and save them from hell.
O Jesus, bless my father, my mother, my brothers and sisters, and all I ought to
pray for, as Thy Heart knows how to bless them.
O Jesus, have pity on the poor souls in Purgatory, and give them eternal rest.
Sweet Jesus, I am going away for a time, but I trust not without Thee. Thou art with
me by Thy grace. I will never leave Thee by mortal sin. I do not fear that I shall do
so, though I am weak, because I have hope in Thee. Give me grace to persevere.
O blessed Virgin, Mother of my God and Saviour, recommend all these my petitions
to your Son. O all ye Angels and Saints of God, unite your prayer with mine ; be ever
mindful of me, and obtain from Him, and through Him, that with you I may bless
Him and love Him forever. Amen.
Prayer
Behold, my cravings are appeased. Behold, all my longings are now satisfied. My
God has deigned to visit me. Now Jesus abides in my heart. Now I can say with the
apostle : I am no longer my own, but Christ’s ; I no longer live in myself, but in
Christ, and Christ lives in me. I belong entirely to Christ, and Christ is mine.
Welcome, beloved Jesus, I bless Thee for having come to dwell within me. Oh, how it
grieves me to think that Thou art come to abide in a heart that has caused Thee so
much sorrow and affliction ! O Lord, what dost Thou discover in me, but a heart
devoted to the perishable things of this world ! Wherefore, then, hast Thou come to
dwell in me ? Let me in the bitterness of self-reproach say with St. Peter : “Depart
from me, for I am a sinful man.” Go and reside within those sinless, loving souls,
who long for Thy coming. But no, O my heavenly Guest, depart not from me ; for if I
lose Thee, I am lost. O God, Thou art my chief hope, and I will not be separated from
Thee. I will clasp Thee to my heart ; and oh, may I live and die in Thy tender
embrace ! Mary, my holy protectress, and all ye Angels and Saints, inspire me with
love like yours, that I may welcome my Jesus as I should.
Act of Thanksgiving
O adorable Trinity, one God, most worthy of my love, I thank Thee with my whole
heart for having given Jesus to me, a poor sinner. And, O sweet Jesus, how can I
ever thank Thee sufficiently for having deigned to visit me ! O spotless Virgin ! O all
ye blessed citizens of heaven ! O all ye souls glowing with purest love, enable me to
thank my Lord incessantly for His infinite goodness. O God, to Thee be thanksgiving,
praise, adoration, and glory from all creatures through endless ages.
Act of Petition
My loving Lord, since Thou hast deigned to visit me that I may be enriched with Thy
graces, and since Thou hast commanded me to ask them of Thee, listen to me now,
I implore Thee. Bestow on me, O Jesus, an increase of faith, hope, charity, and
sorrow for my sins. Grant me humility, purity, patience, and every other virtue ;
cleanse me of all my sins. Detach my heart from the perishable things of this world,
and conform it to Thy divine Will.
Act of Oblation
O Jesus, Thou hast given Thyself entirely to me ; and gratitude requires that I should
give myself wholly to Thee. Thou hast sanctified me by dwelling in me ; henceforth I
will, with Thy divine assistance, be entirely consecrated to Thee. My eyes, which
Thou hast opened to the true light, shall be Thine. My ears, which have heard Thy
gentle invitation, shall be Thine. And this tongue, which has been touched by Thy
adorable Body and Blood, shall be Thine forevermore. May all my senses be
devoted to Thy greater glory and honor ; may they never again rebel against Thy
holy Law. To Thee I offer all that I am and have, O Jesus. Confirm me now in Thy
holy grace ; let me never lose it again, let me ever love and serve Thee here on
earth, so as to be happy with Thee in heaven. Amen.
Prayer after Holy Communion
Behold, my longings are fulfilled ! Behold, my desires are satisfied ! Now hath my
God come to visit me ! Now Jesus dwelleth within me ! Now I am no longer my own
but Christ’s : I no longer live in myself, in Jesus, and Jesus lives in me. I am
altogether the possession of Jesus, and Jesus is altogether mine.
O Infinite Goodness ! A God – the God of heaven – hath touched the tongue, and
come within the breast, and sought the heart of a human creature, and one so vile,
so unworthy as I am ! My soul, of what art thou thinking ? Behold thyself now in
possession of that for which thou hast been sighing ; behold thyself all hallowed by
the presence of Jesus, transformed into Jesus. Thou and Jesus art one. O union true
and wonderful ! My soul, my soul, art thou thus closely united to Jesus, and yet
sayest nothing to Him, and speaketh not with thy God Who is in thine arms, within
thy breast, at thy heart ? Up, up, arise, collect thyself, gather up all the affections of
thy spirit ; adore Him, and say to Him:
O welcome, dearest Jesus, to the mansion of my soul. Oh, how long have I desired
this hour ! But, oh, how I pity Thee, now that I see Thee placed in this heart, more
hard and cold than the stall where thou wast born ; a heart more full of what is grief
and anguish to Thee than Calvary was to Thy sacred flesh ; for not once, but a
hundred, and a thousand times, have I renewed Thy death and Passion by my sins !
Lord, what dost Thou find in me but hardness and obduracy against Thee, and
affections all given to earthly things ! Ah, my God, how is it Thou hast come to dwell
in me ? I must cry out with St. Peter, Depart from me, depart from me, O Majesty of
God ; depart from this soul of sin, which is not worthy to harbor God ; Exi a me, quia
homo peccator sum, Domine.[32] Go, and rest within those pure and fervent souls
who welcome Thee so tenderly. But, no, O my most precious blessing ; no, let it
never be so ; do not leave me, for if Thou art far from me, I am lost. O God, my
hope, I will not let Thee go ! O blessing, for which I have sighed, I press Thee to my
heart, and I wish to live and die thus embracing Thee. O most holy Mary, O angels,
saints, and souls that love your God! lend me your affections, that I may fitly
welcome and cherish this presence of my Jesus.
Act of Thanksgiving
O Divine Trinity, one God, most worthy to be loved, I thank Thee from the very
depth of my heart, because Thou hast given me Jesus ; I thank Thee because Thou
hast left me Jesus in the Sacrament ; I thank Thee for having caused me to receive
Him ; I thank Thee, my Jesus, that Thou hast deigned to visit me. O God, what
return can I make for so much love ! How can I thank Thee enough, O most holy
Virgin, O angels, O saints of heaven, O all enamoured souls, help me to thank our
God, to thank and thank Him again and again, for this infinite kindness. But, O God,
how little even is all this ! The thanksgiving of all paradise cannot attain to be
thanks sufficient to an infinite God, or recommend Him for His benefits. What, then,
shall I do ? I know not, except, O my most holy Jesus, to offer up Thine own love
itself in thanks for Thine infinite love. May Thine infinite compassion, Thy kindness,
[
and all the abyss of Thine infinite attributes, render to Thee that honor and that
thank-offering which Thou deservest. O Most Holy Trinity, one God, I thank Thee by
the hands of Jesus ; and do Thou, O Triune God, thank Jesus for me ! And now let my
heart remain full, and let Thy Majesty accept and be satisfied with these infinite
thanks. O my Blessing, to Thee alone be praise, glory, and honor from all creatures,
forever and forever. Amen.
What art thou doing, my soul ? Dost thou know that now thou art a living temple in
which really dwells thy Redeemer ? It is no time now for lying slothful, and full of
wandering thoughts. It is the time for asking all the graces of which thou standest in
need, and for receiving them from the true and living God Who is dwelling within
thee.
Now the heavens stand open, now the Most Holy Trinity, with eyes all full of love, is
above thee, looking down on the object of Its own complacency – Jesus Christ, Who
is within thy breast. Now more than ever Mary, and angels, and saints, thy
advocates, are beseeching graces for thee from God. My soul, my soul, lose not of
these precious moments ; bend thy faculties to deal with the great affair of thy
eternal salvation. But how ? Art thou saying nothing to thy God ? Ah, poor and
miserable as thou art, thou delightest to live on amid thy miseries, while thou hast
with Thee the God of all riches ; and thou art silent, and thy mind begins already to
wander, and thou art so without desire of interest, so dull and so idle of heart ! Dost
thou not know that if thou seekest not thou obtainest not ? Were a king to enter thy
house and invite thee to ask favors of him, wouldst thou be long silent ? Ah,
miserable race, through our little faith ! The Kings of kings, with His royal presence,
is within thee, the Lord of the heavenly treasures. A God – thy God – hath come to
thee, Who wishes to bestow great graces on thee and thou speakest not a word !
This Infinite Benignity grieves and laments that His favors are not sought ; and,
unable longer to endure the languid and indifference of men, forever longing to be
kind to them and do them good, He Himself takes to inviting them, and beseeches
them to ask. Usque modo non petistis quidquam in nomine meo. Petite, et
accipietis, ut gaudium vestrum sit plenum.[33] My soul, thou hast within thee a Lord
omnipotent, a most loving and munificent Father, a most faithful God : and of what
art thou afraid ? Seek and confide, enlarge thy heart, revive thy faith ; begin, ask
great graces – heavenly graces, graces worthy of God.
Act of Petition
[
O my dear Redeemer, since Thou hast come to me, in order to confer graces upon
me, and invitest me to ask them of Thee, hear me now by the bowels of Thy
compassion. Give me, O my Jesus, an increase of living faith, hope, charity, and
contrition. Give me humility, purity, patience, and all virtues ; take from me all my
corruptions. Change this heart, so full of the world and of myself, and give me a new
heart conformed to Thy will, so that I may always seek Thy greater glory, and that
all its affections may aspire to Thee and aim only at Thy love, without ever
deviating even in the very least. Cor mundum crea in me Deus, et spiritum rectum
innova in visceribus meis.[34] Grace is indeed a mighty gift, and though I merit it not,
Thou meritest it for me. From a great and glorious God great favors may be sought ;
grant me this, then, which I have asked, by Thy Passion, by Thy death ; grant it by
the love Thou bearest to the Eternal Father ; grant it me by the virtue of most holy
Mary, by all the merits of the Church triumphant and militant ; grant it me because
Thou art Thyself infinite goodness and mercy.
Here apply yourself to ask with lively faith from God the graces and favors which
are needful for yourself and your neighbor.
O Most Holy Trinity, O my omnipotent God, hear these my prayers. Now is not the
time to refuse graces even to the most unworthy, because it is not I myself alone
that am seeking them, but, together with me, Jesus Christ is supplicating. Though I
do not deserve to be heard, Jesus Christ deserves it, Who prays with me, and in me,
and for me. Eternal Father, I call up before Thee the promises of Jesus Christ, Who
hath said that whatever graces we seek from Thee in His name, without any other
means, they shall be obtained from Thee: Amen amen, dico vobis, si quid petieritis
Patrem in nomine meo, dabit vobis.[35]
Act of Oblation
My Jesus, it is but justice and common gratitude that I should give myself entirely to
Thee, after Thou hast given Thyself entirely to me. Thou hast, in coming to me,
penetrated and made godlike all my being with Thy Divinity, and so I ought
henceforward to continue Thine. May these eyes, renewed by Thee, continue Thine ;
may these ears, sanctified by Thee, continue Thine ; this taste, sanctified by Thee,
may it be Thine. Thou hast sanctified all my senses ; may they be Thine, and so
may they never again take pleasure in opposition to Thy divine Law. Thou hast
sanctified my memory ; may it continually remember Thee. Thou hast sanctified my
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will ; may it never turn to love anything in preference to Thee. Unto Thee, then,
from the very depth of my heart, I offer, as a perpetual holocaust, my body and my
soul, my senses and my faculties, all that I have and am, as fully as I can. Burn, O
fire divine, burn and consume, O love omnipotent, all in me which is not Thine!
Amen.
The Benedicite (Daniel 3: 57-88 and 56)
Antiphon. Let us sing the song of the Three Children.
All ye Works of the Lord, bless the Lord : praise and exalt Him above all forever.
O ye Angels of the Lord, bless the Lord : bless the Lord, O ye Heavens.
O all ye Waters that are above the Heavens, bless the Lord : bless the Lord, O all ye
Powers of the Lord.
O ye Sun and Moon, bless the Lord : bless the Lord, O ye Stars of Heaven.
O every Shower and Dew, bless ye the Lord : bless the Lord, O all ye Spirits of God.
O ye Fire and Heat, bless the Lord : bless the Lord, O ye Cold and Heat.
O ye Dews and Hoarfrost, bless the Lord : bless the Lord, O ye Frost and Cold.
O ye Ice and Snow, bless the Lord : bless the Lord, O ye Nights and Days.
O ye Light and Darkness, bless the Lord : bless the Lord, O ye Lightnings and
Clouds.
O let the Earth bless the Lord : let it praise and exalt Him above all forever.
O ye Mountains and Hills, bless the Lord : bless the Lord, O all ye things that spring
up in the earth.
O ye Fountains, bless the Lord : bless the Lord, O ye Seas and Rivers.
O ye Whales, and all that move in the Waters, bless the Lord : bless the Lord, O all
ye Fowls of the air.
O all ye Beasts and Cattle, bless the Lord : bless the Lord, O ye Sons of men.
O let Israel bless the Lord : let them praise and exalt Him above all forever.
O ye Priests of the Lord, bless the Lord : bless the Lord, O ye Servants of the Lord.
O ye Spirits and Souls of the Just, bless the Lord : bless the Lord, O ye holy and
humble of heart.
O Ananiah, Azariah, and Misael, bless ye the Lord : praise and exalt Him above all
forever.
Let us bless the Father, and the Son, with the Holy Spirit : let us praise and exalt Hm
above all forever.
Blessed art Thou, O Lord, in the firmament of Heaven : and worthy to be praised
and glorified, and exalted above all forever.
Psalm 150
Praise the Lord in His holy places : praise Him in the firmament of His power.
Praise Him in His mighty acts : praise Him according to the multitude of His
greatness.
Praise Him with the sound of the trumpet : praise Him with psaltery and harp.
Praise Him with timbrel and choir : praise Him with strings and organs.
Praise Him upon the high-sounding cymbals : praise Him upon cymbals of joy : let
every spirit praise the Lord. Alleluia.
Antiphon. Let us sing the song of the Three Children, which they sang in the fiery
furnace, blessing the Lord.
Lord, have mercy.
Christ, have mercy.
Lord, have mercy.
Our Father (inaudibly).
V. And lead us not into temptation.
R. But deliver us from evil.

V. Let all Thy works, O Lord, praise Thee.
R. And let Thy Saints bless Thee.
V. The Saints shall rejoice in glory.
R. They shall be joyful in their beds.
V. Not unto us, O Lord, not unto us.
R. But unto Thy name give the glory.
V. O Lord, hear my prayer.
R. And let my cry come unto Thee.
Let us pray.
O God, who for the Three Children didst assuage the flames of fire : mercifully grant
that the flames of sin may not consume us Thy servants.
Direct, we beseech Thee, O Lord, our actions by Thy inspiration, and further them
with Thy continual help ; that every prayer and work of ours may always begin from
Thee, and through Thee be brought to an end.
Vouchsafe, O Lord, to extinguish within us the flames of sin ; Thou who didst grant
to Blessed Lawrence grace to arise whole from his fiery torments. Through Christ
our Lord. Amen.
Prayer of St. Thomas Aquinas
I render thanks to Thee, O Lord, Holy Father, Everlasting God, who hast vouchsafed,
not for any merits of mine, but of Thy great mercy only, to feed me a great sinner,
Thine unworthy servant, with the precious Body and Blood of Thy Son, our Lord
Jesus Christ ; and I pray that this Holy Communion may not be for my judgment and
condemnation, but for my pardon and salvation. Let it be unto me an armor 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 defense against the wiles of all my enemies, visible and invisible ; a
perfect quieting of all my impulses, fleshy and spiritual ; a cleaving unto Thee, the
one true God ; and a blessed consummation of my end when Thou dost call. And I
pray that Thou wouldst vouchsafe to bring me a sinner to that unspeakable Feast
where Thou, with Thy Son and Thy Holy Spirit, art to Thy holy ones true light, full
blessedness, everlasting joy, and perfect happiness Through the same Christ our
Lord. Amen.
Prayer of St. Bonaventure
O most sweet Lord Jesus Christ, transfix the affections of my inmost soul with that
most joyous and healthful wound of Thy love, with true, serene, holiest Apostolic
charity, that my soul may ever languish and melt with genuine love and longing for
Thee, that it may desire Thee, and faint for Thy courts, long to be dissolved and to
be with Thee. Grant that my soul may hunger after Thee, the Bread of Angels, the
Refreshment of holy souls, our daily and supersubstantial Bread, who hast all
sweetness and savor, and the sweetness of every taste. Let my heart ever hunger
after and feed upon Thee, upon whom the Angels desire to look, and my inmost soul
be filled with the sweetness of Thy savor. May it ever thirst for Thee, the Fountain of
life, the Source of wisdom and knowledge, the Fountain of eternal light, the Torrent
of pleasure, the Richness of the House of God. May it ever yearn for Thee, seek
Thee, find Thee, stretch towards Thee, attain to Thee, meditate upon Thee, speak of
Thee, and do all things to the praise and glory of Thy holy name, with humility and
discretion, with love and delight, with readiness and affection, with perseverance
even unto the end. And be Thou ever my hope and my whole confidence ; my
riches ; my delight, my pleasure, and my joy ; my rest and tranquillity ; my peace,
my sweetness and my fragrace ; my sweet savor, my food and refreshment ; my
refuge and my help ; my wisdom ; my portion, my possession, and my treasure, in
whom my mind and my heart may ever remain fixed and firm, and rooted
immovably, henceforth and forevermore. Amen.
Prayer to the Blessed Virgin
O most holy, O most benign, O noble and glorious Virgin Mary, who wast worthy to
bear in thy sacred womb the Creator of all, and at thy virginal breast to nourish Him
whose true, real, and most holy Body and Blood I, an unworthy sinner, have just
now dared to receive: vouchsafe, I humbly beseech thee, to intercede with Him for
me, a sinner ; that whatsoever, by ignorance or neglect, by accident or irreverence,
I have left undone, or have done amiss, in this unspeakably holy Sacrifice, may be
pardoned through thy prayers to the same our Lord Jesus Christ, thy Son, who with
the Father and the Holy Spirit liveth and reigneth world without end. Amen.
Aspirations
Who art Thou, O Lord, and what am I ?
Dost Thou come unto me, O King most High, even to the very lowest of Thy
servants ?
Behold, O Lord, I now have Thee, who hast all things : I possess Thee, who
possessest all things and canst do all things ; therefore, O my God and my All, do
Thou wean my heart from all other things beside Thee, for in them there is nothing
but vanity and weariness of spirit ; on Thee alone may my heart be fixed ; in Thee
be my rest, for in Thee is my treasure, in Thee is sovereign truth, true happiness,
and eternal life.
Let my soul, O Lord, feel the sweetness of Thy presence. May it taste how sweet
Thou art, O Lord, that drawn by love of Thee, it may seek for nothing wherein to
rejoice out of Thee ; for Thou art the joy of my heart, and my God, and my portion
forever.
Thou art the Physician of my soul, who with Thine own stripes hast healed our
sickness. I am that sick soul whom Thou camest from heaven to heal ; heal my soul,
therefore, for I have sinned against Thee.
Thou art the Good Shepherd, who hast laid down Thy life for Thy sheep. Behold, I
am that sheep which was lost, and yet Thou dost vouchsafe to feed me with Thy
Body and Blood ; lay me now upon Thy shoulders. What wilt Thou refuse me, who
hast given Thyself unto me ? O be Thou my Shepherd, and I shall lack nothing in the
green pasture wherein Thou feedest me, until I am brought to the pastures of
eternal life.
O Thou true Light, which enlightenest every man who cometh into the world,
enlighten mine eyes, that I sleep not in death.
O Fire continually burning, and never failing ! behold how lukewarm and cold I am ;
O do Thou inflame my reins and my heart, that they may be on fire with the love of
Thee. For Thou camest to send fire on the earth, and what wilt Thou but that it be
kindled ?
O King of Heaven and earth, rich in pity ! behold, I am poor and needy : Thou
knowest what I most require ; Thou alone art able to enrich and help me ; help me ;
O God, and out of the treasure of Thy goodness succor Thou my needy soul.
O my Lord and my God ! behold, I am Thy servant : give me understanding and

kindle my affections, that I may know and do Thy will.
Thou art the Lamb of God, the Lamb without spot, who takest away the sins of the
world ; take away from me whatever hurteth me and displeaseth Thee ; and give
me what Thou knowest to be pleasing to Thee and good for me.
Thou art my love and all my joy ; Thou art my God and my all ; Thou art the portion
of my inheritance and of my cup ; Thou art He that will restore my inheritance unto
me.
O my God and my All ! may the sweet and burning power of Thy love, I beseech
Thee, so absorb my soul, that I may die unto the world for the love of Thee, who for
the love of me hast vouchsafed to die upon the Cross, O my God and my All.
Lord, if I had lived innocently, I could not have deserved to receive the crumbs that
fall from Thy Table. How great is Thy mercy, who hast feasted me with the Bread of
Angels, with the Wine of Virgins, with Manna from heaven !
O when shall I pass from this dark glass, from this veil of the Sacraments, to the
vision of Thy eternal light ; from eating Thy Body, to beholding Thy face in Thy
eternal kingdom ?
Let not my sins crucify the Lord of life again ; let it ever be said of me, The hand of
him who betrayeth Me is with Me on the table.
O that I might love Thee as well as ever any creature loved Thee ! Let me think
nothing but Thee, desire nothing but Thee, enjoy nothing but Thee.
O Jesus, be a Jesus unto me. Thou art all things unto me. Let nothing ever please
me but what savors of Thee and Thy unspeakable sweetness.
Blessed be the mercies of our Lord, who of God is made unto me wisdom, and
justice, and sanctification, and redemption. Let him who glorieth glory in the Lord.
Amen.
Act of Adoration and Praise
O Lord Jesus, sweetest Guest, mayest Thou have come happily to me, Thy poor and
humble servant. Mayest Thou have entered in blessing under this mean and lowly
roof. Blessed art Thou, O Lord, in the highest, for that Thou hast come into my
heart, Thou Day-spring from on high. O King of peace, drive from my heart all vain
and idle thoughts, that my soul may imitate and love Thee only, the Author of
peace. For what beside Thee, O Thou peace, Thou calm and sweetness of my heart,
should my soul seek for or desire ?
Prayer for Grace
Grant me Thy grace, most merciful Jesus, that it may be with me, and work with me,
and continue with me even to the end. Grant me ever to will and desire what is
most pleasing to Thee. Let Thy will be mine, and my will ever perfectly follow Thine,
that so I may neither choose nor reject, save that Thou choosest and rejectest.
Grant me to die to all that is in the world, and for love of Thee to be content to be
despised and unknown in this life. Grant me, above all things, to rest in Thee, and to
still my heart to perfect peace in Thee. For Thou art the true peace of the heart,
Thou art its only rest, and out of Thee there is no rest. In this peace, that is in
Thyself alone, my chief and eternal good, may I lie down and take my rest. Amen.
Act of Thanksgiving
What shall I render unto Thee, O Lord Jesus for all that Thou hast done unto me,
especially on this day ? In Thy care for me Thou hast given me Thy Body for my
food, and Thy Blood for my drink, and both as a pledge of future glory. Would that
my lips might be opened, and my mouth filled with Thy praise, that I might sing of
Thy glory and of Thy greatness all the day long, and tell of all Thy wondrous works.
O my soul, magnify the Lord, from whom thou hast received blessings so many and
so great ; and rejoice, my spirit, in God thy Saviour : for He hath looked down on my
lowliness ; and the Mighty One hath done great things for me, and hath filled me,
when hungry, with good things.
Let my words please Thee, O Lord ; my joy shall be in Thee, and I will strive to
practice Thy commandments. Hold Thou me by Thy right hand, and guide me by
Thy will, that Thou mayest afterwards receive me into Thy glory, for Thy mercy’s
sake. Amen.
Act of Union with Christ and the Blessed Virgin
O most merciful Father, who hast so loved me as to give me Thine Only-begotten

Son for my food and drink, and with Him all things, look upon the Face of Thine
Anointed, in whom Thou art well pleased. This Thy Beloved Son, and with Him my
heart, I offer and present to Thee for all the blessings Thou hast this day given me.
Mayest Thou, O Father, be now well-pleased in Him, and through Him turn away
Thine indignation from me.
Behold the One Mediator between God and men, the Man Christ Jesus, my Advocate
and High-Priest, who intercedes for me. Him do I offer and plead before Thee, who
committed no sin, but bore the sin of the world, and by whose stripes we are
healed. Accept, therefore, O Holy Father, this Unspotted Victim, to the honor and
glory of Thy name, in thanksgiving for all the blessings Thou hast ever bestowed
upon me, for the remission also of my sins, and for the supply of all my defects and
shortcomings.
O Blessed Virgin, Mother of my God and Saviour, present my petitions to thy Son. O
all ye Angels and Saints, citizens of heaven, join also your prayers with mine. Ye
stand always before the Throne, and see Him face to face, whom I here receive
under veils. Be ever mindful of me, and obtain from Him and through Him that with
you I may bless Him and love Him forever. Amen.
Act of Self-Consecration
O Lord, since I am Thy servant and the son of Thy handmaid, I renounce the devil
and all his works and pomps ; all the vanity of this wicked world, and all the sinful
lusts of the flesh. Thou alone art the God of my heart ; Thou, O God, art my portion
for ever. Thou art the portion of my inheritance and of my cup. Thou art He that will
restore my inheritance unto me. Do Thou therefore take for Thine own all the
powers of my soul, my memory, my intellect, and my will. All that I am, and all that I
have, Thou hast bestowed upon me : therefore I give back all to Thee, and
surrender it to be wholly governed by Thy sovereign will. Grant me but grace to love
Thee alone, and I am rich enough and ask no more.
Prayer Before a Crucifix
Behold, O kind and most sweet Jesus, I cast myself upon my knees in Thy sight, and
with the most fervent desire of my soul I pray and beseech Thee that Thou wouldst
impress upon my heart, lively sentiments of Faith, Hope, and Charity, with true
repentance for my sins, and a firm purpose of amendment, whilst with deep
affection and grief of soul I ponder within myself and mentally contemplate Thy five
most precious Wounds ; having before my eyes the words which David in prophecy
spoke concerning Thyself, O good Jesus: “They have pierced my hands and feet ;
they have numbered all my bones.”
ST. ALPHONSUS DE LIGUORI:
Prayer
Behold, my Jesus, Thou art come, Thou art now within me, and hast made Thyself
all mine. Be Thou welcome, my Beloved Redeemer. I adore Thee, and cast myself at
Thy feet ; I embrace Thee, I press Thee to my heart, and thank Thee for that Thou
hast deigned to enter into my breast. O Mary, O my patron saints, O my guardian
angel, do you all thank him for me! Since then, O my Divine King! Thou art come to
visit me with so much love, I give Thee my will, my liberty, and my whole self. Thou
hast given Thyself all to me, I will give myself all to Thee ; I will no longer belong to
myself ; from this day forward I will be Thine, and altogether Thine. I desire that my
soul, my body, my faculties, my senses, should be all Thine, that they may be
employed in serving and pleasing Thee. To Thee I consecrate all my thoughts, my
desires, my affections, and all my life. I have offended Thee enough, my Jesus ; I
desire to spend the remainder of my life in loving Thee, who hast loved me so
much.
Accept, O God of my soul, the sacrifice which I, a miserable sinner, make to Thee,
and who desires only to love and please Thee. Work Thou in me, and dispose of me,
and of all things belonging to me all those affections which are displeasing to Thee,
that I may be all Thine, and may live only to please Thee!
I ask Thee not for goods of this world, for pleasures, for honors ; give me, I pray
Thee, by the merits of Thy Passion, O my Jesus, a constant sorrow for my sins!
Enlighten me, and make me know the vanity of worldly goods, and how much Thou
dost deserve to be loved. Separate me from all attachment to the world, and bind
me entirely to Thy love, that from henceforth my will may neither seek nor desire
anything but what Thou willest. Give me patience and resignation in infirmities, in
poverty, and in all those things which are contrary to my self-love. Make me gentle
towards those who despise me. Give me a holy death. Give me Thy holy love. And,
above all, I pray Thee to give me perseverance in Thy grace till death ; never permit
me to separate myself from Thee again: Jesu dulcissime, ne permittas me separari
a Te. And I also ask of Thee the grace always to have recourse to Thee, and to
invoke Thy aid, O my Jesus, in all my temptations ; and the grace to ask Thee
always for holy perseverance.
O Eternal Father, Thy Son Jesus Christ has promised me that Thou wilt grant me
everything that I shall ask Thee in his name: If you ask the Father anything in My
name, He will give it to you. In the name therefore, and by the merits of this Son, I
ask for Thy love and holy perseverance, that I may one day love Thee in heaven
with all my strength, and sing Thy mercies forever, secure of never more being
separated from Thee.
O most holy Mary, my mother and my hope, obtain for me these graces which I so
desire ; as also a great love for thee, my Queen: may I always recommend myself to
thee in all my necessities!
An Act of Faith
Behold, my God is even now come to visit me ; my Saviour to dwell in my soul. My

Jesus is even now within me. He is come to make himself mine, and at the same
time to make me his. So that Jesus is mine, and I belong to Jesus: Jesus is all mine,
and I am all his.
O Infinite Goodness! O Infinite Mercy! O Infinite Love ! that a God should come to
unite himself to me, and to make himself all mine ! My soul, now that thou art thus
closely bound to Jesus, that thou art thus one with him, what doest thou? Hast thou
nothing to say to him ; dost thou not converse with thy God, who is with thee ? Ah,
yes, renew thy faith ; remember that the angels now surround thee adoring their
God, who is within thy breast, do thou also adore thy Lord within thyself. Enter into
thyself, and banish thence every other thought. Unite all thy affections, and,
clinging closely to thy God, say:
An Act of Welcome
Ah, my Jesus, my love, my infinite good, my all, be ever welcome in the poor
dwelling of my soul ! Ah, my Lord, where art Thou ! to what a place art Thou come !
Thou hast entered my heart, which is far worse than the stable in which Thou wast
born ; it is full of earthly affections, of self-love, and of inordinate desires. And how
couldst Thou come to dwell there ? I would address Thee with St. Peter: Depart from
me, for I am a sinful man.[36] Yes, depart from me, O Lord, for I am indeed unworthy
to receive a God of infinite goodness ; go and find repose in those pure souls who
serve Thee with so much love. But no, my Redeemer ; what do I say ? Leave me
not ; for if Thou departest, I am lost. I embrace Thee, my life ; I cling to Thee. Mad
indeed have I been in having separated myself from Thee for the love of creatures ;
and in my ingratitude I drove Thee from me. But now I will never more separate
myself from Thee, my treasure ; I desire to live and die ever united to Thee. Most
blessed Virgin Mary, Seraphim, and all souls, do ye who love God with pure love
lend me your affections, that I may worthily attend on my beloved Lord.
An Act of Thanksgiving
My God and Lord, I thank Thee for the grace which Thou hast this morning bestowed
upon me, of coming to dwell in my soul ; but I would wish to thank Thee in a manner
worthy of Thee and of the great favor which Thou hast done me. But what do I say ?
how can so miserable a creature as I am ever worthily thank Thee ? Father Segneri
says, that the feeling most becoming a soul that communicates is that of wondering
astonishment at the thought, and to repeat, “A God is united to me ; a God is
mine !” David said, What shall I render to the Lord for all the things that He hath
rendered to me?[37] But I ! what return shall I make to Thee, my Jesus, who, after
having given me so many of Thy good things, hast this morning, moreover, given
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me Thyself ? My soul, bless, then, and thank thy God as best as thou canst. And
thou, my Mother Mary, my holy advocates, my guardian angel, and all ye souls who
love God, Come and hear, all ye that fear God, and I will tell you what great things
He hath done for my soul.[38] Come and bless and thank my God for me, admiring
and praising the indeed great graces which he has granted me.
An Act of Oblation
My Beloved to me, and I to Him.[39] Should a king go to visit a poor shepherd in his
hut, what can the shepherd offer him other than his whole hut, such as it is ? Since,
then, O Jesus, my divine king, Thou hast come to visit the poor house of my soul, I
offer and give Thee this house and my entire self, together with my liberty and will:
My Beloved to me, and I to Him. Thou hast given Thyself all to me ; I give myself all
to Thee. My Jesus, from this day forward I will be no longer mine ; I will be Thine,
and all Thine. May my senses be Thine, that they may only serve me to please
Thee. And what greater pleasure, says Peter of Alcantara, can be found, than that of
pleasing Thee, most amiable, most loving, most gracious God? I at the same time
give Thee all the powers of my soul, and I will that they shall be all Thine ; my
memory I will only use to recall to mind Thy benefits and Thy love ; my
understanding I will only use to think of Thee, who always thinkest of my good ; my
will I will only use to love Thee, my God, my all, and to will only that which Thou
willest.
My most sweet Lord, I offer, then, and consecrate to Thee this morning all that I am
and have – my senses, my thoughts, my affections, my desires, my pleasures, my
inclinations, my liberty ; in a word, I place my whole body and soul in Thy hands.
Accept, O Infinite Majesty, the sacrifice of the hitherto most ungrateful sinner Thou
hast ever had on earth ; but who now offers and gives himself all to Thee. Do with
me and dispose of me, O Lord, as Thou pleasest.
Come, O consuming fire, O divine love! And consume in me all that is mine, and
that is displeasing in Thy most pure eyes, so that henceforward I may be all Thine,
and may live only to execute, not Thy commands and counsels only, but also all Thy
holy desires and Thy good pleasure. Amen.
[
O most holy Mary, do thou present this offering of mine to the Most Blessed Trinity
with thine own hands ; and do thou obtain their acceptance of it, and that they may
grant me the grace to be faithful unto death. Amen, amen, amen.
An Act of Petition
O my soul, what art thou doing ? The present is no time to be lost : it is a precious
time, in which thou canst receive all the graces that thou askest. Seest thou not the
Eternal Father, who is lovingly beholding thee ? for within thee he sees his beloved
Son, the dearest object of his love. Drive, then, far from thee all other thoughts ;
rekindle thy faith, enlarge thy heart, and ask for whatever thou willest.
Hearest thou not Jesus himself who thus addresses thee : What wilt thou that I
should do to thee?[40] O soul, tell me, what dost thou desire of me ? I am come for
the express purpose of enriching and gratifying thee ; ask with confidence, and thou
wilt receive all.
Ah ! my most sweet Saviour, since Thou hast come into my heart in order to grant
me graces, and desirest that I should ask Thee for them, I ask Thee not for the
goods of the earth – riches, honors, or pleasures ; but grant me, I beseech Thee,
intense sorrow for the displeasure that I have caused Thee ; impart to me so clear a
light, that I may know the vanity of this world, and how deserving Thou art of love.
Change this heart of mine, detach it from all earthly affections ; give me a heart
conformable in all things to Thy holy will, that it may seek only that which is more
pleasing to Thee, and have no other desire than Thy holy love: Create a clean heart
in me, O God.[41]
I deserve not this ; but Thou, my Jesus, deservest it, since Thou art come to dwell in
my soul : I ask it of Thee through Thy merits, and those of Thy most holy Mother,
and by the love which Thou bearest to Thy Eternal Father.
[
Eternal Father, Jesus Christ himself, Thy Son, has said, Amen, amen, I say to you, If
you ask the Father anything in My Name, He will give it to you.[42] For the love, then,
of this Son, whom I now hold within my breast, do Thou graciously hear me and
grant my petition.
Amores mei dulcissimi, Jesu et Maria ! pro vobis patiar, pro vobis moriar ; sim totus
vester, sim nihil meus.[43] “My most sweet Loves, Jesus and Mary, may I suffer for
you, may I die for you ; may I be all yours, and in nothing my own !”
Loving Aspirations to Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament
After Holy Communion
I.
Trahe me : post te curremus in odorem unguentorum tuorum[44] – “Draw me : we

will run after Thee to the odor of Thy ointments.”
Since, then, O my dear Jesus, I cannot, while in this life, ascend to Thee, Thou hast
willed to descend to me, to unite Thyself to me in this sacrament of love. Draw me,
my Lord, all to Thee. I do not wish to draw Thee to me, that Thou shouldst do my
pleasure ; but I desire that Thou shouldst draw me so entirely to Thee by Thy sweet
attractions, that I may not be able to desire or to do anything else but Thy most
holy will. It is just that my inclinations should yield to Thy disposition. Take me up
wholly to Thyself ; and so united, I shall be free from earthly affections, and shall
run with Thee in the path of virtue, and be able to repose peacefully in Thy divine
will both in this life and in the next : In peace, in the self-same I will sleep, and I will
rest.[45]
II.
[
Introduxit me in cellam vinariam, ordinavit in me charitatem[46] – “The King brought
me into the cellar of wine, and set in order charity in me.”
It is precisely by this cellar of wine that St. Bonaventure understands the Holy
Communion which introduces and then unites the soul to its divine king, and gives it
to taste that wine of love which destroys the desire of created things ; infuses a
well-regulated love, that is just towards itself, charitable towards its neighbor,
supreme towards God, loving him above all things, who above all things deserves to
be loved.
O Jesus, my king, only Lord of my heart, Thou hast already brought me into the
beautiful cellar of Thy love, that is, into Thyself, uniting me to Thee by means of this
sacrament of love. Yes, my Lord, I already feel my heart changed. I feel a holy
desire, which gives me peace, and makes me loathe all impure affections, and
enkindles in me the pure love of Thee. O my Jesus, since Thou hast given me an
entrance to this beautiful cellar, let me no more depart from it. Since Thou hast
united Thyself to me, do not leave me again. Detach me from the love of all
creatures. Unite me to Thee continually more and more on this earth, that I may
one day come to be perfectly united to Thee in heaven ; where I shall love Thee
face to face with all my strength, without interruption and without imperfection
throughout all eternity.
III.
Dilectus meus descendit ad hortum suum, ...ut pascatur in hortis, et lilia colligat[47] –
“My Beloved is gone down into His garden ... to feed in the gardens, and to gather
lilies.”
My sweet Saviour, since Thou dost descend from heaven to come into my soul, by
Thy grace do Thou make it become Thy garden, that Thou mayest gather in it lilies
and fruits which are agreeable to Thee. Pardon me, if I have offended Thee. Receive
me, if I have left Thee, now that I return penitent to Thee. Give me that purity which
Thou dost desire to see in me. Give me strength to do what Thou desirest. Grant me
Thy true love, and then shall I become pleasing to Thee. I sacrifice to Thee all my
inclinations, and I desire and wish for nothing but to please Thee.
[
IV.
Totus desiderabilis, talis est Dilectus meus[48] – “He is all lovely ; such is my
Beloved.”
Jesus, to those souls who love him as spouses, makes himself altogether desirable,
whether he chastises or consoles them, whether he appears near or distant,
because he does it all for love, and that he may be loved.
Treat me then, O my Jesus, as Thou wilt, I will always love Thee ; whether Thou dost
give me sweetnesses or tribulations, I know that all will come to me from Thy loving
heart, and that all will be for my greater good. My heart is ready, O God, my heart is
ready.[49] Behold, my will is ready, O Lord, to accept all that Thou shalt ordain. I will
bless the Lord at all times.[50] At all times, whether prosperous or adverse, I will
bless Thee, and love Thee, O my Creator. I neither seek nor merit any consolation
from Thee ; for I have given Thee nothing but bitterness by my sins: I seel only Thy
good pleasure. Provided Thou art satisfied, I shall be content with any punishment.
My Jesus, my Jesus, whether far off or near, Thou shalt always be desirable to me,
always dear ; whether Thou dost console or afflict me, I will always love Thee,
always thank Thee.
V.
Quae est ista quae ascendit de deserto, deliciis affluens, innixa super Dilectum
suum ?[51] -- “Who is this that cometh up from the desert flowing with delights,
leaning upon her Beloved ?”
Who, then, are those souls who, living on the earth, esteem it a desert ? so that,
detached from visible things, they live only to God ; as if there was no one else but
God, whom alone they love and desire to please. And in this way they almost go out
of the world, and raise themselves above it ; enjoying the delights which are
[
[
experienced by those who wish for God alone, and who place in God all their hopes.
Who, then, are these faithful souls, if not those who often and with pure love unite
themselves to Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament ?
Yes, my God, such do I also desire to be by the means of Thy grace, detached from
all things, and to be all Thine. Henceforth the world shall be to me a desert, where,
flying from all attachment to creatures, I will think of nothing but Thee ; as if Thou
and I were the only persons there. In Thee alone will I put all my confidence, all my
love, O God, O beloved God, my hope, my love, my all.
VI.
If she be a wall, let us build upon it bulwarks of silver ; if she be a door, let us join it
together with boards of cedar.[52]
This is precisely what Jesus does when he comes to a soul in the Holy Communion.
He sees that she is a wall too weak to be able to resist the assaults of hell ;
therefore, by the virtue of the sacrament, he fortifies her with bulwarks of silver,
that is, with his divine light. He sees that she is a door inclined easily to be
corrupted, and he renews it, adjusting her with the planks of strength and
perseverance, as is signified by cedar, which is a strong and incorruptible wood ;
that is, with the gifts of holy fear, with detachment from creatures, with the love of
prayer, with supplications, with holy desires, and still more with the gift of divine
love, which are the support of holy perseverance: Bread strengthens man’s heart.[53]
Jesus teaches us, that as earthly bread preserves the life of the body, so the
heavenly bread of the Holy Communion preserves the life of the soul : He that
eatheth Me, the same shall live by Me.[54] He that eateth my flesh and drinketh my
blood abideth in Me and I in him.[55] Such are the gracious promises which Jesus
makes to him who receives him in the Blessed Sacrament.
Ah, my Jesus ! who is weaker and more unfaithful than I ? Thou knowest well how
many times I have yielded to my enemies, and how many times they have seized
[
the gate, that is, my will, by which they have entered to ruin me by causing me to
lose Thy friendship. Oh, fortify me with Thy light and strength, that I may no more
lose Thee or drive Thee from me ! My Lord and my dear Redeemer, if I am to turn
back and offend Thee again, oh, let me die now, while I hope that I am in Thy grace
and united to Thee ! I trust not myself ; no, nor will I ever, my dear Jesus, live
without Thee. But as long as I live, I am in danger of changing my will and betraying
Thee, as I have done before: do Thou help me. Help me also, most holy Mary ; have
pity on me : thou who art the Mother of perseverance, obtain for me this gift from
thy Jesus. Of thee I seek it, of thee I hope it, of thee I ask it.
VII.
Inveni, quem diligit anima mea ; tenui eum, nec dimittam![56] “I found Him whom my
soul loveth : I held Him, and I will not let Him go.”
So ought every soul to say who is united with Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament:
Creatures, depart from me ; go out altogether from my heart. I loved you once,
because I was blind ; now I love you not, nor can I ever love you again. I have found
another good, infinitely more delightful than you ; I have found in myself my Jesus,
who has enamoured me by his beauty ; to this love I have given myself entirely. He
has already accepted me, so that I am no longer my own. Creatures, farewell: I am
not, nor shall I ever again be yours ; but I am and shall be always Christ’s. He, too,
is mine, and will always be mine: I held Him, and I will not let Him go.[57] Now I have
pressed him to my heart, receiving him in the Holy Communion ; for the future I will
hold him with my love, and will not let him leave me anymore.
Permit me, sweet Saviour, to embrace Thee so closely, that I may never more be
separated from Thee. Behold, I press Thee to myself, my Jesus ; I love Thee, I love
Thee ; and, oh, that I could love Thee worthily. I wish that my only happiness and
repose should be to love Thee and please Thee. Do Thou command all creatures to
leave me, and not to disturb me ; say to them, I adjure you, do not arouse or waken
My love.[58] Ah, if I do not wish it, creatures cannot enter in to disturb and divide me
from Thee. Strengthen, then, my will, unite my miserable heart to Thy divine heart,
that it may always will what Thou wilt. Do this, Lord, by Thy merits. Amen, amen. So
do I hope ; so may it be.
[
VIII.
Surge, aquilo, et veni, auster ; perfla hortum meum, et fluant aromata illius[59] –
“Arise, O north wind, and come, O south wind, blow through my garden, and let the
aromatical spices thereof flow.”
Fly from me, O north wind ! hurtful and cold wind of earthly affections ; and come,
thou soft, warm breeze of the sacred love of the Holy Spirit, which comes from the
Heart of my Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament. Do thou alone breathe through my
soul, which has been chosen by Jesus for his garden of delights. Blow ; for by thy
breath how many fresh and sweet odors of holy virtues shalt thou draw forth from
me ! My Jesus, my Jesus, Thou canst do this ; and this do I hope from Thee.
IX.
Messui myrrham meam cum aromatibus meis, comedi favum cum melle meo[60] – “I
have gathered my myrrh, with my aromatical spices: I have eaten the honeycomb
with my honey.”
A soul which has received Jesus must be careful to gather myrrh, that it may always
offer the sweet odor of those virtues which arise from mortification. I have eaten
honeycomb with my honey. In like manner, the soul that loves God alone is not
satisfied with the honey, but will also have the honeycomb ; therefore it says to
Jesus: O Lord, Thy consolations are not sufficient for me, unless Thou givest me
Thyself, who art the fountain of consolation ; the fruits of love are not enough for
me, if Thou dost not give me also Thyself, who art the object of my love. Truly Thou
alone wilt suffice for me ; I am ready to renounce all Thy delights, provided I
possess Thee alone, my God, and my only good. I love Thee, not to please myself,
but to please Thee ; for Thou dost desire to be loved by me, and Thou art worthy of
all our love, whether Thou dost console or try us.
X.
Nihil mihi deerit ; in loco pascuae ibi me collocavit[61] – “He hath sent me in a place
of pasture, and I shall want nothing.”
[
[
Ah, my beloved Jesus ! since Thou dost invite me in this feast of love to feed on Thy
divine flesh, what more can I ever want? The Lord is my light and my salvation,
whom shall I fear?[62] Whom shall I fear, if Thou, O God omnipotent, art my light and
my salvation ? I give myself all to Thee. Accept me, and then do with me what Thou
wilt ; chastise me, show Thine indignation towards me when Thou wilt ; kill me,
destroy me, and I will say always, with Job: Although He should kill me, I will trust in
Him.[63] Whilst I am Thine, and Thou lovest me, I am content to be treated by Thee
with every hardship ; to be even annihilated, if it so pleases Thee.
XI.
In manibus meis descripsi te ; muri tui coram oculis meis semper[64] – “I have graven
thee in My hands ; thy walls are always before my eyes.”
See the loving care that God takes of a soul that he wishes to have to himself. He
carries it written in his hands, so that he may never forget it, and says, that sooner
would a mother forget her own son that he a soul in grace: And if she should forget,
yet will I not forget thee.[65] And thy walls are always before My eyes. His eyes are
always open, to watch over that soul, so that its enemies do it no harm : Thou hast
crowned us, as with a shield of Thy good-will.[66] Our good God surrounds us with the
protection of his good-will, wholly solicitous for our good ; and so he delivers us
from all dangers. Ah, my God ! infinite goodness, who more than any other lovest
me and desirest my good, I abandon myself entirely to Thee. Should every other
hope fail me, Thou wilt never fail me. I know that I also must cooperate by obeying
Thy holy will. Lord, what wilt Thou have me do?[67] Nothing else can I say ; behold
me ready and determined, my sweet Saviour, to do what Thou pleasest: Thy will be
done.[68] Nothing else do I desire but to accomplish Thy will. But do Thou help me,
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[
otherwise I shall do no good at all. Teach me not only to know, but also to do, all
that pleases Thee: teach me to do Thy will.[69] Eternal Father, grant that I may be
able to say with truth, as Thy Jesus did wilst he was on earth : I always do the things
that are pleasing to Him.[70] My God ! this I desire, this I pray for, and this I hope,
through the merits of Thy Son and the most holy Mary.
XII.
Praebe, fili mi, cor tuum mihi[71] – “My son, give Me thy heart.”
O my soul, behold this is all that thy Lord asks of thee ; when he comes to visit thee,
he would have thy heart and thy will. He gives himself to thee without reserve ; it is
but reasonable that thou shouldst also give him all thyself without reserve, taking
care to follow his will in all things: For the Lord will return to rejoice over thee in all
good things.[72] Act in such a manner as that Jesus, when he comes to thee again,
may find that thou hast executed all his designs. My Jesus ! I wish to please Thee ;
help Thou my desire. Give me strength, and do with me whatsoever Thou pleasest.
XIII.
Quid est quod debut ultra facere vineae meae, et non feci ei?[73] -- “What is there
that I ought to do to my vineyard, that I have not done to it ?”
My soul, hear what thy God says to thee: What ought I to do more for thee than I
have done? For love of thee I became man: I am the Word made flesh.[74] Instead of
Lord, I have become servant: taking the form of a servant.[75] I went so far as to be
born in a stable, like a worm – for worms are born in stables : I am a worm, and no
[
man.[76] I died for thee, I died upon the tree of shame : I was made obedient to
death, even the death of the Cross.[77] What remained more for me to do, but to give
my life for thee ? Greater love than this no man hath, that he should lay down his
life for his friends.[78] But my love has invented and done more for thee. After my
death, I have chosen to leave myself in the Most Blessed Sacrament, to give my
whole self as food. Tell me what more could I have done to gain thy love?
It is true, my Lord and my Redeemer ; what can I answer? I have nothing to say.
Thou hast been too good to me, and I have been too ungrateful towards Thee. I
wonder at Thy immense goodness ; I see my own baseness, and I throw myself at
Thy feet, and say: Have pity on me, my Jesus, though I have repaid Thy love with so
much ingratitude. Avenge Thyself, therefore, I pray Thee, avenge Thyself upon me,
and chastise me ; but do not abandon me ; chastise me and change me. Let me not
live any longer ungrateful to Thee. Grant that I may love Thee at least out of
gratitude, and that before I die I may make Thee some recompense for Thy love.
XIV.
Pone me ut signaculum super cor tuum[79] – “Put Me as a seal upon thy heart.”
Yet, my beloved Jesus, since I have consecrated to Thee my whole heart, it is but
just that I should put Thee as a seal of love upon it, to close the entrance against
any other affection ; and thus to make known to all that my heart is Thine, and that
Thou alone possessest dominion over it. But, my Lord, what dost Thou hope from
me, if Thou dost not do the work Thyself ? I can do nothing but give Thee my poor
heart, that Thou mayest dispose of me according to Thy pleasure. Behold, I give it
all to Thee, I consecrate it to Thee, I sacrifice it to Thee. Do Thou possess it forever ;
I will no longer have any part in it. If Thou lovest it, mayest Thou be able to preserve
it for Thyself. Leave it no longer in my hands, lest I should again take it from Thee.
O God most gracious, O infinite love, since Thou hast so constrained me to love
Thee, I pray Thee, make Thyself loved, make Thyself loved by me. I only wish to
love Thee in order to please Thee. Thou who dost work miracles to be able to enter
into my heart in this sacrament, work also this one, make my heart all Thine ; but
all, all, all, without division, without reserve, so that I may say, both in this life and
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in eternity, that Thou art the only Lord of my heart, and my only treasure: God is
the God of my heart, and my portion forever.[80]
Most holy Mary, my Mother and my hope, do thou help me, and I shall certainly be
heard. Amen, amen. This I wish, this I hope. So be it.
Adoro Te Devote
Hidden God, devoutly I adore you,
Truly present underneath these veils:
All my heart subdues itself before you,
Since it all before you faints and fails.
Not to sight, or taste, or touch be credit,
Hearing only do we trust secure;
I believe, for God the Son has said it –
Word of Truth that ever shall endure.
On the cross was veiled your Godhead’s splendor,
Here your manhood lies hidden too;
Unto both alike my faith I render,
And, as sued the contrite thief, I sue.
Though I look not on your wounds with Thomas,
You, my Lord, and you, my God, I call:
Make me more and more believe your promise,
Hope in you, and love you over all.
[
O memorial of my Saviour dying
Living Bread, that gives life to man;
Make my soul, its life from you supplying,
Taste your sweetness, as on earth it can.
Deign, O Jesus, Pelican of heaven,
Me, a sinner, in your Blood to lave,
To a single drop of which is given
All the world from all its sin to save.
Contemplating, Lord, your hidden presence,
Grant me what I thirst for and implore,
In the revelation of your essence
To behold your glory evermore.
Prayer of Self-Dedication to Jesus Christ
Lord Jesus Christ, take all my freedom, my memory, my understanding, and my will.
All that I have and cherish you have given me. I surrender it all to be guided by your
will. Your grace and your love are wealth enough for me. Give me these, Lord Jesus,
and I ask for nothing more.
Prayer to Jesus Christ Crucified
My good and dear Jesus, I kneel before you, asking you most earnestly to engrave
upon my heart a deep and lively faith, hope, and charity, with true repentance for
my sins, and a firm resolve to make amends. As I reflect upon your five wounds,
and dwell upon them with deep compassion and grief, I recall, good Jesus, the
words the prophet David spoke long ago concerning yourself: they have pierced my
hands and my feet, they have counted all my bones!
Anima Christi
Soul of Christ, sanctify me.
Body of Christ, heal me.
Blood of Christ, drench me.
Water from the side of Christ, wash me.
Passion of Christ, strengthen me.
Good Jesus, hear me.
In your wounds shelter me.
From turning away keep me.
From the evil one protect me.
At the hour of my death call me.
Into your presence lead me,
to praise you with all your saints
for ever and ever.
Amen.
Prayer to the Virgin Mary
Mary, holy virgin mother, I have received your Son, Jesus Christ. With love you
became his mother, gave birth to him, nursed him, and helped him grow to
manhood. With love I return him to you, to hold once more, to love with all your
heart, and to offer to the Holy Trinity as our supreme act of worship for your honor
and for the good of all your pilgrim brothers and sisters. Mother, ask God to forgive
my sins and to help me serve him more faithfully. Keep me true to Christ until
death, and let me come to praise him with you for ever and ever. Amen.
A Prayer to St. Joseph
St. Joseph, father and guardian of virgin, to whose faithful keeping Christ Jesus,
innocence itself, and Mary, the virgin of virgins, were entrusted, I pray and beseech
you by that twofold and most precious charge, by Jesus and Mary, to save me from
all uncleanness, to keep my mind untainted, my heart pure, and my body chaste ;
and to help me always to serve Jesus and Mary in perfect chastity. Amen.
Prayer to St. Michael the Archangel
St. Michael the Archangel, defend us in battle ; be our defense against the
wickedness and snares of the devil. May God rebuke him, we humbly pray. And do
you, O prince of the heavenly host, by the power of God thrust into hell Satan and
all the evil spirits who prowl about the world for the ruin of souls. Amen.
Litany of Humility
(composed by Cardinal Merry del Val)
O Jesus! meek and humble of heart, hear me
From the desire of being esteemed, deliver me Jesus
From the desire of being loved, etc.
From the desire of being extolled,
From the desire of being honored,
From the desire of being praised,
From the desire of being preferred to others,
From the desire of being consulted,
From the desire of being approved,
From the fear of being humiliated,
From the fear of being despised,
From the fear of suffering rebukes,
From the fear of being calumniated,
From the fear of being forgotten,
From the fear being ridiculed,

From the fear of being wronged,
From the fear of being suspected,
That others may be loved more than I, Jesus grant me the grace to desire it
That others may be esteemed more than I, etc.
That in the opinion of the world others may increase and I may decrease,
That others may be chosen and I set aside,
That others may be praised and I unnoticed,
That others may be preferred to me in everything,
That others become holier than I, provided that I become as holy as I should.
Whom I Have Received
I welcome the true Body born of the Virgin Mary. The Body that truly suffered and
was sacrificed on the cross for mankind. The Body whose pierced side poured out
true Blood. Be for us a food of future strength for the time of death. Dear king, holy,
sweet Jesus, Son of Mary.
Prayer of Adoration
I adore You present in me, Incarnate Word, only-begotten Son and splendor of the
Father, born of Mary. I thank You, sole Master and Truth, for Your supreme
condescension in coming to me, ignorant and sinful as I am. With Mary I offer You to
the Father: through You, with You, in You, may there be eternal praise, thanksgiving
and supplication for peace to man. Enlighten my mind ; make me a docile disciple of
the Church ; grant that I may live of faith ; give me an understanding of the
Scriptures. Make me Your ardent apostle. Let the light of Your Gospel, O Divine
Master, shine to the farthest bounds of the world.
Prayer of Resolution
O Jesus, You are the Way which I must follow ; the perfect Model which I must
imitate. In presenting myself at the judgment I want to be found similar to You. O
divine Model of humility and obedience, make me similar to You. O perfect example
of mortification and purity, make me similar to You. O Jesus, poor and patient, make
me similar to You. O exemplar of charity and ardent zeal, make me similar to You.
Prayer of Petition
O Jesus, my Life, my joy and source of all good, I love You. Above all, I ask of You
that I may love You more and more and the souls redeemed by Your blood. You are
the vine and I am the branch: I want to stay united to You always so as to bring
forth many fruits. You are the source: pour out an ever greater abundance of grace
to sanctify my soul. You are my head, I, Your member: communicate to me Your
Holy Spirit with all His gifts. May Your kingdom come through Mary. Console and
save those dear to me. Free the souls in purgatory. Multiply and sanctify those
called to the apostolate.
Prayer for Purity
Jesus, Mary, and Joseph, I give and consecrate my entire self to you: mind, heart
and body. Guard and defend me always from every sin. May my mind be uplifted to
heavenly things. May my heart love God ever more. May I avoid every evil occasion.
Keep me near you, so that I may keep a close watch over my internal and external
senses. In heaven may I join the company of the pure forever. Amen.
Prayer of St. Pius X to Foster the Practice of Daily Communion
O most sweet Jesus, who has come into this world to give to all souls the life of Your
grace, and who, to preserve and increase it in them, has willed to be the daily
Remedy of their infirmity and the Food for each day, we humbly beg You – by Your
heart so burning with love for us – to pour Your divine Spirit upon all souls in order
that those who have the misfortune to be in the state of mortal sin may, returning
to You, find the life of grace which they have lost.
And grant that those who are already living by this divine life may devoutly
approach Your divine table every day when it is possible, so that receiving each day
in Holy Communion the antidote of their daily venial sins, and each day sustaining
in themselves the life of Your grace and thus ever purifying themselves the more,
they may finally come to a happy life with You.
THOMAS A KEMPIS:
Act of Faith
O Jesus, I believe that I have received Thy Flesh to eat and Thy Blood to drink,
because Thou hast it and Thy word is true.
Act of Adoration
O Jesus, my God, my Creator, I adore Thee, because from Thy hands I came, and
with Thee I am to be happy forever.
Act of Humility
O Jesus, I am but dust and ashes, and yet Thou hast come to me, and my poor heart
may speak to Thee.
Act of Love
Sweet Jesus, I love Thee ; I love Thee with all my heart. Thou knowest that I love
Thee, and wish to love Thee daily more and more.
Act of Thanksgiving
My good Jesus, I thank Thee with all my heart. How good, how kind Thou art to me,
sweet Jesus! Blessed be Jesus in the Most Holy Sacrament of the altar.
Act of Offering
O Jesus, receive my poor offering ; Jesus, Thou hast given Thyself to me, and now
let me give myself to Thee.
Sweet Jesus, I am going away for a time, but I trust not without Thee. Thou art with
me by Thy grace. I will never leave Thee by mortal sin. I do not fear to do so, though
I am so weak, because I have so much hope in Thee. Give me the grace to
persevere. Amen.
POPE CLEMENT XI (attributed to):
The Universal Prayer
Lord, I believe in you: increase my faith. I trust in you : strengthen my trust. I love
you: let me love you more and more. I am sorry for my sins: deepen my sorrow. I
worship you as my first beginning. I long for you as my last end, I praise you as my
constant helper, and call on you as my loving protector. Guide me by your wisdom,
correct me with your justice, comfort me with your mercy, protect me with your
power. I offer you, Lord, my thoughts: to be fixed on you ; my words : to have you
for their theme ; my actions : to reflect my love for you ; my sufferings : to be
endured for your greater glory. I want to do what you ask of me : in the way you
ask, because you ask it. Lord, enlighten my understanding, strengthen my will,
purify my heart, and make me holy. Help me to repent of my past sins and to resist
temptation in the future. Help me to rise above my human weakness and to grow
stronger as a Christian. Let me love you, my Lord and my God, and see myself as I
really am : a pilgrim in this world, a Christian called to respect and love all whose
lives I touch, those in authority over me or those under my authority, my friends
and my enemies. Help me to conquer anger with gentleness, greed by generosity,
apathy by fervor. Help me to forget myself and reach out toward others. Make me
prudent in planning, courageous in taking risks. Make me patient in suffering,
unassuming in prosperity. Keep me, Lord, attentive at prayer, temperate in food
and drink, diligent in my work, firm in my good intentions. Let my conscience be
clear, my conduct without fault, my speech blameless, my life well-ordered. Put me
on guard against my human weakness. Let me cherish your love for me, keep your
law, and come at last to your salvation. Teach me to realize that this world is
passing, that my true future is the happiness of heaven, that life on earth is short,
and the life to come eternal. Help me to prepare for death with a proper fear of
judgment, but a greater trust in your goodness. Lead me safely through death to
the endless joy of heaven. Grant this through Christ our Lord. Amen.
For the Whole Church
Defend us, O Lord, we beseech Thee, from all dangers both of soul and body; and,
by the intercession of the glorious and blessed Mary ever Virgin, Mother of God, of
blessed Joseph, of Thy holy Apostles Peter and Paul, of blessed N. [here insert the
name of your Patron Saint], and of all Thy Saints, grant us, in Thy mercy, health and
peace; that all adversities and errors being done away, Thy Church may serve Thee
with a pure and undisturbed devotion.
For the Pope
O God, the Pastor and Ruler of all the faithful, look down, in Thy mercy, upon Thy
servant N. [here mention the Pope’s name], whom Thou hast appointed to preside
over Thy Church; and grant, we beseech Thee, that both by word and example he
may edify all those who are under his charge; so that, with the flock entrusted to
him, he may arrive at length unto life everlasting. Through our Lord Jesus Christ,
etc. Amen.
For Bishops, and the People Committed to Them
Almighty and Everlasting God, who alone dost great wonders, send down upon Thy
servants, and the congregations committed unto them, the spirit of Thy saving
grace; and that they may truly please Thee, pour forth upon them the continual dew
of Thy blessing.
For the Bishop of the Diocese
Grant, we beseech Thee, O Lord, to Thy servant our Bishop, that, by preaching and
doing such things as are right, he may by the example of good works edify the
minds of those under his authority, and receive of Thee, most tender Shepherd, an
everlasting recompense and reward.
Against the Persecutors of the Church
Mercifully hear, O Lord, we beseech Thee, the prayers of Thy Church: that, all
adversities and errors being done away, we may serve Thee with a pure and
undisturbed devotion.
In Any Necessity
O God, our refuge and our strength, who art the Author of all goodness: hear, we
beseech Thee, the devout prayers of Thy Church; and grant that what we faithfully
ask we may effectually obtain. Through our Lord.
In Any Tribulation
O Almighty God, despise not Thy people who cry unto Thee in their affliction; but,
for the glory of Thy name, turn away Thine anger, and help us in our tribulations.
For the Gift of Tears
Almighty and most merciful God, who didst cause a fount of living water to spring
out of a rock, for Thy people in their thirst: draw forth tears of compunction from our
stony hearts; that we may weep over our sins, and by Thy mercy deserve to obtain
pardon for the same.
For Forgiveness of Sins
O God, who rejectest none that come unto Thee, but in loving-kindness art
appeased even with the greatest sinners who repent: mercifully regard our prayers
in our humiliation, and enlighten our hearts that we may be able to fullfil Thy
commandments.
For the Tempted and the Afflicted
O God, who justifiest the ungodly, and willest not the death of a sinner: we humbly
entreat Thy majesty to protect Thy servants, who trust in Thy mercy, with Thy
heavenly assistance, and preserve them by Thy continual protection; that they may
constantly serve Thee, and by no temptation be separated from Thee.
Against Evil Thoughts
Almighty and most merciful God, graciously hearken unto our prayers: and free our
hearts from the temptations of evil thoughts; that we may worthily become a fit
habitation for Thy Holy Spirit.
For the Gift of Continence
Inflame, O Lord, our reigns and our hearts with the fire of the Holy Spirit: that we
may serve Thee with a chaste body, and please Thee with a pure mind.
For the Gift of Humility
O God, who resistest the proud, and givest grace to the humble: grant us the virtue
of true humility, whereof Thine Only-begotten showed in Himself a pattern for Thy
faithful; that we may never by our pride provoke Thine anger, but rather by our
meekness receive the riches of Thy grace.
For the Gift of Patience
O God, who didst crush the pride of the enemy by the long-suffering of Thine Only-
begotten Son: grant, we bessech Thee, that we may worthily recall those things
which in His tender love He bore for us; and thus following His example may
patiently endure all our adversities.
For the Gift of Charity
O God, who makest all things to work together for good unto those who love Thee;
give to our hearts the lasting affection of Thy love; that such desires as are inspired
by Thee may never be changed by any temptation.
For Heretics and Schismatics
O Almighty and Everlasting God, who hast compassion on all, and wouldst not that
any should perish: favorably look down upon all those who are seduced by the
deceit of Satan; that, all heretical impiety being removed, the hearts of such as err
may repent and return to the unity of Thy truth.
For Pagans
O Almighty and Everlasting God, who desirest not the death but the life of sinners
mercifully accept our prayers, and, delivering pagans from the worship of idols,
unite them to Thy Church, to the praise and honor of Thy glorious name.
For Our Friends
O God, who, by the grace of the Holy Spirit, hast poured into the hearts of Thy
faithful the gifts of charity: grant to Thy servants and handmaids, for whom we
implore Thy mercy, health both of body and soul; that they may love Thee with all
their strength, and cheerfully perform those things which are pleasing unto Thee.
For Enemies
O God, the lover and preserver of peace and charity: grant unto all our enemies
peace and true charity; give them remission of all their sins, and by Thy power
deliver us from their snares.
A Short Recommendation to God
Into the hands of Thy unspeakable mercy, O Lord, I recommend my soul and body;
my senses, my words, my thoughts, and all my actions, with all the necessities of
my body and soul; my going forth and my coming in; my faith and conversation; the
course and end of my life; the day and hour of my death; my rest and resurrection
with the Saints and the Elect.
For the Sick
Almighty and Eternal God, the everlasting help of those who believe: hear us for Thy
sick servant N., for whom we implore the aid of Thy tender mercy, that, being
restored to bodily health, he (or she) may give thanks to Thee in Thy Church.
Through Christ our Lord. Amen.
For a Sick Person Near Death
Almighty and Merciful God, who hast conferred upon mankind both the remedies of
health, and the gifts of everlasting life: look upon this Thy servant who laboureth
under sickness of body, and comfort the soul which Thou hast created; that, freed
from the stains of sin, he (or she) may, at the hour of departure, deserve to be
presented unto Thee, his (or her) Creator by the hands of the holy angels.
Prayer Before Study or Instructions
Incomprehensible Creator, the true Fountain of light and only Author of all
knowledge: vouchsafe, we beseech Thee, to enlighten our understandings, and to
remove from us all darkness of sin and ignorance. [Thou, who makest eloquent the
tongues of those that want utterance, direct our tongues, and pour on our lips the
grace of Thy blessing.] Give us a diligent and obedient spirit, quickness of
apprehension, capacity of retaining, and the powerful assistance of Thy holy grace;
that what we hear or learn we may apply to Thy honor and the eternal salvation of
our own souls.
Prayers of Parents, for Themselves and for Their Children
O Father of mankind, who hast given unto me these my children, and committed
them to my charge to bring them up for Thee, and to prepare them for everlasting
life: assist me with Thy heavenly grace, that I may be able to fulfill this most sacred
duty and stewardship.Teach me both what to give and what to withhold; when to
reprove and when to forbear; make me gentle, yet firm; considerate and watchful;
and deliver me equally from the weakness of indulgence, and the excess of
severity; and grant that, both by word and example, I may be careful to lead them
in the ways of wisdom and true piety, so that at last I may, with them, be admitted
to the unspeakable joys of our true home in heaven, in the company of the blessed
Angels and Saints.
O heavenly Father, I commend my children unto Thee. Be Thou their God and
Father; and mercifully supply whatever is wanting in me through frailty or
negligence. Strengthen them to overcome the corruptions of the world, to resist all
solicitations to evil, whether from within or without; and deliver them from the
secret snares of the enemy. Pour Thy grace into their hearts, and confirm and
multiply in them the gifts of Thy Holy Spirit, that they may daily grow in grace and
in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ; and so, faithfully serving Thee here, may
come to rejoice in Thy presence hereafter.
For Choosing a State of Life
O Lord, I beseech Thee to grant me Thy divine light, that I may know the designs of
Thy providence concerning me, and that, filled with a sincere desire for my soul’s
salvation, I may say, with the young man in the Gospel: What must I do to be
saved? All states of life are before me; but, still undecided what to do, I await Thy
commands, I offer myself to Thee without restriction, without reserve, with a most
perfect submission. Far be it from me, O Lord, to oppose the order of Thy wisdom,
and, unfaithful to the inspiration of Thy grace, to strive to subject the will of the
Creator to the caprice of the creature. It is not for the servant to choose the way in
which he will serve his master: do Thou lay upon me what commands Thou
pleasest. My lot is in Thy hands. I make no exception, lest perchance what I except
be that which Thou willest, and because I am too short-sighted to discover in the
future the different obstacles I shall meet with, if, without Thy guidance, I make
myself the arbiter of my own conduct. Speak, Lord, to my soul; speak to me as Thou
didst to the youthful Samuel: Speak Lord; for Thy servant heareth. I cast myself at
Thy feet, and I am ready, if it be Thy will, to sacrifice myself as a victim to Thee for
the remainder of my days, in such wise as Thou shalt deem most worthy of Thy
greatness. O my God, inspire the affections of my parents, and guide their projects
according to the counsels of Thy wisdom. Lord, I sincerely desire to consult Thee
who art the Eternal Truth; grant that my parents also may submit themselves to its
decrees, faithfully and without reserve.
[1]
Matthew 25: 6.
[2]
Cant. 2: 8.
[3]
Cant. 2: 9.
[4]
Cant. 3: 11.
[5]
Cant. 1: 12.
[6]
Cant. 1: 13.
[7]
Cant. 1: 11.
[8]
Wisdom 1 :1.
[9]
Psalm 118: 43, 39, 52.
[10]
Lam. 3: 25.
[
[11]
Psalm 72: 1.
[12]
Cant. 5: 2.
[13]
Cant. 5: 1.
[14]
Isaiah 66: 12.
[15]
Ad pop. Ant. Hom. 60.
[16]
Cant. 1: 1.
[17]
Cant. 5: 1.
[18]
Matthew 6: 10.
[19]
Cant. 2: 5.
[20]
Cant. 5: 10.
[21]
Tit. 3: 4.
[22]
In Ps. 33: en. 1.
[23]
Matthew 26: 26.
[
[24]
John 6: 61.
[25]
Deut. 10: 12.
[26]
Prov. 8: 17.
[27]
Zach. 1: 3.
[28]
John 14 : 23.
[29]
ST. AUGUSTINE, Confessions, I, ch.29.
[30]
Cant. 1: 5.
[31]
Cant. 1: 4.
[32]
Luke 5: 8.
[33]
John 16: 24.
[34]
Psalm 1: 12.
[35]
John 16: 23.
[36]
Luke 5: 8.
[
[37]
Psalm 115: 12.
[38]
Psalm 65: 16.
[39]
Cant. 2: 16.
[40]
Mark 10: 51.
[41]
Psalm 50: 12.
[42]
John 16: 23.
[43]
Alphonsus Rodriguez
[44]
Cant. 1: 3.
[45]
Psalm 4: 9.
[46]
Cant. 2: 4.
[47]
Cant. 6: 1.
[48]
Cant. 5: 16.
[49]
Psalm 56: 8.
[
[50]
Psalm 33: 2.
[51]
Cant. 8: 5.
[52]
Cant. 8: 9.
[53]
Psalm 103: 15.
[54]
John 6: 58.
[55]
John 6: 57.
[56]
Cant. 3: 4.
[57]
Ibid.
[58]
Cant. 8: 4.
[59]
Cant. 4: 16.
[60]
Cant. 5: 1.
[61]
Psalm 22: 1.
[62]
Psalm 26: 1.
[
[63]
Job 13: 15.
[64]
Isaiah 49: 16.
[65]
Isaiah 49: 15.
[66]
Psalm 5: 13.
[67]
Acts 12: 6.
[68]
Matthew 6: 10.
[69]
Psalm 142: 10.
[70]
John 8: 29.
[71]
Prov. 23: 26.
[72]
Deut. 30: 9.
[73]
Isaiah 5: 4.
[74]
John 1: 14.
[75]
Phil. 2: 7.
[
[76]
Psalm 21: 7.
[77]
Phil. 2: 8.
[78]
John 15: 13.
[79]
Cant. 8: 6.
[80]
Psalm 72: 26.

A Book of Catholic Prayers

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A BOOK OF CATHOLIC PRAYERS

Paul Gerard Horrigan

COPYRIGHT © 2000 By Paul Gerard Horrigan,

This HTML edition is provided free for noncommercial

With ecclesiastical approval.

The Lord’s Prayer

The Hail Mary

The Apostles’ Creed

The Nicene Creed

Hail Holy Queen

V. The angel of the Lord declared unto Mary,

R. And she conceived of the Holy Spirit.

Hail Mary, etc.

V. Behold the handmaid of the Lord,

R. Be it done unto me according to Thy word.

Hail Mary, etc.

V. And the Word was made flesh,

R. And dwelt among us.

V. Pray for us, O holy Mother of God.

R. That we may be worthy of the promises of Christ.

The Regina Coeli

To be said standing during Eastertide instead of the Angelus

Queen of heaven, rejoice; alleluia.

For He whom you did merit to bear; alleluia,

Has risen, as He said; alleluia.

Pray for us to God; alleluia.

V. Rejoice and be glad, O Virgin Mary; alleluia.

R. For the Lord has risen indeed; alleluia.

Prayer to the Guardian Angel

Angel of God, my guardian dear,

To whom God’s love commits me here,

Ever this day be at my side,

To light and guard, to rule and guide. Amen.

THE HOLY ROSARY

The Joyful Mysteries (Mondays and Saturdays)

5. The Finding in the Temple

The Luminous Mysteries (Thursdays)

1. The Baptism of Christ

2. The Wedding Feast at Cana

3. The Proclamation of God’s Kingdom and the Call to Conversion

5. The Institution of the Eucharist

The Sorrowful Mysteries (Tuesdays and Fridays)

1. The Agony in the Garden

2. The Scourging at the Pillar

3. The Crowning with Thorns

4. The Carrying of the Cross

The Glorious Mysteries (Wednesdays and Sundays)

3. The Descent of the Holy Spirit

4. The Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary

5. The Coronation of the Blessed Virgin Mary as Queen of Heaven

O my God, Thou knowest my poverty and weakness, and that I am unable to do

Grace Before Meals

Grace After Meals

Ask of God to discover the sins committed this day.

Imploration of Divine Assistance in Order to Make a Good Confession

Prayers Before the Examination of Conscience

O Lord, in Thee have I hoped, let me never be confounded. Amen.

The 7 Penitential Psalms

O Lord, reprove me not in your anger, nor chastise me in your wrath.

Return, O Lord, save my life ; rescue me because of your kindness,

Happy is he whose fault is taken away, whose sin is covered.

Then I acknowledged my sin to you, my guilt I covered not.

Though deep waters overflow, they shall not reach him.