Prayers of Thanksgiving and Adoration Before the Blessed Sacrament:
Pope Benedict XVI says that adoration of the Blessed Sacrament is an important form of worship that can be practised individually or in community, even with psalms and hymns, without neglecting the silence through which we can listen to the Lord, living and present in this sacrament.
Here, dear friends, are some beautiful prayers to say before the Blessed Sacrament or after Communion.
Prayer of Saint Thomas Aquinas:
I give You thanks, O Lord, almighty Father, for, not because of any merit of mine, but only because of the greatness of Your mercy, You have been pleased to nourish me, a sinner and Your unworthy servant, with the precious Body and Blood of Your Son, our Lord Jesus Christ. I pray that this Holy Communion may not be for me a cause of condemnation, but a saving pledge of forgiveness.
May it be for me the armour of faith and the shield of good will. May it free me from my vices and destroy the harmful desires of the flesh.
May it increase in me charity, patience, humility, obedience and every virtue. May it be my strong defence against the snares of all my enemies, seen and unseen, and perfect calm in sufferings of body and soul.
Grant that at the end of my life I may be united with You, the one true God, and I pray You, be pleased to bring me, a sinner, to that indescribable banquet where You, with Your Son and the Holy Spirit, are true light, full satisfaction, everlasting joy and perfect happiness to Your saints. Through the same Christ our Lord. Amen.
Prayer of Saint Mary of Jesus Crucified:
Soul of Christ, sanctify me. Body of Christ, save me. Blood of Christ, inebriate me. Water from the side of Christ, wash me. Passion of Christ, strengthen me. O good Jesus, hear me. Within Your wounds hide me. Never let me be separated from You. From the wicked enemy defend me. Bid me come to You, that with Your saints I may praise You. Amen.
Offering of Self:
Take, Lord, and receive all my liberty, my understanding and my will. You have given me all that I have, and I give it back to You. All is Yours; dispose of it as You will. Give me only Your love and Your grace; I want nothing more. Amen.
Universal Prayer of Pope Clement XI:
Lord, I believe in You: increase my faith. I trust in You, my God: strengthen my trust. I love You, Lord: make my love more ardent. My soul is sorry for its sins: deepen my sorrow.
Guide me, Lord, by Your wisdom, correct me with Your justice, comfort me with Your mercy, protect me with Your power. I want, Lord, what You want, in the way You want it, for as long as You want it, because You want it. Make me, Lord, fervent in prayer, moderate in food, faithful in my work, firm in my resolutions. Make me, Lord, friendly in my company, courteous in my conduct, pure in my speech, upright in my life.
Behold, Lord, I offer You my thoughts, my words, my actions and my labours. Grant, Lord, that I may think of You, speak of You, work for You and toil for Your sake. Fill my heart, Lord, with love for You, with hatred of myself and my vices, with mercy for my neighbour and contempt for everything worldly.
Help me, Lord, to overcome pleasure by self-denial, greed by generosity, anger by gentleness and lukewarmness by fervour in prayer. Make me, Lord, prudent in my affairs, courageous in danger, patient in hardship, humble in success.
Enlighten my mind, Lord, inflame my will, purify my body and sanctify my soul. Help me to see, Lord, how small the earth is and how great heaven is, how short time is and how long eternity. Grant me, Lord, to prepare for death, to fear judgment, to escape hell and to gain heaven. Amen.
Prayer to Our Lady of the Blessed Sacrament:
O Virgin Mary, Our Lady of the Blessed Sacrament, glory of the Christian people, joy of the universal Church and salvation of the world, pray for us, and kindle in the hearts of all the faithful true devotion to the Blessed Sacrament, so that they may be worthy to receive it every day. Amen.
Prepared by Rita of the Sawt el Rab team
