Before Receiving Holy Communion

In Latin

In English

Omnipotens sempiterne Deus, ecce accedo ad sacramentum unigeniti Filii tui, Domini nostri, Iesu Christi; accedo tamquam infirmus ad medicum vitæ, immundus ad fontem misericordiæ, cæcus ad lumen claritatis æternæ, pauper et egenus ad Dominum cæli et terræ. Rogo ergo immensæ largitatis tuæ abundantiam, quatenus meam curare digneris infirmitatem, lavare foeditatem, illuminare cæcitatem, ditare paupertatem, vestire nuditatem; ut panem Angelorum, Regem et Dominum dominantium, tanta suscipiam reverentia et humilitate, tanta contritione et devotione, tanta puritate et fide, tali proposito et intentione, sicut expedit saluti animæ meæ.

Da mihi, quæso, Dominici Corporis et Sanguinis non solum suscipere sacramentum, sed etiam rem et virtutem sacramenti. O mitissime Deus, da mihi Corpus unigeniti Filii tui, Domini nostri, Iesu Christi, quod traxit de Virgine Maria, sic suscipere, ut corpori suo mystico merear incoporari, et inter eius membra connumerari.

O amantissime Pater, concede mihi dilectum Filium tuum, quem nunc velatum in via suscipere propono, revelata tandem facie perpetuo contemplari: Qui tecum vivit et regnat in unitate Spiritus Sancti, Deus, per omnia sæcula sæculorum. Amen.

Almighty and eternal God, behold, I approach the sacrament of Thine only-begotten Son, our Lord Jesus Christ. I approach as one who is sick to the physician of life, as one unclean to the fountain of mercy, as one blind to the light of eternal brightness, as one poor and needy to the Lord of heaven and earth. Therefore I beseech Thee, of Thine infinite goodness, to heal my sicknes, to wash away my filth, to enlighten my blindness, to enrich my poverty, and to clothe my nakedness, that I may receive the Bread of Angels, the King of Kings, and the Lord of Lords with such reverence and humility, with such contrition and devotion, with such purity and faith, with such purpose and intention, as may conduce to the salvation of my soul.

Grant, I beseech Thee, that I may receive not only the sacrament of the Body and Blood of our Lord, but also the fruit and virtue of this sacrament. O most indulgent God, grant me so to receive the Body of Thine only-begotten Son, our Lord Jesus Christ, which He took of the Virgin Mary, that I may be found worthy to be incorporated with His mystical body and numbered among His members.

O most loving Father, grant that I may one day contemplate forever, face to face, Thy beloved Son, Whom now on my pilgrimage I am about to receive under the sacramental veils; Who liveth and reigneth with Thee in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God, world without end. Amen.