Welcome to our growing library of communion prayers. If you know of a good prayer to say at communion, we invite you to add it at the bottom of the page.
Table of contents
The Bread and The Cup
Often times, prayers for the Eucharist will be broken up into two sections; For the Bread, and For the Cup. One prayer is to be said before the breaking of the bread, and one before the pouring of the wine.
For example:
For the Bread:
Crucified God, we wear beautiful crosses around
our necks, and hang them on our walls. We have
made your triumphant sign of suffering decorative,
when what it really needs to be is defining.
So make us cruciform Lord, in our weekly
remembrance of Christs death on the cross
in our breaking of this bread.
Let us show by the offering of our hearts and hands
the depth of our commitment to live for him who died for us.
In lives of sacrifice and service, empower our
witness to Jesus Christ, whose cross so powerfully
proclaims your love.
Amen.
For the Cup:
In lifting this cup of remembrance here this morning
Oh God of sacrifice, we are lifting high the cross of Christ
and proclaiming your great love.
We partake, with gratitude, all the gifts that ours
in Christ crucified – new life, real unity, eternal life,
and a meaningful purpose.
Fill us now again with the power of your spirit
that we might be bold in our witness to Jesus Christ,till all the world adores his sacred name.
Amen
A First Communion
My Jesus,
I believe that You are present in the
Most Holy Sacrament. I love You above all things,
and I desire to receive You into my soul.
I believe it because you have said it
and Im ready to give my life to
maintain this truth.
Amen
Prayer for Receiving the Lord
Sweet Jesus, thank You for everything You have bestowed upon me. You have sacrificed Your life to save all of mankind from our sins. You have generously shared with us Your life when You could have chosen not to. Forgive me for the sins I have done against You and for the ones I will be making.
I promise that I will be a better person for you and for others. Bless the hands of the hard working, the hearts of the loving and the souls of those who help.
In Your name, I pray. Amen.
Being One with Jesus
Dear God, I come to You today to praise and glorify Your name. You have showered us with wonderful gifts. The best gift of all is giving Your son to save us from our sins.
There is no worse grief for a father than to lose his son. You have been unselfish and very giving even to those who have turned their backs on You. I pray that they come back to Your welcoming arms. I dedicate this prayer to those who need someone to call on to when the days get rough and the nights are worst.
Give them the strength and courage to come back to You, Father. Being with Jesus has ultimately changed my life. Let it be for them as well.
In Your glory always, I pray. Amen.
Prayer at a Child’s First Communion
Lord Jesus Christ, in the Sacrament of
the Eucharist You left us the outstanding
manifestation of your limitless love for us.
Thank You for giving our child the
opportunity to experience this love
in receiving the Sacrament for the first time.
May your Eucharist presence keep him/her
ever free from sin, fortified in faith,
pervaded by love for God and neighbor,
and fruitful in virtue, that he/she may
continue to receive You throughout life and
attain final union with You at death.
Amen.
Prayer to Receive the Lord
Lord, as You enter my body, please cleanse me from all my sins.
Teach me to become as pure as You and Your mother Mary. I pray that I become a better person and be kinder to my neighbours. May Your presence in me make me a better person and do whatever is only on Your will.
Thank You for keeping me warm on those cold toasty nights and safe from harm. I pray that all my loved ones live in Your presence and that they always do what is right. I pray for the world to have peace especially in their hearts.
I pray this for Your glory, Lord. Amen.
A Prayer of Thanksgiving
Loving and compassionate God,
God of infinite goodness and mercy,
Your blessed name be glorified.
Yours is the glory,
You are the ruler of all the land and everything on it;
You are the ruler of the world and all its inhabitants.
God of all of us, teach us to live the way you have always wanted.
You are our God and savior,
And our trust is always in you.
We thank you for the blessings that you give us every day.
We thank you for providing food to those in need.
We thank you for blessing us with the desire for your justice for those who are poor.
We thank you for blessing us with the voice to speak for the voiceless.
We thank you for allowing us to be your hands and feet in the world,
For the blessing of being part of the great family that is your Church.
Hear our prayer and help us remember always your call to justice and compassion.
Our God, you will conquer all injustice; with your help we will be victorious.
Source: bread.org
Prayer After Communion
Lord Jesus, I love and adore you. You’re a special friend to me.
Welcome, Lord Jesus, o welcome. Thank you for coming to me. Thank you, Lord Jesus, o thank you for giving yourself to me. Make me strong to show your love wherever I may be. Be near me, Lord Jesus, I ask you to stay close by my forever and love me, I pray. Bless all of us children in your loving care and bring us to heaven to live with you there.
I’m ready now, Lord Jesus, to show how much I care. I’m ready now to give your love at home and everywhere.
Amen.
Source: goodshepherdgalway.com
Catholic Communion Prayers
Here are some prayers for the Blessed Sacrament from the Catholic tradition.
The Sanctity of Life
My God, we adore You here in the Blessed Sacrament.
As we kneel before You, we recognize You
as the Creator of all Life. We thank You and
praise You for the lives you have given to us
and to those we love. Give us a true and lasting
respect for all life, for we recognize it as coming
from You. We pray for all who have suffered or
died as a result of disrespect whether that suffering
and death has come as a result of abuse, war, gossip,
or abortion.
We pray for an end for all disrespect of life. As we
kneel before You we ask You to forgive all those who
do not respect the sanctity of life. We repeat the words
you spoke as you hung on the cross, ‘Father, forgive them,
for they know not what they do.
Hail to Thee, True Body
Hail to thee, true body born
From Virgin Mary’s womb!
The same that on the cross was nailed
And bore for man the bitter doom.
Thou, whose side was pierced and flowed
Both with water and with blood;
Suffer us to taste of thee,
In our life’s last agony.
O kind, O loving one!
O sweet Jesus, Mary’s Son!
Prayers for After Communion
Here are some simple, short prayer to say after the communion has ended.
Go As Children of God
Go as risk takers,
For God has nourished you with bread and cup.
Go as new creatures,
For God is saving you from your sin.
Go as children of God,
For God will be with us all.
Amen
Gracious God
Gracious God, here at this table we have been, in the company of Jesus Christ, our savior and redeemer.
You have revealed your loving ways to us in broken bread
and poured cup.
Now, as your light has illuminated
our lives. Help us be a light for others.
Amen
Prayer of Thanksgiving After Communion
Lord Jesus, thank You for being with me today! You have been my guide and guard in all my days and I pray that continue to be so. Thank You for always keeping me safe and warm, for keeping me away from harm.
Thank You for giving me the gift of living another day and for my family who are never away. Bless those who are in need of Your loving protection. Let them be under Your wing and they will never be astray.
May this prayer keep all evils away and only the good will stay. Amen.
Eternal Light
Eternal Light, shine in our hearts.
Eternal Goodness, you have drawn us to your heart.
and united us in the sacrament of Christs body and blood.
Eternal Power, be our support.
Eternal Wisdom, scatter the darkness of our ignorance.
Eternal Pity, have mercy upon us.
That with all our heart and mind and soul and strength
we may seek your face and be brought by your infinite
mercy to your holy presence; through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.
Bible Verses About Faith
“In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one;”
It is common to use scripture in communion prayers. Click here to read Bible Verses About Faith
Return to 15 Great Communion Prayers
www.praywithme.com
Communion is a sacred time for you as a follower of Jesus. But before you participate in this memorable occasion, take time to spend some reflective moments in self-examination. What does that mean? How should you pray? While this is an individual matter between you and God, here are some prayer thoughts that might help you as you prepare for this beautiful time of remembrance.
A Communion Prayer
Lord Jesus, I bow before you in humility and ask You to examine my heart today. Show me anything that is not pleasing to You. Reveal any secret pride, any unconfessed sin, any rebellion or unforgiveness that may be hindering my relationship with You. I know that I am Your beloved child, having received You into my heart and life and having accepted Your death as penalty for my sinfulness. The price You paid covered me for all time, and my desire is to live for You.
As I take the bread representing Your life that was broken for me, I remember and celebrate Your faithfulness to me and to all who will receive You. I can’t begin to fathom the agonizing suffering of Your crucifixion. Yet You took that pain for me. You died for me! Thank You, Jesus. Thank You for Your extravagant love and unmerited favor. Thank You that Your death gave me life—abundant life now, and eternal life forever. As You instructed Your disciples, I, too, receive this bread in remembrance of You.
And in the same way, as I take this cup representing Your blood poured out from a splintered cross, I realize that You were the supreme sacrifice for all my sin: past, present, and future. Because of Your blood shed for me, and Your body broken for me, I can be free from the power and penalty of sin. Thank You for Your victory over death. You took the death that I deserved. You took my punishment. Your pain was indeed my gain. And today I remember and celebrate the precious gift of life You gave me through the blood that You spilled.
But while my relationship is secure with you, I know sin can break our fellowship at times. I’m still human, and I often forget who I am and Whose I am. You want to convict and correct me, not shame me. You love me like a perfect parent. You’ll never disown me or leave me. You love me no matter what. But sin hurts both my heart and Yours. So before I take communion today, I’m asking You to truly search my heart and reveal hidden things for which to ask Your forgiveness.
Each time I take communion, Lord, I want to recommit my life, my heart, my thoughts, my everything to You. Fill me today with Your powerful Spirit. As I leave this place, help me to hold this fresh remembrance and the story that never grows old close to my heart. Help me to share its message faithfully as You give opportunity.
In Your Precious name,
Amen
Rebecca Barlow Jordan is an inspirational author, speaker, and passionate follower of Jesus who loves to encourage others heart to heart. She has written 11 books and over 1700 other articles, greeting cards, and other inspirational pieces. Her daily devotional Daily in Your Presence is available for delivery through Crosswalk.com. You can find out more about Rebecca at www.rebeccabarlowjordan.com.
Publication date: October 23, 2017
Image Courtesy: ©Thinkstock/RomoloTavani
This article is part of our larger Prayers resource meant to inspire and encourage your prayer life when you face uncertain times. Visit our most popular prayers if you are wondering how to pray or what to pray. Remember, the Holy Spirit intercedes for us and God knows your heart even if you can’t find the words to pray.
Prayer for Healing
Prayer Before SurgeryPrayer for StrengthPrayer for ProtectionMorning PrayersGood Night PrayersThe Prayer of JabezShort PrayersThe Lord’s PrayerThe Prayer of St FrancisSerenity PrayerA Birthday PrayerSinner’s PrayerPrayer for ForgivenessPrayer for Guidance
www.crosswalk.com
Welcome to our growing library of communion prayers. If you know of a good prayer to say at communion, we invite you to add it at the bottom of the page.
The Bread and The Cup
Often times, prayers for the Eucharist will be broken up into two sections; For the Bread, and For the Cup. One prayer is to be said before the breaking of the bread, and one before the pouring of the wine.
For example:
For the Bread:
Crucified God, we wear beautiful crosses around
our necks, and hang them on our walls. We have
made your triumphant sign of suffering decorative,
when what it really needs to be is defining.
So make us cruciform Lord, in our weekly
remembrance of Christs death on the cross
in our breaking of this bread.
Let us show by the offering of our hearts and hands
the depth of our commitment to live for him who died for us.
In lives of sacrifice and service, empower our
witness to Jesus Christ, whose cross so powerfully
proclaims your love.
Amen.
For the Cup:
In lifting this cup of remembrance here this morning
Oh God of sacrifice, we are lifting high the cross of Christ
and proclaiming your great love.
We partake, with gratitude, all the gifts that ours
in Christ crucified – new life, real unity, eternal life,
and a meaningful purpose.
Fill us now again with the power of your spirit
that we might be bold in our witness to Jesus Christ,till all the world adores his sacred name.
Amen
A First Communion
My Jesus,
I believe that You are present in the
Most Holy Sacrament. I love You above all things,
and I desire to receive You into my soul.
I believe it because you have said it
and Im ready to give my life to
maintain this truth.
Amen
Prayer for Receiving the Lord
Sweet Jesus, thank You for everything You have bestowed upon me. You have sacrificed Your life to save all of mankind from our sins. You have generously shared with us Your life when You could have chosen not to. Forgive me for the sins I have done against You and for the ones I will be making.
I promise that I will be a better person for you and for others. Bless the hands of the hard working, the hearts of the loving and the souls of those who help.
In Your name, I pray. Amen.
Being One with Jesus
Dear God, I come to You today to praise and glorify Your name. You have showered us with wonderful gifts. The best gift of all is giving Your son to save us from our sins.
There is no worse grief for a father than to lose his son. You have been unselfish and very giving even to those who have turned their backs on You. I pray that they come back to Your welcoming arms. I dedicate this prayer to those who need someone to call on to when the days get rough and the nights are worst.
Give them the strength and courage to come back to You, Father. Being with Jesus has ultimately changed my life. Let it be for them as well.
In Your glory always, I pray. Amen.
Prayer at a Child’s First Communion
Lord Jesus Christ, in the Sacrament of
the Eucharist You left us the outstanding
manifestation of your limitless love for us.
Thank You for giving our child the
opportunity to experience this love
in receiving the Sacrament for the first time.
May your Eucharist presence keep him/her
ever free from sin, fortified in faith,
pervaded by love for God and neighbor,
and fruitful in virtue, that he/she may
continue to receive You throughout life and
attain final union with You at death.
Amen.
Prayer to Receive the Lord
Lord, as You enter my body, please cleanse me from all my sins.
Teach me to become as pure as You and Your mother Mary. I pray that I become a better person and be kinder to my neighbours. May Your presence in me make me a better person and do whatever is only on Your will.
Thank You for keeping me warm on those cold toasty nights and safe from harm. I pray that all my loved ones live in Your presence and that they always do what is right. I pray for the world to have peace especially in their hearts.
I pray this for Your glory, Lord. Amen.
A Prayer of Thanksgiving
Loving and compassionate God,
God of infinite goodness and mercy,
Your blessed name be glorified.
Yours is the glory,
You are the ruler of all the land and everything on it;
You are the ruler of the world and all its inhabitants.
God of all of us, teach us to live the way you have always wanted.
You are our God and savior,
And our trust is always in you.
We thank you for the blessings that you give us every day.
We thank you for providing food to those in need.
We thank you for blessing us with the desire for your justice for those who are poor.
We thank you for blessing us with the voice to speak for the voiceless.
We thank you for allowing us to be your hands and feet in the world,
For the blessing of being part of the great family that is your Church.
Hear our prayer and help us remember always your call to justice and compassion.
Our God, you will conquer all injustice; with your help we will be victorious.
Source: bread.org
Prayer After Communion
Lord Jesus, I love and adore you. You’re a special friend to me.
Welcome, Lord Jesus, o welcome. Thank you for coming to me. Thank you, Lord Jesus, o thank you for giving yourself to me. Make me strong to show your love wherever I may be. Be near me, Lord Jesus, I ask you to stay close by my forever and love me, I pray. Bless all of us children in your loving care and bring us to heaven to live with you there.
I’m ready now, Lord Jesus, to show how much I care. I’m ready now to give your love at home and everywhere.
Amen.
Source: goodshepherdgalway.com
Catholic Communion Prayers
Here are some prayers for the Blessed Sacrament from the Catholic tradition.
The Sanctity of Life
My God, we adore You here in the Blessed Sacrament.
As we kneel before You, we recognize You
as the Creator of all Life. We thank You and
praise You for the lives you have given to us
and to those we love. Give us a true and lasting
respect for all life, for we recognize it as coming
from You. We pray for all who have suffered or
died as a result of disrespect whether that suffering
and death has come as a result of abuse, war, gossip,
or abortion.
We pray for an end for all disrespect of life. As we
kneel before You we ask You to forgive all those who
do not respect the sanctity of life. We repeat the words
you spoke as you hung on the cross, ‘Father, forgive them,
for they know not what they do.
Hail to Thee, True Body
Hail to thee, true body born
From Virgin Mary’s womb!
The same that on the cross was nailed
And bore for man the bitter doom.
Thou, whose side was pierced and flowed
Both with water and with blood;
Suffer us to taste of thee,
In our life’s last agony.
O kind, O loving one!
O sweet Jesus, Mary’s Son!
Prayers for After Communion
Here are some simple, short prayer to say after the communion has ended.
Go As Children of God
Go as risk takers,
For God has nourished you with bread and cup.
Go as new creatures,
For God is saving you from your sin.
Go as children of God,
For God will be with us all.
Amen
Gracious God
Gracious God, here at this table we have been, in the company of Jesus Christ, our savior and redeemer.
You have revealed your loving ways to us in broken bread
and poured cup.
Now, as your light has illuminated
our lives. Help us be a light for others.
Amen
Prayer of Thanksgiving After Communion
Lord Jesus, thank You for being with me today! You have been my guide and guard in all my days and I pray that continue to be so. Thank You for always keeping me safe and warm, for keeping me away from harm.
Thank You for giving me the gift of living another day and for my family who are never away. Bless those who are in need of Your loving protection. Let them be under Your wing and they will never be astray.
May this prayer keep all evils away and only the good will stay. Amen.
Eternal Light
Eternal Light, shine in our hearts.
Eternal Goodness, you have drawn us to your heart.
and united us in the sacrament of Christs body and blood.
Eternal Power, be our support.
Eternal Wisdom, scatter the darkness of our ignorance.
Eternal Pity, have mercy upon us.
That with all our heart and mind and soul and strength
we may seek your face and be brought by your infinite
mercy to your holy presence; through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.
Bible Verses About Faith
“In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one;”
It is common to use scripture in communion prayers. Click here to read Bible Verses About Faith
Return to 15 Great Communion Prayers
www.praywithme.com
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A Prayer Before Communion
O Lord, born of the Virgin, do not look upon my transgressions, but cleanse my heart and make it a temple for Your most pure Body and precious Blood. Do not case me away from your presence, You Whose mercy is without measure.
Glory to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit:
How do I dare to have communion of Your holy things, unworthy as I am? For if I dare to draw near to You with those who are worthy and it appears that I have no wedding garment, I but receive the condemnation of my most sinful soul. Cleanse my impure soul, O Lord, and save me, for You love mankind.
Now and ever and forever.
Amen.
The multitude of my transgressions is great, O Mother of God: I flee to your purity, seeking salvation. Visit my soul in my weakness and pray to your Son, Our God, to grant me the remission of my evil deeds, you who alone are blessed.
…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
The Communion Prayer (Divine Liturgy of St. John Chrysostom)
believe, O Lord and confess, that You are truly the Christ, Son of the living God, Who came into the world to save sinners of whom I am the first. 0 Son of God, accept me today as a communicant of Your Mystical Supper, for I will not speak of this Mystery to Your enemies, nor like Judas will I give You a kiss, but like the penitent thief I confess to You:
O Lord, remember me when You come into Your kingdom.
O Master, remember me when You come into Your kingdom.
O Holy one, remember me when You come into Your kingdom.
Let the partaking of Your holy Mysteries, 0 Lord, be not for my judgment or condemnation, but for the healing of my soul and my body.
O Lord, I also believe and confess that this, which I am about to receive, is truly Your most precious Body and truly Your life-giving Blood which, I pray, I may worthily receive for the remission of all my sins and for life everlasting.
God, be merciful to me, a sinner.
God, cleanse me of my sins and have mercy on me.
O Lord, forgive me, for my sins are many.
………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..
Prayer after Holy Communion
A Prayer of St. Basil the Great
O Master, Christ our God, the King of all ages, the Master of all things: I thank You for all the good things You have given me, especially for the communion of Your most pure and life-creating Mysteries. I pray to You, O gracious Lover of mankind:
Preserve me under Your protection, beneath the shadow of Your wings. Enable me, even to my last breath, to partake worthily and with a pure conscience of Your holy things, for the remission of sins and unto life everlasting. For You are the Bread of Life, the Fountain of Holiness and the Giver of all good things, and to You we give glory with the Father and the Holy Spirit, now and ever and forever. Amen
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What has passed our lips as food, O Lord, may we possess in purity of heart, that what is given to us in time, be our healing for eternity. May Your Body, O Lord, which I have eaten, and Your Blood which I have drunk, cleave to my very soul, and grant that no trace of
sin
be found in me, whom these pure and holy mysteries have renewed. Who live and reign, world without end. Amen. We humbly beseech You, almighty god, to grant that those whom You refresh with Your sacraments, may serve you worthily by a
life
well pleasing to You. Through our
Lord Jesus
Christ, Your Son, Who lives and reigns, world without end. Amen.
www.catholic.org
That I Have Regularly Ignored
Author: Ruth Baker | Source: Catholic-link
Did you know that there are three prayers in the Mass that, like the readings, are different for each Mass? It wasn’t until I had a recent conversation with my dad that I realized that I had been letting the words of these prayers wash over me without paying any attention to them. He told me that he had been making an effort to tune back into them again and he’d realized all the beauty he had been missing out on.
I absolutely love going to Mass, to worship and adore and to receive the greatest gift we’ve ever been given; the Eucharist. However, that doesn’t lessen the human struggle I face each time I go, that is, to remain attentive, and to put my whole heart and mind into the Mass that is being offered in front of me.
So it is always good to be reminded of the small, but no less important, parts of the Mass that we may be missing out on.
The three prayers I had regularly been zoning out on are the Collect, the Prayer over the Offerings, and the Prayer after Communion. They’re short prayers that the priest says before or after the “bigger” or more obvious parts of the Mass. They’re so short, and they often follow the same pattern, so the words can still feel familiar and therefore easier to inadvertently ignore. But they are always different! Which means that the Church, in her wisdom, has always prepared different words for her children, each time we are at Mass. Which means that each prayer has something important for us to receive in it, and if we miss it, it’ll be another rotation of the Church’s liturgical calendar before we hear it again!
Mass prayers
The first of these prayers is The Collect:
The Collect forms the final part of the “Introductory Rites” of the Mass, which also include the Penitential Act, the Kyrie and the Gloria. The USCCB describes the praying of the Collect as follows:
“The Priest calls upon the people to pray and everybody, together with the Priest, observes a brief silence so that they may become aware of being in God’s presence and may call to mind their intentions. Then the Priest pronounces the prayer usually called the “Collect” and through which the character of the celebration finds expression. By an ancient tradition of the Church, the Collect prayer is usually addressed to God the Father, through Christ, in the Holy Spirit.”
Here are two examples of the Collect from Sundays in August and September 2017. They’re taken from the Universalis app.
“O God, who cause the minds of the faithful to unite in a single purpose, grant your people to love what you command and to desire what you promise, that, amid the uncertainties of this world, our hearts may be fixed on that place where true gladness is found. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever.”
“God of might, giver of every good gift, put into our hearts the love of your name, so that, by deepening our sense of reverence, you may nurture in us what is good and, by your watchful care, keep safe what you have nurtured. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever.”
In my humble opinion, these prayers are very beautiful and deserve our time and attention- maybe once we are home from Mass we can reflect more deeply on them. See how the language is very tender and warm as we prepare ourselves at the beginning of the Mass. They remind us of God’s fatherly care, while also encouraging us towards dignity and reverence as we start the Mass.
The Prayer over the Offerings
The penultimate part of the Mass is the Liturgy of the Eucharist, and it is during this part of the Mass, after the Offertory and before the Consecration, that the Prayer over the Offerings is said by the priest. The USCCB explains:
“Once the offerings have been placed on the altar and the accompanying rites completed, by means of the invitation to pray with the Priest and by means of the Prayer over the Offerings, the Preparation of the Gifts is concluded and preparation made for the Eucharistic Prayer.”
Mass prayers
The Prayer over the Offerings reminds us that we are directly affected by the gifts that are brought to the Altar. It is a reminder that what is about to happen in the Consecration is very, very sacred, and not at all symbolic. It is the same sacrifice of His own self that Christ offered on Calvary, and we are about to experience it through the changing of bread and wine to His Body and Blood. Here are three examples of the Prayer over the Offerings. I have highlighted the lines that personally stand out for me. There is so much that is beautiful and truly awesome that is packed into such a short prayer! Look at what the priest is able to ask God on our behalf! Again, these prayers are taken from the Universalis app.
May this sacred offering, O Lord, confer on us always the blessing of salvation, that what it celebrates in mystery it may accomplish in power. Through Christ our Lord.
Receive our oblation, O Lord, by which is brought about a glorious exchange, that, by offering what you have given, we may merit to receive your very self. Through Christ our Lord.
O Lord, who gained for yourself a people by adoption through the one sacrifice offered once for all, bestow graciously on us, we pray, the gifts of unity and peace in your Church. Through Christ our Lord.
The Prayer After Communion
After the congregation have received Communion, “the Priest and faithful pray quietly for some time. If desired, a Psalm or other canticle of praise or a hymn may also be sung by the whole congregation. To bring to completion the prayer of the People of God, and also to conclude the whole Communion Rite, the Priest pronounces the Prayer after Communion, in which he prays for the fruits of the mystery just celebrated.” (USCCB.org)
The beautifully worded “Prayer after Communion” allows the priest to pray on our behalf that the Mass will not let us go unchanged, and that the gift of the Eucharist will take effect in our lives.
You’ll probably recognize some of the lines in these example prayers below, but have a reread and be refreshed on the beauty of their meaning:
Made partakers of Christ through these Sacraments, we humbly implore your mercy, Lord, that, conformed to his image on earth, we may merit also to be his coheirs in heaven. Who lives and reigns for ever and ever.
Complete within us, O Lord, we pray, the healing work of your mercy and graciously perfect and sustain us, so that in all things we may please you. Through Christ our Lord.
Renewed by this bread from the heavenly table, we beseech you, Lord, that, being the food of charity, it may confirm our hearts and stir us to serve you in our neighbor. Through Christ our Lord.
Perhaps, at an appropriate time after Mass, you could jot down on your phone or in a notebook the Prayer after Communion that you have just heard, and use it throughout your day or week as a reminder of what you have received at Mass, and what we are all called to do in serving others and bringing the Good News of Christ to all around us.
In writing this article I have wanted to simply remind and inspire those of us, myself included, who struggle to pay attention the whole way through Mass, to recollect the beauty of these individual prayers which can easily be lost in Liturgy. I hope that the next time you are at Mass you will be able to listen out more easily for them, to understand their purpose, and more readily absorb their meaning and beauty, despite their brevity.
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