3. Prayer Before Receiving the Body and Blood of Christ

Lord Jesus Christ

by the Father’s plan and by the working of the Holy Ghost

of your own free will you died

and mercifully redeemed the world

from sin and everlasting death.

I adore and venerate you

as much as ever I can,

though my love is so cold, my devotion so poor.

Thank you for the good gift

of this your holy Body and Blood,

which I desire to receive, as cleansing from sin,

and for a defence against it.

Lord, I acknowledge that I am far from worthy

to approach and touch this sacrament;

but I trust in that mercy

which caused you to lay down your life for sinners

that they might be justified,

and because you gave yourself

willingly as a holy sacrifice to the Father.

A sinner, I presume to receive these gifts

so that I may be justified by them.

I beg and pray you, therefore, merciful lover of men,

let not that which you have given for the cleansing of sins

be unto me the increase of sin,

but rather for forgiveness and protection.

Make me, O Lord, so to perceive with lips and heart

and know by faith and by love,

that by virtue of this sacrament I may deserve to be

planted in the likeness of your death and resurrection,

by mortifying the old man,

and by renewal of the life of righteousness.

May I be worthy to be incorporated into your body

‘which is the church’,

so that I may be your member and you may be my head,

and that I may remain in you and you in me.

Then at the Resurrection you will refashion

the body of my humiliation

according to the body of your glory,

as you promised by your apostle,

and I shall rejoice in you for ever

to your glory,

who with the Father and the Holy Spirit

lives and reigns for ever. Amen.