“Pray without ceasing” is that spirit of being in God’s presence wherever we go, but it especially extends to our habitual prayers, too—such as how we receive Communion.  The priest and his assistants have a wonderful routine for preparing themselves to celebrate the Holy Eucharist, but did you know that all congregants have formats to be followed as well?  Since the 15^th century, Anglicans have benefited greatly from prayers that help them prepare before and thank God after taking the Sacrament.  You see, all of us play a part in offering the Mass, so it’s all of our responsibility to make sure that we participate in a way that is most attentive, reverent, and heart-felt.  Because, at the end of day, it’s all about attitude.  The Christian who prayerfully and devotionally makes himself a living sacrifice during worship will be more blessed than the Christian just going through the motions.  The grace we receive into ourselves through Christ’s Body and Blood needs to find fertile ground to work.  So, may these prayers and thanksgivings help you become a more involved, interested, and pious communicant!

Most gracious God, incline Thy merciful ears unto our prayers, and enlighten our hearts by the grace of the Holy Spirit; that we may worthily serve at Thy Holy Mysteries, and love Thee with an everlasting love.

Almighty, everlasting God, lo, I draw nigh to the Sacrament of Thine only-begotten Son, our Lord Jesus Christ.  I draw nigh as one sick, 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, therefore, the abundance of Thine exceeding bounty, that Thou wouldest 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, and Lord of lords, with such reverence and humility, such contrition and devotion, such purity and faith, and with such purpose and intention as shall be expedient for the health of my soul.  Grant me, I beseech Thee, that I may receive not only the Sacrament of the Body and Blood of the Lord, but also the substance and virtue of the 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 worthy to be incorporated into His mystical Body and accounted among His

members.  O most loving Father, grant me, that Thy beloved Son, whom I

face to face.  Who liveth and reigneth with Thee, in the unity of the Holy Ghost, ever one God, world without end.  Amen.

I intend to assist at this celebration of the Mass and the consecration of the Body and Blood of our Lord Jesus Christ, and to receive the same Body and Blood according to the rite of Holy Church, to the praise of Almighty God, and of the whole Church triumphant; for my own benefit, for the benefit of the whole Church militant and expectant; for all who have commended themselves to my prayers, and for the good estate of the Holy Catholic Church.  Amen.

I render Thee thanks, O holy Lord, Father almighty, everlasting God, who hast vouchsafed, not for any deserts of mine, but only out of the condescension of Thy mercy, to feed me a sinner, Thine unworthy servant, with the precious Body and Blood of Thy Son our Lord Jesus Christ.  I pray Thee that this Holy Communion may not bring guilt upon me to condemnation, but may intercede for me to my pardon and salvation.  Let it be to me an armor of faith, and a shield of good purpose; a riddance of all vices; an extermination of evil desires and longings; an increase of love and patience, of humility and obedience, and of all virtues; a firm defense against the wiles of my enemies, visible and invisible; a perfect quieting of all my impulses, fleshly and spiritual; a firm adherence to Thee the one true God; and a blessed consummation of my end.  And I also pray Thee, that Thou wouldest vouchsafe to bring me a sinner to that ineffable feast where Thou, with Thy Son and the Holy Ghost, art to Thy holy ones true light, full satiety, everlasting joy, pleasure consummated, and perfect happiness.  Through the same Jesus Christ our Lord.  Amen.

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 Jesu, hear me;

Within Thy wounds, hide me;

Suffer me not to be separated from Thee;

From the malicious enemy defend me;

In the hour of my death call me,

And bid me come to Thee.

That with Thy Saints I may praise thee

For ever and ever.  Amen.

“Pray without ceasing” is that spirit of practicing God’s presence wherever we go, but it especially extends to our habitual prayers, too—such as our regular prayers for the parish.

It is absolutely vital that a priest and his parishioners be in constant prayer for the church.  Prayer is not only what will bind us most closely together as a community, but it is the primary way by which we show God that we care about seeking His will for us and that we honestly love and are thankful for one another.  Prayer is our supernatural language that we share with fellow Christians toward God, and it springs from faith.  Even though we cannot see God or always immediately recognize the fruit of our prayer, the simple act of praying demonstrates from deep within our soul that our trust is not in our own strength or cunning, but in dependence upon God.

It only follows, then, that a church that does not actively pray for itself is, quite frankly, a doomed one.  If we all fail to routinely be in prayer for one another and to shun the joy of God’s presence, then God will certainly take His blessing (and indwelling) from our parish.  Not only that, but the lack of prayer will lead us into apathy, false choices, and even theological error.

On the other hand, a church that prays will not fall short of even seeing miracles accomplished.  When we are committed to prayer, the Holy Spirit will find in us a sincere and obedient people ready to do whatever God might ask of us.  Our prayers will knit us to God and to one another so closely that we will truly be of one heart, mind, and spirit together.  Sometimes, however, we may not always remember exactly what we should pray for or how we should say it, so the following prayers included below and on the back will help us direct our prayers in the right language and intention.

Almighty and everlasting God, who dost govern all things in heaven and earth, mercifully hear the supplications of us thy servants, and grant unto our parish (name) all things that are needful for its spiritual welfare; enlighten and guide its priest(s); strengthen and increase the faithful; visit and relieve the sick; turn and soften the wicked; rouse the careless; recover the fallen; restore the penitent; remove all hindrances to the advancement of thy truth; bring all to be of one heart and mind within the fold of thy holy Church; to the honor and glory of thy Name.  Through Jesus Christ our Lord.  Amen

O God, the pastor and ruler of all the faithful, mercifully look upon thy servant (name) whom thou hast been pleased to set as pastor over thy Church; grant him, we beseech thee, to be in word and conversation a wholesome example to the people committed to his charge; that he with them may attain unto everlasting life.  Through Jesus Christ our Lord.  Amen.

O Lord Jesus Christ, great High Priest and gracious Shepherd; receive thy servant (name) who thou hast consecrated to minister to thee in holy things; and grant him such purity of heart and life, and such zeal for souls that he may bring many into union with thee.  Bless his labors with abundant fruit, and may they to whom he has ministered in our parish be here below his joy and consolation, and in heaven his beautiful and everlasting crown.  Amen.

Almighty and everlasting God, by whose Spirit the whole body of the Church is governed and sanctified; receive our supplications and prayers, which we offer before thee for all estates of men in thy Holy Church, especially those in parish, that every member of the same, in his vocation and ministry (remembering especially…), may truly and godly serve thee.  Through Jesus Christ our Lord.  Amen.

Good Jesus, Physician of souls and bodies, make all sickness and affliction a healing medicine to the soul; soothe by thy presence each ache and pain, doubt and distress; hallow all suffering by thine all-holy sufferings, and teach sufferers to unite their own with thine, to be hallowed by thine (remembering especially…).  Who livest and reignest, world without end. Amen.

Almighty God, whose compassions fail not, and whose loving-kindnesses reacheth unto the world’s end; we give thee humble thanks for opening heathen lands to the light of thy truth; for making paths in the deep waters and highways in the desert; and for planting thy Church in all the earth.  Grant, we beseech thee, unto us thy servants, that with lively faith we may labor abundantly both here in our community and far away to make known to all men thy blessed gift of eternal life; through Jesus Christ our Lord.  Amen.

O Lord Jesus Christ who didst build thy Church upon the Rock of Faith confessed by thine Apostle Peter, and didst promise that the gates of hell would not prevail against it, we beseech thee to bless and guide us as we endeavor to draw more people to Holy Trinity that they may share with us the joy of receiving Thy Word and Sacraments and obtain everlasting salvation through union with Thee.  Amen.