Christian Prayer
The Lord's Prayer
Psalms
Other Christian Prayers
The Rosary
The Lord's Prayer
The quintessential Christian prayer is the one taught by Jesus himself, commonly known as the Lord's Prayer, or as "Our Father." This prayer can be found in Matthew 6:9-13, and there is an abbreviated version in Luke 11:2-4.
Our Father, which art in heaven,
Hallowed be thy name;
Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread.
And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.
And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.
Some add: for thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory forever. Amen
- King James Version.
Many Christians pray this prayer word-for-word, while others take it as a model for how to pray in general.
The Psalms
Many Christians frequently pray from the book of Psalms in the Bible. The English word "psalm" comes from the Greek word "psalmos" which refers to a song accompanied by a stringed instrument.1 Indeed, many of the biblical psalms are prefaced with a comment on how the psalm should be sung and which instrument is to accompany it. This goes back to the days of the Temple in Jerusalem, when a large portion of these psalms were likely used as liturgy in the Temple services. Nowadays the psalms are usually simply recited (either out loud or silently), or they may be sung in a contemporary tune. The Hebrew word for the book of Psalms is "Tehilim" which means "songs of praise" (the singular, tehilah, means "praise" or "glory"). The psalms have traditionally been attributed to King David. Many of the psalms tend to be vague. It is possible that they were written this way on purpose so that they could be meaningful to a broad range of people. For example, some of the psalms refer to an enemy, but it is not specified who this enemy is. In that everyone has enemies - whether actual or metaphorical - these psalms can be appreciated by everyone. This is one of the reasons that the psalms have been so beloved by so many people down through the ages. The beautiful poetic style of the psalms is another reason for their popularity. They have inspired writers throughout Christian history to compose their own prayers and songs with a similar style.2 Although many Christians prefer the King James Version due to its lofty and poetic style, I chose to quote the following selections from the New Revised Standard Version, for those who may not be too familiar with King James English.
O Lord, our Sovereign,
how majestic is your name in all the earth!
You have set your glory above the heavens...
When I look at your heavens, the work of your fingers,
the moon and the stars that you have established;
what are human beings that you are mindful of them,
mortals that you care for them?...
O Lord, our Sovereign,
how majestic is your name in all the earth!
Psalm 8:1, 3-4, 9
____________________________________________
The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want.
He makes me lie down in green pastures;
he leads me beside still waters;
he restores my soul.
He leads me in right paths for his name's sake.
Even though I walk through the darkest valley,
I fear no evil; for you are with me.
your rod and your staff - they comfort me.
You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies;
you anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.
Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life,
and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord my whole life long.
Psalm 23
____________________________________________
Make me know your ways, O Lord;
teach me your paths.
Lead me in your truth, and teach me,
for you are the God of my salvation;
for you I wait all day long.
Psalm 25:4-5
____________________________________________
The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear?
The Lord is the stronghold of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?
When evildoers assail me to devour my flesh -
my adversaries and foes - they shall stumble and fall.
Though an army encamp against me, my heart shall not fear;
though war rise up against me, yet I will be confident.
One thing I asked of the Lord, that will I seek after:
to live in the house of the Lord all the days of my life,
to behold the beauty of the Lord, and to inquire in his temple.
Psalm 27:1-4
____________________________________________
As a deer longs for flowing streams, so my soul longs for you, O God.
My soul thirsts for God, for the living God.
Psalm 42:1-2. A popular song is inspired by this psalm: "As the deer panteth for the water, so my soul longeth after thee."
____________________________________________
Have mercy on me, O God, according to your steadfast love;
according to your abundant mercy blot out my transgressions.
Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin...
O Lord, open my lips, and my mouth will declare your praise.
Psalm 51:1-2, 15-16.
____________________________________________
Incline your ear, O Lord, and answer me,
for I am poor and needy.
Preserve my life, for I am devoted to you;
save your servant who trusts in you.
You are my God; be gracious to me, O Lord,
for to you do I cry all day long.
Gladden the soul of your servant,
for to you, O Lord, I lift up my soul.
For you, O Lord, are good and forgiving,
abounding in steadfast love to all who call on you.
Give ear, O Lord, to my prayer:
listen to my cry of supplication.
In the day of my trouble I call on you,
for you will answer me.
Psalm 86:1-7
____________________________________________
It is good to give thanks to the Lord, to sing praises to your name, O Most High;
to declare your steadfast love in the morning, and your faithfulness by night,
to the music of the lute and the harp, to the melody of the lyre.
For you, O Lord, have made me glad by your work;
at the works of your hands I sing for joy.
How great are your works, O Lord! Your thoughts are very deep!
The dullard cannot know, the stupid cannot understand this:
though the wicked sprout like grass and all evildoers flourish,
they are doomed to destruction forever,
but you, O Lord, are on high forever.
For your enemies, O Lord, for your enemies shall perish;
all evildoers shall be scattered.
Psalm 92:1-9
____________________________________________
Make a joyful noise to the Lord, all the earth.
Worship the Lord with gladness;
come into his presence with singing.
Know that the Lord is God.
It is he that made us, and we are his;
we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture.
Enter his gates with thanksgiving,
and his courts with praise.
Give thanks to him, bless his name.
For the Lord is good; his steadfast love endures forever,
and his faithfulness to all generations.
Psalm 100
____________________________________________
I lift up my eyes to the hills -
from where will my help come?
My help comes from the Lord,
who made heaven and earth.
Psalm 121:1-2
____________________________________________
O Lord, you have searched me and known me.
You know when I sit down and when I rise up;
you discern my thoughts from far away.
You search out my path and my lying down,
and are acquainted with all my ways.
Even before a word is on my tongue,
O Lord, you know it completely.
You hem me in, behind and before,
and lay your hand upon me.
Such knowledge is too wonderful for me;
it is so high that I cannot attain it.
Where can I go from your spirit?
Or where can I flee from your presence?
If I ascend to heaven, you are there;
if I make my bed in Sheol*, you are there.
If I take the wings of the morning
and settle at the farthest limits of the sea,
even there your hand shall lead me,
and your right hand shall hold me fast.
If I say, "Surely the darkness shall cover me,
and the light around me become night,"
even the darkness is not dark to you;
the night is as bright as the day,
for darkness is as light to you.
For it was you who formed my inward parts;
you knit me together in my mother's womb.
I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made.
Wonderful are your works;
that I know very well.
* the abode of the dead
Psalm 139:1-14
____________________________________________
Throughout the Psalms, there is a word which is often repeated, Selah. The meaning of this word is obscure. Because the word is usually left untranslated, and the meaning is unknown, many who are praying often take it to be a word of praise, but it is most likely a technical term. In The Jewish Study Bible, it says this in the note on Psalm 3: "Selah is most likely a musicological term, of uncertain meaning and etymology, typically appearing at major disjunctures in a psalm. The Septuagint [the most ancient Greek translation] translates it as "an interlude," while another ancient Greek translation, the early Church father Jerome, and some medievals render it as "always." Radak* understands it as "with a raised voice," from the Hebrew root 's-l-l,' "to raise." Some modern scholars view it as an abbreviation, though it is not known to what extent abbreviations were used in ancient Israel. Selah is found only in the Psalter and in the psalm in Habakkuk ch 3."3 As far as people using the word as an expression of praise, my personal opinion is that there is nothing really "wrong" with such usage. Since those using it this way have in their mind that it signifies praise, then for them, it does mean that. If I am reciting a psalm along with a congregation, I do not personally say the "Selahs" because in my mind, it is simply some sort of musical notation, and I cannot seem to make the transition of meaning in my mind. But almost everyone else in the congregations I've been in say "Selah" where it is printed. I think that is really up to the individual.
*Radak is Rabbi David Kimhi, who lived from about 1160 to 1235. He was a biblical commentator.
Other Christian Prayers
Christians often pray spontaneously, from their own heart, not following any pre-written prayer. A Christian might pray at any time as they go about their daily activities, expressing to God whatever is on their mind. Prayer is talking to God. Some Christians pray to God directly, while others may pray to Jesus. Some pray to God and add "In Jesus' Name" at the end of the prayer, to indicate that it is through Jesus that one may approach God. The Hebrew word "Amen" often concludes prayers. The word is taken to mean, "may it be so," and in Hebrew means "truthfulness" or "faithfulness." If one person is leading a prayer, the listeners will say "amen" in order to give their agreement. Many Christians set aside a time in the morning or another time of the day to pray. They may pray both spontaneous prayers and pre-written prayers at that time, depending on the individual.
Following are some miscellaneous Christian prayers:
Prayer of St. Francis of Assisi
Lord, make me an instrument of your peace,
Where there is hatred, let me sow love;
where there is injury, pardon;
where there is doubt, faith;
where there is despair, hope;
where there is darkness, light;
where there is sadness, joy;
O Divine Master, grant that I may not so much seek to be consoled as to console;
to be understood as to understand;
to be loved as to love.
For it is in giving that we receive;
it is in pardoning that we are pardoned;
and it is in dying that we are born to eternal life.
____________________________________________
I offer thee
Every flower that ever grew,
Every bird that ever flew,
Every wind that ever blew.
Good God!
Every thunder rolling,
Every church bell tolling,
Every leaf and sod.
Laudamus Te!
I offer thee
Every wave that ever moved,
Every heart that ever loved,
Thee, thy Father's well-beloved.
Dear Lord!
Every river dashing,
Every lightning flashing,
Like an angel's sword.
Benedicimus Te!
I offer thee
Every cloud that ever swept
O'er the skies, and broke and wept
In rain, and with the flowerets slept.
My King!
Every communicant praying,
Every angel staying
Before thy throne to sing.
Adoramus Te!
I offer thee
Every flake of virgin snow,
Every spring of earth below,
Every human joy and woe.
My love!
O Lord! And all they glorious
Self o'er death victorious,
Throned in heaven above.
Glorificamus Te!
- An Ancient Irish Prayer4
____________________________________________
"Signs of Sorrow and Love"
I kiss the wounds in your sacred head,
with sorrow deep and true,
may every thought of mine this day
be an act of love for you.
I kiss the wounds in your sacred hands,
with sorrow deep and true,
may every touch of my hands this day
be an act of love for you.
I kiss the wounds in your sacred feet,
with sorrow deep and true,
may every step I take this day
be an act of love for you.
I kiss the wound in your sacred side,
with sorrow deep and true,
may every beat of my heart this day
be an act of love for you.5
____________________________________________
Prayer before Holy Communion
Almighty and ever living God,
I approach the sacrament of your only-begotten Son, our Lord Jesus Christ.
I come sick to the doctor of life,
unclean to the fountain of mercy,
blind to the radiance of eternal light,
and poor and needy to the Lord of heaven and earth.
Lord, in your great generosity,
heal my sickness, wash away my defilement,
enlighten my blindness, enrich my poverty,
and clothe my nakedness.
May I receive the bread of angels,
the King of kings and Lord of lords,
with humble reverence,
with the purity and faith,
the repentance and love, and the determined purpose that will help to bring me to salvation.
May I receive the sacrament of the Lord's body and blood, and its reality and power.
King God, may I receive the body of your only-begotten Son, our Lord Jesus Christ,
born from the womb of the Virgin Mary,
and so be received into his mystical body,
and numbered among his members.
Loving Father, as on my earthly pilgrimage
I now receive your beloved Son
under the veil of a sacrament,
may I one day see him face to face in glory,
who lives and reigns with you for ever. Amen6
- Saint Thomas Aquinas
____________________________________________
The Rosary
Image Copyright held by Pam Roth
The Rosary is a prayer that is dear to Catholics. The prayer beads are used to aid the devotee in following the order of the prayer. To read more information about the rosary, including how to pray the prayer, see EWTN's Holy Rosary Page.
____________________________________________
Prayer Before Holy Communion
(I think the first 4 lines are applicable any time, not just for Communion).
Give me, good Lord, a full faith and a fervent charity, a love of you, good Lord, incomparable above the love of myself;
and that I love nothing to your displeasure but everything in an order to you.
Take from me, good Lord, this lukewarm fashion, or rather cold manner of meditation and this dullness in praying to you.
And give me warmth, delight and life in thinking about you.
And give me your grace to long for your holy sacraments, and especially to rejoice in the presence of your blessed body, sweet
Savior Christ, in the holy sacrament of the altar, and duly to thank you for your gracious coming.
- Saint Thomas More7
____________________________________________
1 "Psalms: Introduction" in The Jewish Study Bible. By Adele Berlin and Marc Zvi Brettler. Oxford University Press: New York, 2004. Pg 1280.
2 "Psalms, the" in the HarperCollins Bible Dictionary. Edited by Paul J. Achtemeier. HarperSanFrancisco, 1985. Article by James L. Kugel. Pg 892-894.
3 Note on Psalm 3:3 in The Jewish Study Bible. Edited by Adele Berlin and Marc Zvi Brettler. Oxford University Press: New York, 2004. Pg 1286.
4 Quoted in The Catholic Prayer Book. Servant Publications: Ann Arbor, Michigan, 1986. Pg 6-7.
5 Ibid, pg 42-43.
6 Ibid, pg 96-97.
7 Ibid, pg 97
Home
Psalms
Other Christian Prayers
The Rosary
The Lord's Prayer
The quintessential Christian prayer is the one taught by Jesus himself, commonly known as the Lord's Prayer, or as "Our Father." This prayer can be found in Matthew 6:9-13, and there is an abbreviated version in Luke 11:2-4.
Our Father, which art in heaven,
Hallowed be thy name;
Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread.
And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.
And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.
Some add: for thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory forever. Amen
- King James Version.
Many Christians pray this prayer word-for-word, while others take it as a model for how to pray in general.
Many Christians frequently pray from the book of Psalms in the Bible. The English word "psalm" comes from the Greek word "psalmos" which refers to a song accompanied by a stringed instrument.1 Indeed, many of the biblical psalms are prefaced with a comment on how the psalm should be sung and which instrument is to accompany it. This goes back to the days of the Temple in Jerusalem, when a large portion of these psalms were likely used as liturgy in the Temple services. Nowadays the psalms are usually simply recited (either out loud or silently), or they may be sung in a contemporary tune. The Hebrew word for the book of Psalms is "Tehilim" which means "songs of praise" (the singular, tehilah, means "praise" or "glory"). The psalms have traditionally been attributed to King David. Many of the psalms tend to be vague. It is possible that they were written this way on purpose so that they could be meaningful to a broad range of people. For example, some of the psalms refer to an enemy, but it is not specified who this enemy is. In that everyone has enemies - whether actual or metaphorical - these psalms can be appreciated by everyone. This is one of the reasons that the psalms have been so beloved by so many people down through the ages. The beautiful poetic style of the psalms is another reason for their popularity. They have inspired writers throughout Christian history to compose their own prayers and songs with a similar style.2 Although many Christians prefer the King James Version due to its lofty and poetic style, I chose to quote the following selections from the New Revised Standard Version, for those who may not be too familiar with King James English.
O Lord, our Sovereign,
how majestic is your name in all the earth!
You have set your glory above the heavens...
When I look at your heavens, the work of your fingers,
the moon and the stars that you have established;
what are human beings that you are mindful of them,
mortals that you care for them?...
O Lord, our Sovereign,
how majestic is your name in all the earth!
Psalm 8:1, 3-4, 9
____________________________________________
The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want.
He makes me lie down in green pastures;
he leads me beside still waters;
he restores my soul.
He leads me in right paths for his name's sake.
Even though I walk through the darkest valley,
I fear no evil; for you are with me.
your rod and your staff - they comfort me.
You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies;
you anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.
Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life,
and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord my whole life long.
Psalm 23
____________________________________________
Make me know your ways, O Lord;
teach me your paths.
Lead me in your truth, and teach me,
for you are the God of my salvation;
for you I wait all day long.
Psalm 25:4-5
____________________________________________
The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear?
The Lord is the stronghold of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?
When evildoers assail me to devour my flesh -
my adversaries and foes - they shall stumble and fall.
Though an army encamp against me, my heart shall not fear;
though war rise up against me, yet I will be confident.
One thing I asked of the Lord, that will I seek after:
to live in the house of the Lord all the days of my life,
to behold the beauty of the Lord, and to inquire in his temple.
Psalm 27:1-4
____________________________________________
As a deer longs for flowing streams, so my soul longs for you, O God.
My soul thirsts for God, for the living God.
Psalm 42:1-2. A popular song is inspired by this psalm: "As the deer panteth for the water, so my soul longeth after thee."
____________________________________________
Have mercy on me, O God, according to your steadfast love;
according to your abundant mercy blot out my transgressions.
Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin...
O Lord, open my lips, and my mouth will declare your praise.
Psalm 51:1-2, 15-16.
____________________________________________
Incline your ear, O Lord, and answer me,
for I am poor and needy.
Preserve my life, for I am devoted to you;
save your servant who trusts in you.
You are my God; be gracious to me, O Lord,
for to you do I cry all day long.
Gladden the soul of your servant,
for to you, O Lord, I lift up my soul.
For you, O Lord, are good and forgiving,
abounding in steadfast love to all who call on you.
Give ear, O Lord, to my prayer:
listen to my cry of supplication.
In the day of my trouble I call on you,
for you will answer me.
Psalm 86:1-7
____________________________________________
It is good to give thanks to the Lord, to sing praises to your name, O Most High;
to declare your steadfast love in the morning, and your faithfulness by night,
to the music of the lute and the harp, to the melody of the lyre.
For you, O Lord, have made me glad by your work;
at the works of your hands I sing for joy.
How great are your works, O Lord! Your thoughts are very deep!
The dullard cannot know, the stupid cannot understand this:
though the wicked sprout like grass and all evildoers flourish,
they are doomed to destruction forever,
but you, O Lord, are on high forever.
For your enemies, O Lord, for your enemies shall perish;
all evildoers shall be scattered.
Psalm 92:1-9
____________________________________________
Make a joyful noise to the Lord, all the earth.
Worship the Lord with gladness;
come into his presence with singing.
Know that the Lord is God.
It is he that made us, and we are his;
we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture.
Enter his gates with thanksgiving,
and his courts with praise.
Give thanks to him, bless his name.
For the Lord is good; his steadfast love endures forever,
and his faithfulness to all generations.
Psalm 100
____________________________________________
I lift up my eyes to the hills -
from where will my help come?
My help comes from the Lord,
who made heaven and earth.
Psalm 121:1-2
____________________________________________
O Lord, you have searched me and known me.
You know when I sit down and when I rise up;
you discern my thoughts from far away.
You search out my path and my lying down,
and are acquainted with all my ways.
Even before a word is on my tongue,
O Lord, you know it completely.
You hem me in, behind and before,
and lay your hand upon me.
Such knowledge is too wonderful for me;
it is so high that I cannot attain it.
Where can I go from your spirit?
Or where can I flee from your presence?
If I ascend to heaven, you are there;
if I make my bed in Sheol*, you are there.
If I take the wings of the morning
and settle at the farthest limits of the sea,
even there your hand shall lead me,
and your right hand shall hold me fast.
If I say, "Surely the darkness shall cover me,
and the light around me become night,"
even the darkness is not dark to you;
the night is as bright as the day,
for darkness is as light to you.
For it was you who formed my inward parts;
you knit me together in my mother's womb.
I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made.
Wonderful are your works;
that I know very well.
* the abode of the dead
Psalm 139:1-14
____________________________________________
Throughout the Psalms, there is a word which is often repeated, Selah. The meaning of this word is obscure. Because the word is usually left untranslated, and the meaning is unknown, many who are praying often take it to be a word of praise, but it is most likely a technical term. In The Jewish Study Bible, it says this in the note on Psalm 3: "Selah is most likely a musicological term, of uncertain meaning and etymology, typically appearing at major disjunctures in a psalm. The Septuagint [the most ancient Greek translation] translates it as "an interlude," while another ancient Greek translation, the early Church father Jerome, and some medievals render it as "always." Radak* understands it as "with a raised voice," from the Hebrew root 's-l-l,' "to raise." Some modern scholars view it as an abbreviation, though it is not known to what extent abbreviations were used in ancient Israel. Selah is found only in the Psalter and in the psalm in Habakkuk ch 3."3 As far as people using the word as an expression of praise, my personal opinion is that there is nothing really "wrong" with such usage. Since those using it this way have in their mind that it signifies praise, then for them, it does mean that. If I am reciting a psalm along with a congregation, I do not personally say the "Selahs" because in my mind, it is simply some sort of musical notation, and I cannot seem to make the transition of meaning in my mind. But almost everyone else in the congregations I've been in say "Selah" where it is printed. I think that is really up to the individual.
*Radak is Rabbi David Kimhi, who lived from about 1160 to 1235. He was a biblical commentator.
Other Christian Prayers
Christians often pray spontaneously, from their own heart, not following any pre-written prayer. A Christian might pray at any time as they go about their daily activities, expressing to God whatever is on their mind. Prayer is talking to God. Some Christians pray to God directly, while others may pray to Jesus. Some pray to God and add "In Jesus' Name" at the end of the prayer, to indicate that it is through Jesus that one may approach God. The Hebrew word "Amen" often concludes prayers. The word is taken to mean, "may it be so," and in Hebrew means "truthfulness" or "faithfulness." If one person is leading a prayer, the listeners will say "amen" in order to give their agreement. Many Christians set aside a time in the morning or another time of the day to pray. They may pray both spontaneous prayers and pre-written prayers at that time, depending on the individual.
Following are some miscellaneous Christian prayers:
Prayer of St. Francis of Assisi
Lord, make me an instrument of your peace,
Where there is hatred, let me sow love;
where there is injury, pardon;
where there is doubt, faith;
where there is despair, hope;
where there is darkness, light;
where there is sadness, joy;
O Divine Master, grant that I may not so much seek to be consoled as to console;
to be understood as to understand;
to be loved as to love.
For it is in giving that we receive;
it is in pardoning that we are pardoned;
and it is in dying that we are born to eternal life.
____________________________________________
I offer thee
Every flower that ever grew,
Every bird that ever flew,
Every wind that ever blew.
Good God!
Every thunder rolling,
Every church bell tolling,
Every leaf and sod.
Laudamus Te!
I offer thee
Every wave that ever moved,
Every heart that ever loved,
Thee, thy Father's well-beloved.
Dear Lord!
Every river dashing,
Every lightning flashing,
Like an angel's sword.
Benedicimus Te!
I offer thee
Every cloud that ever swept
O'er the skies, and broke and wept
In rain, and with the flowerets slept.
My King!
Every communicant praying,
Every angel staying
Before thy throne to sing.
Adoramus Te!
I offer thee
Every flake of virgin snow,
Every spring of earth below,
Every human joy and woe.
My love!
O Lord! And all they glorious
Self o'er death victorious,
Throned in heaven above.
Glorificamus Te!
- An Ancient Irish Prayer4
____________________________________________
"Signs of Sorrow and Love"
I kiss the wounds in your sacred head,
with sorrow deep and true,
may every thought of mine this day
be an act of love for you.
I kiss the wounds in your sacred hands,
with sorrow deep and true,
may every touch of my hands this day
be an act of love for you.
I kiss the wounds in your sacred feet,
with sorrow deep and true,
may every step I take this day
be an act of love for you.
I kiss the wound in your sacred side,
with sorrow deep and true,
may every beat of my heart this day
be an act of love for you.5
____________________________________________
Prayer before Holy Communion
Almighty and ever living God,
I approach the sacrament of your only-begotten Son, our Lord Jesus Christ.
I come sick to the doctor of life,
unclean to the fountain of mercy,
blind to the radiance of eternal light,
and poor and needy to the Lord of heaven and earth.
Lord, in your great generosity,
heal my sickness, wash away my defilement,
enlighten my blindness, enrich my poverty,
and clothe my nakedness.
May I receive the bread of angels,
the King of kings and Lord of lords,
with humble reverence,
with the purity and faith,
the repentance and love, and the determined purpose that will help to bring me to salvation.
May I receive the sacrament of the Lord's body and blood, and its reality and power.
King God, may I receive the body of your only-begotten Son, our Lord Jesus Christ,
born from the womb of the Virgin Mary,
and so be received into his mystical body,
and numbered among his members.
Loving Father, as on my earthly pilgrimage
I now receive your beloved Son
under the veil of a sacrament,
may I one day see him face to face in glory,
who lives and reigns with you for ever. Amen6
- Saint Thomas Aquinas
____________________________________________
The Rosary
Image Copyright held by Pam Roth
The Rosary is a prayer that is dear to Catholics. The prayer beads are used to aid the devotee in following the order of the prayer. To read more information about the rosary, including how to pray the prayer, see EWTN's Holy Rosary Page.
____________________________________________
Prayer Before Holy Communion
(I think the first 4 lines are applicable any time, not just for Communion).
Give me, good Lord, a full faith and a fervent charity, a love of you, good Lord, incomparable above the love of myself;
and that I love nothing to your displeasure but everything in an order to you.
Take from me, good Lord, this lukewarm fashion, or rather cold manner of meditation and this dullness in praying to you.
And give me warmth, delight and life in thinking about you.
And give me your grace to long for your holy sacraments, and especially to rejoice in the presence of your blessed body, sweet
Savior Christ, in the holy sacrament of the altar, and duly to thank you for your gracious coming.
- Saint Thomas More7
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1 "Psalms: Introduction" in The Jewish Study Bible. By Adele Berlin and Marc Zvi Brettler. Oxford University Press: New York, 2004. Pg 1280.
2 "Psalms, the" in the HarperCollins Bible Dictionary. Edited by Paul J. Achtemeier. HarperSanFrancisco, 1985. Article by James L. Kugel. Pg 892-894.
3 Note on Psalm 3:3 in The Jewish Study Bible. Edited by Adele Berlin and Marc Zvi Brettler. Oxford University Press: New York, 2004. Pg 1286.
4 Quoted in The Catholic Prayer Book. Servant Publications: Ann Arbor, Michigan, 1986. Pg 6-7.
5 Ibid, pg 42-43.
6 Ibid, pg 96-97.
7 Ibid, pg 97
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