Gratiarum Actio Post Missam
Act of Thanksgiving after Mass
Preparation for Mass
Præparatio ad Missam
The Prayers in the Roman Missal
Before Mass
The Prayer of St Ambrose
Ad mensam dulcíssimi convívii tui, pie Dómine lesu Christe,
ego peccátor de própriis meis méritis nihil præsúmens,
sed de tua confídens misericórdia et bonitáte,
accédere véreor et contremísco.
Nam cor et corpus hábeo multis crimínibus maculátum,
mentem et linguam non caute custodítam.
Ergo, o pia Déitas, o treménda maiéstas,
ego miser, inter angústias deprehénsus,
ad te fontem misericórdia recúrro,
ad te festíno sanándus,
sub tuam protectiónem fúgio;
et, quem Iúdicem sustinére néqueo,
Salvatórem habére suspíro.
Tibi, Dómine, plagas meas osténdo,
tibi verecúndiam meam détego.
Scio peccáta mea multa et magna, pro quibus tímeo:
spero in misericórdias tuas, quarum non est númerus.
Réspice ergo in me óculis misericórdiæ tuæ,
Dómine lesu Christe, Rex ætérne, Deus et homo,
crucifíxus propter hóminem.
Exáudi me sperántem in te:
miserére mei pleni misériis et peccátis,
tu qui fontem miseratiónis numquam manáre cessábis.
Salve, salutáris víctima,
pro me et omni humáno génere in patíbulo Crucis obláta.
Salve, nóbilis et pretióse Sanguis,
de vulnéribus crucifíxi Dómini mei lesu Christi prófluens,
et peccáta totíus mundi ábluens.
Recordáre, Dómine, creatúræ tuæ,
quam tuo Sánguine redemísti.
Pǽnitet me peccásse,
cúpio emendáre quod feci.
Aufer ergo a me, clementíssime Pater,
omnes iniquitátes et peccáta mea,
ut, purificátus mente et córpore,
digne degustáre mérear Sancta sanctórum.
Et concéde, ut hæc sancta prælibátio Córporis et Sánguinis tui.
quam ego indígnus súmere inténdo.
sit peccatórum meórum remíssio,
sit delictórum perfécta purgátio,
sit túrpium cogitatiónum effugátio
ac bonórum sénsuum regenerátio,
operúmque tibi placéntium salúbris efficácia,
ánimæ quoque et córporis
contra inimicórum meórum insídias firmíssima tuítio.
Amen.
My kind Lord Jesus Christ, I, sinner that I am, approach the delights of your banquet in fear and trembling, not presuming on my own merits but relying upon your merciful goodness. My heart and body are defiled; my mind and lips are guilty of many sins; and yet I take refuge under your protection. I fly to you, who are the source of mercy. I long for your healing; I ask to be healed; I, a wretch, caught in the toils, appeal to you, who are my Saviour. You come to me: I ask that badness may not lessen your goodness. I know my sins, I know they are many and grievous; they fill me with fear, but my hope is in your mercies, which are beyond all telling. Look upon me with mercy, Lord Jesus Christ, eternal King, God made man and crucified for man. Hail, saving Victim, offered up for me and for all mankind upon the gibbet of the cross! Hail, noble and precious Blood, flowing from the wounds of my crucified Lord Jesus Christ, and washing away the sins of the whole world! Remember, Lord, your creature, whom you have redeemed with your blood; I am sorry for my sins, and I desire to amend. I am unworthy to partake of your Holy Mysteries; I cannot trust myself, but I hope in your mercy. Cleanse my soul and body, and give me grace to partake worthily of your Holy of holies. Grant that I may partake of that sacred banquet, so that, though unworthy, I may receive remission of my sins, wash away my guilt, accomplish my future good, and perform what is pleasing to you, for the strengthening of my weak defenses, keeping me safe in body and soul from the wiles of my enemies. Amen.
The Prayer of St Thomas Aquinas
Omnípotens sempitérne Deus,
ecce accédo ad sacraméntum unigéniti Filii tui,
Dómini nostri lesu Christi:
accédo tamquam infírmus ad médicum vitæ,
immúndus ad fontem misericórdiæ,
cæcus ad lumen claritátis ætérnæ,
pauper et egénus ad Dóminum cæli et terræ.
Rogo ergo imménsæ largitátis tuæ abundántiam,
quátenus meam curáre dignéris infirmitátem,
laváre fœditátem, illumináre cæcitátem,
ditáre paupertátem, vestíre nuditátem,
ut panem Angelórum, Regem regum et Dóminum dominántium,
tanta suscípiam reveréntia et humilitáte,
tanta contritióne et devotióne, tanta puritáte et fide,
tali propósito et intentióne, sicut éxpedit salúti ánimæ meæ.
Da mihi, quæso, domínici Córporis et Sánguinis
non solum suscípere sacraméntum,
sed étiam rem et virtútem sacraménti.
O mitíssime Deus,
da mihi Corpus unigéniti Fílii tui, Dómini nostri lesu Christi,
quod traxit de Vírgine María, sic suscípere,
ut córpori suo mýstico mérear incorporári
et inter eius membra connumerári.
O amantíssime Pater,
concéde mihi diléctum Fílium tuum,
quem nunc velátum in via suscípere propóno,
reveláta tandem fácie perpétuo contemplári:
Qui tecum vivit et regnat
in sǽcula sæculórum.
Amen.
Almighty everlasting God, behold, I approach the Sacrament of your Only-begotten Son, our Lord Jesus Christ. I approach as a sick man the healer 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 implore the abundance of your measureless bounty, that you will deign to cure my sickness, to wash away my defilement, to enlighten my blindness, to enrich my poverty, to clothe my nakedness. May I receive the Bread of angels, the King of kings and Lord of lords, with such humble reverence and devout contrition by me, unworthy servant, that I may deserve to receive not only the Sacrament of the Body and Blood of my Lord, but also the whole fruit and power of the Sacrament. Most gentle God, grant that I may so receive the Body of your Only-begotten Son, our Lord Jesus Christ, which he took from the Virgin Mary, that I may become a living member of his mystical body; in the same way that he deigned to be made a partaker of our humanity. I beg that your most beloved Son, whom I now receive hidden under sacramental signs, may be revealed to me face to face, and that I may ever behold him in reality, who with you lives and reigns in the unity of the Holy Spirit, for ever and ever. Amen.
The Prayer to the Blessed Virgin Mary
O Mater pietátis et misericórdiæ, beatíssima Virgo María,
ego miser et indígnus peccátor
ad te confúgio toto corde et afféctu,
et precor pietátem tuam,
ut, sicut dulcíssimo Fílo tuo in Cruce pendénti astitísti,
ita et mihi, mísero peccatóri, et sacerdótibus ómnibus,
hic et in tota sancta Ecclésia hódie offeréntibus,
cleménter assístere dignéris,
ut, tua grátia adiúti,
dignam et acceptábilem hóstiam
in conspéctu summæ et indivíduæ Trinitátis offérre valeámus.
Amen.
O Mother of pity and loving kindness, most blessed virgin Mary, I, a worthless and wretched sinner, fly to you in heartfelt love and confidence, entreating your compassion. You who stood by your dear Son when he hung upon the cross, have pity and deign to stand by me too, wretched sinner that I am, and by all the priests who are offering Mass this day, here and elsewhere throughout holy Church. By the help of your favour enable us to offer a sacrifice that shall be worthy and acceptable in the sight of the most high and undivided Trinity. Amen.
Formula of Intention
Ego volo celebráre Missam,
et confícere Corpus et Sánguinem Dómini nostri lesu Christi,
iuxta ritum sanctæ Románæ Ecclésia,
ad laudem omnipoténtis Dei totiúsque Cúria triumphántis,
pro ómnibus qui se commendavérunt oratiónibus meis
in génere et in spécie,
et pro felici statu sanctæ Románæ Ecclésia.
Amen.
Gaudium cum pace,
emendatiónem vitæ, spátium veræ pæniténtia,
grátiam et consolatiónem Sancti Spíritus,
perseverántiam in bonis opéribus,
tríbuat nobis omnípotens et miséricors Dóminus
Amen.
My Purpose is to celebrate Mass and to consecrate the body and blood of our Lord Jesus Christ according to the rite of the holy Roman Church, to the praise of almighty God and of the hole Church triumphant in heaven, for my own welfare and that of the hole Church militant on earth, for all who in general and in particular have commended themselves to my prayers and for the well-being of the holy Roman Church. Amen.
May joy and peace, amendment of life, room for true penitence, the Grace and comfort of the Holy Spirit, and steadfastness in good works be granted us by the almighty and merciful Lord. Amen.
After Mass
The Prayer of St Thomas Aquinas
Grátias tibi ago,
Dómine, sancte Pater, omnípotens ætérne Deus,
qui me peccatórem, indígnum fámulum tuum,
nullis meis méritis, sed sola dignatióne misericórdiæ tuæ
satiáre dignátus es pretióso Córpore et Sánguine Fílii tui,
Dómini nostri Iesu Christi.
Et precor, ut hæc sancta commúnio
non sit mihi reátus ad pœnam,
sed intercéssio salutáris ad véniam.
Sit mihi armatúra fídei, et scutum bonæ voluntátis,
Sit vitiórum meórum evacuátio,
concupiscéntiæ et libídinis exterminátio,
caritátis et patiéntiæ, humilitátis et obediéntia,
omniúmque virtútum augmentátio:
contra insídias inimicórum ómnium,
tam visibílium quam invisibílium, firma defénsio:
mótuum meórum, tam carnálium quam spiritálium,
perfécta quietátio:
in te uno ac vero Deo firma adhǽsio,
atque finis mei felix consummátio.
Et precor te, ut ad illud ineffábile convívium
me peccatórem perdúcere dignéris,
ubi tu, cum Fílio tuo et Spíritu Sancto,
Sanctis tuis es lux vera, satíetas plena,
gáudium sempitérnum, lucúnditas consummáta
et felícitas perfécta.
Per Christum Dóminum nostrum.
Amen.
I thank you, holy Lord, almighty Father, eternal God, who deigned to feast me, sinful and unworthy servant, with the precious body and blood of your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord, not for any merit of mine, but only because of your merciful goodness, And I pray that this holy communion, far from condemning me to punishment, may bring about my pardon and salvation, encompassing me with the armour of faith and the shield of a good will. By it let my vices be done away, all lustful desires extinguished. May it advance me in charity, patience, humility, obedience, and every other virtue. Let it be strong defence against the wiles of all my enemies, visible and invisible, allaying for me every disturbance of flesh and spirit, binding me firmly to you, the one true God, and bringing my last hour to a happy close, I pray, too, that it may be your pleasure to call my sinful self one day to that banquet, wonderful past all telling, where you, with your Son and the Holy Spirit, feast your saints with the vision of yourself, who are true light, the fulfilment of all desires, the joy that knows no ending, gladness unalloyed, and perfect bliss: through the same Christ our Lord. Amen.
Aspirations to the Most Holy Redeemer
Anima Christi, sanctífica me.
Corpus Christi, salva me.
Sanguis Christi, inébria me.
Aqua láteris Christi, lava me.
Pássio Christi, confórta me.
O bone lesu, exáudi me.
Intra tua vúlnera abscónde me.
Ne permíttas me separári a te.
Ab hoste malígno defénde me,
In hora mortis meæ voca me.
Et iube me veníre ad te,
ut cum Sanctis tuis laudem te
in sǽcula sæculórum.
Amen.
Soul of Christ, be my sanctification Body of Christ, be my salvation; Blood of Christ, fill all my veins,
Water of Christ's side, wash out my stains, Passion of Christ, my comfort be, O good Jesu, listen to me;
In thy wounds I fain would hide, Ne'er to be parted from thy side, Guard me, should the foe assail me; Call me when my life shall fail me; Bid me come to thee above, With thy saints to sing thy love, World without end. Amen.
Self-Dedication
Súscipe, Dómine, univérsam meam libertátem.
Accipe memóriam, intelléctum atque voluntátem omnem.
Quidquid hábeo vel possídeo, mihi largítus es:
id tibi totum restítuo, ac tuæ prorsus voluntáti trado gubernándum. Amórem tui solum cum grátia tua mihi dones,
et dives sum satis, nec áliud quidquam ultra posco.
Take all my freedom, Lord; accept the whole of my memory, understanding, and will. Whatever I have or hold comes to me from your bounty. I give it all back to you, surrender it all to the guidance of your will. Your grace and the love of you are wealth enough: give me but that, and I ask for nothing more
Prayer before Christ Crucified
En ego, o bone et dulcíssime lesu,
ante conspéctum tuum génibus me provólvo,
ac máximo ánimi ardóre te oro alque obtéstor,
ut meum in cor vívidos fídei, spei et caritátis sensus,
atque veram peccatórum meórum pæniténtiam,
éaque emendándi firmíssimam voluntátem velis imprímere;
dum magno ánimi afféctu et dolóre
tua quinque vúlnera mecum ipse consídero ac mente contémplor,
illud præ óculis habens,
quod iam in ore ponébat tuo David prophéta de te, o bone Jesu:
« Fodérunt manus meas et pedes meus:
dinumeravérunt ómnia ossa mea » (Ps 21, 17).
My good and dearest Jesus, lo, I kneel before you beseech Ing and praying you with all the ardour of my soul engrave deep and vivid impressions of faith, hope, and charity upon my heart, with true repentance for my sins, and a very firm resolve to make amends. Meanwhile 1 ponder over your five wounds, dwelling upon them with deep compassion and grief, and recalling the words that the prophet David long ago put into your mouth, good Jesus, concerning yourself: They have pierced my hands and my feet, they have counted all my bones!
Universal Prayer
Credo, Dómine, sed credam fírmius;
spero, sed sperem secúrius;
amo, sed amem ardéntius;
dóleo, sed doleam veheméntius.
Adóro te ut primum princípium;
desídero ut finem últimum;
laudo ut benefactórem perpétuum;
ínvoco ut defensórem propítium,
Tua me sapiéntia dírige,
justítia cóntine, cleméntia soláre,
poténtia prótege.
Offero tibi, Dómine, cogitánda, ut sint ad te:
dicénda, ut sint de te;
faciénda, ut sint secúndum te;
ferénda, ut sint propter te.
Volo quidquid vis, volo quia vis,
volo quómodo vis,
volo quámdiu vis
Oro, Dómine: intelléctum illúmines,
voluntátem inflámmes,
cor emúndes, ánimam sanctífices,
Défleam prætéritas iniquitátes,
repéllam futúras tentatiónes,
córrigam vitiósas propensiónes,
éxcolam idóneas virtútes.
Tríbue mihi, bone Deus, amórem tui, ódium mei,
zelum próximi, contémptum múndi.
Stúdeam superióribus obædíre,
inferióribus subveníre,
amícis consúlere, inimícis párcere.
Vincam voluptátem austeritáte,
avarítiam largitáte, iracúndiam lenitáte,
tepiditátem fervóre.
Redde me prudéntem in consíliis,
constántem in perículis, patiéntem in advérsis,
húmilem in prósperis.
Fac, Dómine, ut sim in oratióne atténtus,
in épulis sóbrius,
in múnere sédulus, in propósito firmus.
Curem habére innocéntiam interiórem,
modéstiam exteriórem,
conversationem exemplárem,
vitam regulárem.
Assídue invígilem natúræ domándæ,
grátiæ fovéndæ, legi servándæ,
salúti promeréndæ.
Discam a te quam ténue quod terrénum.
quam grande quod divínum,
quam breve quod temporáneum,
quam durábile quod ætérnum.
Da, ut mortem prævéniam,
judícium pertímeam,
inférnum effúgiam; paradísum obtíneam.
Per Christum Dóminum nostrum. Amen.
Lord, I believe in you, oh, give me firmer faith. I hope in you, give me sure hope. I love you, make me love you more and more. I am sorry to have failed you; make me sorrier yet. I adore you as my first beginning, and long for you as my last end; praise you as my constant benefactor, and call upon you as my gracious protector. Guide me by your wisdom, restrain me by your justice, comfort me by your mercy, defend me by your power. I offer you, Lord, my thoughts, to be fixed on you, my words, to have you for their theme; my actions, to be done according to your will; my hardships, to be endured for your sake. My will is that your will be done, in the manner you will, and as long as you will, because it is your will. I pray you, Lord, enlighten my understanding, inflame my will, purify my heart, and sanctify my soul. Help me to deplore my past offences and to resist temptation in future, to subdue my evil inclinations and to cultivate the virtues proper for my state. God of all goodness, ill me with love of you and hatred of myself, with real for my neighbour and contempt of worldly things. Teach me to be obedient to my superiors, helpful to my subordinates, faithful to friends, forgiving to foes. Let me vanquish pleasure by self-denial, avarice by generosity, anger by meekness, and lukewarmness by fervour. Make me prudent in planning, courageous in taking risks; in affliction, patient, in prosperity, unassuming Lord, make me attentive at prayers, moderate when I eat and drink, diligent in my occupation, and constant in good resolutions. Let my conscience be clear, my demeanour modest, my talk blameless, my life well-ordered. Let me always be alert to keep nature in check, to cherish your grace, to keep your law, and to earn salvation. Teach me how perry is this world, how immense your heaven; time, how short; eternity, how long. Give me grace to prepare for death, to dread your judgment, to escape hell, and to win a place in heaven: through Christ our Lord. Amen.
Prayer to the Blessed Virgin Mary
O María, Virgo et Mater sanctíssima,
ecce suscépi dilectíssimum Fílium tuum,
quem immaculáto útero tuo concepísti,
genuísti, lactásti atque suavíssimis ampléxibus strinxísti.
Ecce, cuius aspéctu lætabáris et ómnibus delíciis replebáris,
illum ipsum tibi humíliter et amánter repræsénto et óffero,
tuis brácchlis constringéndum, tuo corde amándum,
sanctissimǽque Trinitáti in suprémum latríæ cultum,
pro tui ipsíus honóre et glória
et pro meis totiúsque mundi necessitátibus, offeréndum.
Rogo ergo te, piíssima Mater,
ímpetra mihi véniam ómnium peccatórum meórum,
uberémque grátiam ipsi deínceps fidélius serviéndi,
ac dénique grátiam finálem,
ut eum tecum laudáre possim per ómnia sǽcula sæculórum. Amen.
O Mary, most holy Virgin-Mother, I have received your stainless your well-beloved Son, whom you conceived in womb, brought forth and suckled, and enfolded in your sweet embraces. See, humbly and lovingly I give back to you the Son whom it was all rapture and delight for you to look upon; I offer him to be clasped in your arms, to be loved with all your heart, and to be offered up to the Holy Trinity in the supreme homage of adoration, for your honour and glory, and for my needs and those of all mankind. Most loving Mother, I beg you to obtain for me forgiveness of all my sins, grace in abundance to serve him more faithfully from now onwards, and lastly, final per- severance, so that I may praise him with you for ever and ever. Amen.