Thursday – The Holy Eucharist
The Church bids us adore Christ hidden behind the Eucharistic veils and pray to Him for spiritual and temporal favors of which we ever stand in need. POPE PIUS XII
INVOCATION
Soul of Christ, sanctify me.
Body of Christ, save me.
Blood of Christ, fill me.
Water from the side of Christ, wash me.
Passion of Christ, strengthen me.
O good Jesus, hear me.
Within Thy wounds hide me.
Never permit me to be separated from Thee.
From the wicked enemy defend me.
At the hour of my death call me
And bid me come unto Thee,
That with Thy saints I may praise Thee
For ever and ever.
Amen.
FOR A VISIT TO THE BLESSED SACRAMENT
O my Lord Jesus Christ, who for the love Thou bearest mankind, dost remain night and day in this Sacrament, all full of tenderness and love, expecting, inviting and receiving all those who come to visit Thee, I believe that Thou art present in the Sacrament of the altar; I adore Thee from the depths of my own nothingness and thank Thee for all favors Thou hast bestowed upon me; and especially for having given me Thyself in this Sacrament, and Thy most holy Mother Mary as my advocate; and for having called me to visit Thee in this church. I pay my homage this day to Thy most loving Heart and this I intend to do for three intentions: first, in thanksgiving for this great gift; secondly, in reparation for all the insults Thou hast received from Thine enemies in this Sacrament; thirdly, by this visit I intend to adore Thee in all places upon the earth, where Thou art least adored and most neglected in Thy Sacrament. My Jesus, I love Thee with my whole heart. I repent of having in the past so many times displeased Thine infinite goodness. I purpose with the help of Thy grace never more to offend Thee in the future; and at this moment, wretched as I am, I consecrate myself wholly to Thee. I give to Thee and utterly renounce my entire will, all my affections, all my desires, and all that I possess. From this day forth do with me and with all that is mine whatever is pleasing in Thy sight. I ask and desire only Thy holy love, final perseverance, and the perfect fulfillment of Thy will. I commend to Thee the souls in purgatory, especially those who were most devoted to this Blessed Sacrament and to Blessed Mary; I commend to Thee in like manner all poor sinners. Finally, my dear Savior, I unite all my affections with those of Thy most loving Heart, and thus united I offer them to Thine eternal Father, and I pray Him in Thy name graciously to accept and answer them for love of Thee.
SAINT ALPHONSUS LIGUORI (Feast day August 1)
The faithful who devoutly recite this prayer in the presence of the Blessed Sacrament, are granted: an indulgence of 5 years; a plenary indulgence once a month if they devoutly recite it daily for the entire month and, in addition, make their confession, receive Holy Communion and pray for the intentions of the Sovereign Pontiff. (182)
Jesus Christ, my Lord and my God, whom I believe to be really present in the Blessed Sacrament of the Altar, receive this most profound act of adoration to supply for the desire I have to adore Thee unceasingly, and in thanksgiving for the sentiments of love which Thy sacred Heart has for me in this sacrament. I cannot better acknowledge them than by offering Thee all the acts of adoration, resignation, patience, and love which this same Heart has made during its mortal life, and which it makes still and which it shall make eternally in heaven, in order that through it I may love Thee, praise Thee, and adore Thee worthily as much as it is possible for me. I unite myself to this divine offering which Thou dost make to Thy divine Father, and I consecrate to Thee my whole being, praying Thee to destroy in me all sin and not to permit that I should be separated from Thee eternally. Amen.
SAINT MARGARET MARY ALACOQUE (Feast Day October 16 (October 17 by the Order of the Visitation of Holy Mary and universally prior to 1969; transferred to Oct 20 in Canada)
SPIRITUAL COMMUNION
My Jesus, I believe that Thou art present in the Blessed Sacrament. I love Thee above all things and I desire Thee in my soul. Since I cannot now receive Thee sacramentally, come at least spiritually into my heart. As though Thou wert already there, I embrace Thee and unite myself wholly to Thee; permit not that I should ever be separated from Thee.
SAINT ALPHONSUS LIGUORI (Feast day August 1)
At Thy feet, O my Jesus, I prostrate myself and I offer Thee the repentance of my contrite heart, which is humbled in its nothingness and in Thy holy presence. I adore Thee in the Sacrament of Thy love, the ineffable Eucharist. I desire to receive Thee into the poor dwelling that my heart offers Thee. While waiting for the happiness of sacramental Communion, I wish to possess Thee in spirit. Come to me, O my Jesus, since I, for my part, am coming to Thee! May Thy love inflame my whole being in life and in death. I believe in Thee, I hope in Thee, I love Thee. Amen.
CARDINAL MERRY DEL VAL
A PRAYER TO FOSTER DAILY COMMUNION
O sweetest Jesus, Thou who earnest into the world to give all souls the life of Thy grace, and who, to preserve and nourish it in them, hast willed to be at once the daily cure of their daily infirmities and their daily sustenance; we humbly beseech Thee, by Thy Heart all on fire with love for us, to pour forth upon them all Thy divine Spirit, so that those who are unhappily in mortal sin, may turn to Thee and regain the life of grace which they have lost, and those who, through Thy gift, are already living this divine life, may draw near daily, when they can, to Thy sacred table, whence, by means of daily Communion, they may receive daily the antidote of their daily venial sins, and may every day foster within themselves the life of grace; and being thus ever more and more purified, may come at last to the possession of that eternal life which is happiness with Thee. Amen.
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From The Prayer Book-Beautiful and Helpful Prayers from Ancient and Modern Sources edited by Reverend John P O’Connell, MA, STD and Jex Martin, MA The Catholic Press, Inc., Chicago Illinois in 1959. 34-37. © 1954 Imprimatur Samuel Cardinal Stritch, Archbishop of Chicago May 10 1954. Print.