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Japanese Before Communion, pray to come prepared: tell God the wrong you have done and ask him to let you receive with faith and a clean heart. After Communion, thank him for what you have received and ask for grace to live it out. A few honest words are enough, and the churches also keep set prayers for both moments.
Paul gives the reason for the first prayer: “Wherefore whosoever shall eat this bread, and drink this cup of the Lord, unworthily, shall be guilty of the body and blood of the Lord. But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of that bread, and drink of that cup” (1 Corinthians 11:27-28). The second follows the meal itself, because at the Last Supper Jesus “took bread, and gave thanks” (Luke 22:19), and the name Eucharist means “thanksgiving.”
Two people from the Gospels stand at either side of the moment. Before receiving, Catholics say the words of the centurion who did not think himself fit to have Jesus under his roof. Afterwards, Orthodox Christians say the words of old Simeon, who held the infant Jesus in his arms: “mine eyes have seen thy salvation.” We go up with the centurion’s humility and come back with Simeon’s peace.
The two short prayers that follow are new, not traditional ones: the first for the minutes before you go up to receive, the second for the minutes after you return to your seat. Catholics take one more step before the first. “Anyone conscious of a grave sin must receive the sacrament of Reconciliation before coming to communion,” says the Catechism (paragraph 1385), and how to go to confession explains what to say.
Before Communion: Lord Jesus, you invite me to your table, though I have done nothing to earn a place there. I confess the wrong I have done this week, and I am sorry for it. Forgive me, quiet my mind, and let me come to you with faith. Amen.
After Communion: Thank you, Lord, for feeding me at your table. Stay with me when I walk out of church. Make me patient at home, honest at work and kind to the people I find hard to love, so that the rest of this week belongs to you. Amen.
If you cannot receive Communion today, because you are ill at home, far from a church or not able to receive in your own church, you can still pray when the others receive. There are prayers for spiritual communion written for that moment.
What do the churches believe you receive in Communion?
Christians answer this differently, and each traditional prayer carries the belief of the church that wrote it. The Catholic Catechism teaches that in the Eucharist “the body and blood, together with the soul and divinity, of our Lord Jesus Christ and, therefore, the whole Christ is truly, really, and substantially contained” (paragraph 1374). The Longer Catechism of Metropolitan Philaret of Moscow, approved by the Holy Synod of the Russian Church in 1830, teaches that at the consecration “the bread and wine are changed, or transubstantiated, into the very Body of Christ, and into the very Blood of Christ.”
Lutherans confess in the Augsburg Confession that “the Body and Blood of Christ are truly present.” The Westminster Confession, held by Presbyterian churches, says believers receive and feed on Christ “really and indeed, yet not carnally and corporally but spiritually,” and the 1689 London Baptist Confession uses almost the same words. The Southern Baptist Convention’s Baptist Faith and Message calls the Lord’s Supper “a symbolic act of obedience” by which church members “memorialize the death of the Redeemer and anticipate His second coming.” The comparisons between these churches are linked from the main collection of Communion prayers. The fourteen prayers further on speak of the gift without settling the question, so Christians of any church can pray them together.
Catholic prayers before and after Communion
Just before receiving at Mass, Catholics borrow the words of a Roman soldier. The centurion who asked Jesus to heal his servant said, “Lord, I am not worthy that thou shouldest come under my roof: but speak the word only, and my servant shall be healed” (Matthew 8:8). A Manual of Prayers, the prayer book ordered by the Third Plenary Council of Baltimore in 1888, gives his words in this form, to be said three times:
Lord, I am not worthy that Thou shouldst enter under my roof; but only say the word, and my soul shall be healed.
In today’s Mass the priest and people say it together once, in the current Missal’s wording. For longer preparation, the Roman Missal includes a prayer by Thomas Aquinas among the priest’s prayers before Mass. It begins “Almighty, Everlasting God, lo, I draw near to the Sacrament of Thine Only-begotten Son,” and it is printed in full with the main collection of Communion prayers.
After Communion, the best-known Catholic prayer is the Anima Christi, or “Soul of Christ.” The 1888 Manual calls it “a favorite prayer of St. Ignatius Loyola.”
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 Jesus, 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.
The Roman Missal lists the Anima Christi and a prayer of Thomas Aquinas among its thanksgivings after Mass. The 1888 Manual prints Aquinas’s thanksgiving in two parts; the second gives thanks for the Communion just received and asks that it change the one who has received it:
I render thanks to Thee, O Lord, Holy Father, Everlasting God, who hast vouchsafed, not for any merits of mine, but of Thy great mercy only, to feed me a sinner, Thine unworthy servant, with the precious Body and Blood of Thy Son, our Lord Jesus Christ; and I pray that this Holy Communion may not be for my judgment and condemnation, but for my pardon and salvation. Let it be unto me an armor of faith and a shield of good purpose, a riddance of all vices, and a rooting out of all evil desires; an increase of love and patience, of humility and obedience, and of all virtues; a firm defence against the wiles of all my enemies, visible and invisible; a perfect quieting of all my impulses, fleshly and spiritual; a cleaving unto Thee, the one true God; and a blessed consummation of my end when Thou dost call. And I pray that Thou wouldst vouchsafe to bring me a sinner to that unspeakable Feast where Thou, with Thy Son and Thy Holy Spirit, art to Thy holy ones true light, fulness of blessedness, everlasting joy, and perfect happiness. Through the same Christ our Lord. Amen.
Orthodox prayers before and after Communion
Orthodox Christians prepare with a set of prayers, and the last of them, said just before receiving, is a plain confession of faith from a sinner who calls himself the chief of sinners. This is Isabel Hapgood’s 1906 translation of the Russian service book:
I believe, O Lord, and I confess, that thou art in very truth the Christ, the Son of the living God, who didst come into the world to save sinners, of whom I am chief. And I believe that this is, of a truth, thine all-pure Body, and that this is thine own precious Blood. Wherefore, I beseech thee, have mercy upon me, and forgive my transgressions, whether voluntary or involuntary; whether of word or of deed; whether committed with knowledge or in ignorance. And vouchsafe that I may partake without condemnation of thine all-pure Mysteries, unto the remission of my sins, and unto life eternal. Amen.
The rule of prayer read before Communion
The prayers of preparation are read before the Liturgy. St Nicholas Orthodox Church in McKinney, Texas, describes them as beginning “with some psalms, then a canon, then some pre-communion prayers from various saints.” If the rule is hard for you, the parish suggests splitting it up, part on Saturday and part on Sunday morning, say, and talking it over with your confessor. Some keep a longer rule as well, which Russians call the Pravilo: “three canons which are combined, and an Akathist,” usually the canons to Christ, to the Mother of God and to the Guardian Angel. Holy Trinity Monastery in Jordanville, New York, publishes the canons, the order of preparation and the prayers after Communion together as The Rule for Holy Communion.
The prayers of thanksgiving after Communion
Orthodox prayer books print a set of thanksgiving prayers to read after receiving. This is the first of them in Hapgood’s service book:
I thank thee, O Lord my God, that thou hast not rejected me, a sinner, but hast deemed me worthy to become a partaker of thy Holy Things. I thank thee that thou hast graciously granted unto me, though unworthy, to receive thy pure and heavenly gifts. But, O Master who lovest mankind, who for our sake didst die, and didst rise again, and hast graciously bestowed upon us these terrible and life-giving Mysteries, for the blessing and sanctification of our souls and bodies: Vouchsafe that they may be efficacious for me also unto the healing of my soul and body, unto the averting of everything contrary thereto; unto the enlightenment of the eyes of my heart; unto the peace of my spiritual powers; unto faith invincible; unto love unfeigned; unto the fulfilling of wisdom; unto the keeping of thy commandments; unto the increase of thy divine grace and the attainment of thy kingdom: that by thee preserved in thy holiness I may ever bear in mind thy grace, and live not unto myself, but unto thee, our Master and Benefactor. And so, this life ended in the hope of life everlasting, I may come unto that rest eternal, where the voice of those who keep high festival ceaseth never, and where endless is the sweetness of those who behold the beauty inexpressible of thy countenance. For thou art the true desire and the happiness unutterable of those who love thee, O Christ our God, and every created being shall laud thee unto ages of ages. Amen.
In this older English, “terrible” means awe-inspiring, in the dictionary’s older sense of “exciting terror, awe, or great fear.” More prayers follow, among them prayers of Basil the Great and Simeon Metaphrastes and a prayer to the Mother of God, and then come the words of Simeon, who held the infant Jesus in the Temple: “Lord, now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace, according to thy word: For mine eyes have seen thy salvation” (Luke 2:29-30). Simeon had held the Lord in his arms. After Communion the Orthodox make his words their own.
Coptic prayers before and after Communion
Coptic Orthodox Christians pray from the Agpeya, the church’s book of prayers for the hours of the day, from the First Hour through Midnight. Besides the hours, it carries two prayers to say before Communion and two to say after. St-Takla.org, a Coptic Orthodox site, prints all four in English among the prayers “from the Agbeya” in its online Coptic prayer book, with prayers before and after confession beside them.
The Anglican Prayer of Humble Access
In the Episcopal Church’s 1928 Book of Common Prayer, the priest kneels at the Lord’s Table just before Communion and says this prayer “in the name of all those who shall receive the Communion.”
We do not presume to come to this thy Table, O merciful Lord, trusting in our own righteousness, but in thy manifold and great mercies. We are not worthy so much as to gather up the crumbs under thy Table. But thou art the same Lord, whose property is always to have mercy: Grant us therefore, gracious Lord, so to eat the flesh of thy dear Son Jesus Christ, and to drink his blood, that our sinful bodies may be made clean by his Body, and our souls washed through his most precious Blood, and that we may evermore dwell in him, and he in us. Amen.
When everyone has received, the priest says “Let us pray” and leads a prayer of thanksgiving that begins “Almighty and everliving God, we most heartily thank thee.”
Prayers for a First Communion
When people brought children to him, Jesus said, “Suffer the little children to come unto me, and forbid them not: for of such is the kingdom of God” (Mark 10:14). The three prayers below are new, not traditional: one for a child to say before a First Communion, one for afterwards, and one for a parent or godparent. Where a prayer says Name, say the child’s name, and choose between him/her and he/she.
For the child, before: Jesus, today I come to your table for the first time. Thank you for loving me. Help me to be still, to listen, and to receive you with a glad heart. Amen.
For the child, after: Thank you, Jesus, for this day. Stay close to me. Help me to be kind, to tell the truth, and to love you all my life. Amen.
For a parent or godparent: Lord God, today Name receives Communion for the first time. Thank you for bringing him/her this far. Keep him/her close to you as he/she grows, and help us at home to show what it means to follow you. Amen.
The fourteen prayers by moment
The fourteen prayers that follow keep their old order, but each fits a particular moment:
- Before receiving: the Repentance prayer, which carries the word “After” in its title but is a prayer of confession, and the Sanctification prayer.
- After receiving: the Thanksgiving prayer, Wisdom and Guidance, Personal Petitions, Family and Loved Ones, Love and Charity, and Spiritual Renewal.
- For the church: Unity, Church Leadership, the Global Church, Mission and Outreach, and Gratitude for Community.
- For peace of heart: A Short Communion Prayer for Peace.
All fourteen are written in “we,” so a family or a group can pray them together, and a leader can say one aloud to close a Communion service.
Thanksgiving Prayer for Communion: Offer thanks to God for the gift of Jesus Christ.
A prayer of thanks for Christ’s body and blood, given for the forgiveness of sins. It suits the quiet minutes after you are back in your seat.
Heavenly Father, we come to You with humble hearts filled with thankfulness for Your infinite love. We praise You for the gift of Your son, Jesus Christ, who gave His body and blood for our redemption. We are grateful for the sacrifice made for us on the cross and for the grace of Your forgiveness.
Help us to never take for granted the precious gift of salvation You have bestowed upon us. May we always remember the price paid for our freedom, and may the memory of Your love inspire us to show mercy and kindness to all we meet.
We thank You for the privilege of coming to Your table and partaking in the body and blood of Your son. May we always take to heart the importance of this sacrament and live our lives in a way that reflects Your goodness and mercy.
We pray this in Jesus’ name, Amen.
A short communion prayer for Unity
A short prayer for the bond between the people who share one table. As Paul wrote, “For we being many are one bread, and one body: for we are all partakers of that one bread” (1 Corinthians 10:17).
Heavenly Father, we come to You in unity and reverence. We thank You for the gift of communion and the bond we share in our faith. May we always remember that we are not alone but are part of a more prominent family. May our love for You and each other draw us closer together. Guide us in our faith journey and help us remain humble and accepting of one another. May we be united in spirit, mind, and heart to honor You with our lives. Keep us in Your loving embrace, and let Your mighty power flow through us so that our unity can be a source of strength and joy for all. Amen.
Sanctification Prayers for Communion: Ask God to continue making you holy.
For before Communion or after it: a prayer to be made holy, to turn from temptation and to be changed into Christ’s image.
Heavenly Father, we come to You in humble adoration of Your great sacrifice. You have called us to be holy, as You are blessed, and we humbly ask that You continue to work in us and through us to bring about our sanctification. Help us to rely on Your strength and grace to overcome temptation, to avoid all that is evil, and to strive for holiness. We thank You for the reminder of Your selfless love and mercy that we receive through Communion, and we ask that You continue to guide us and transform us into Your image. May Your Spirit fill us and lead us in Your paths of righteousness. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Spiritual Renewal Communion Prayer: Pray for a renewed sense of purpose.
For when you leave the table wanting a fresh sense of purpose. It asks the Holy Spirit for courage and determination to do God’s will.
Gracious Father, we thank You for the gift of communion. We remember the price of our salvation and the love of our Lord. We thank You for the reminder of Your grace and mercy.
We ask Your blessing on us as we continue our journey. Help us remain true to our purpose and follow the path You have laid out for us. Renew us in spirit, mind, and body to strengthen us to do Your work.
In Your mercy, fill us with Your Holy Spirit to give us courage and determination to do Your will. Guide us in our journey and lead us closer to You. May our faith be renewed and our love for You and Your kingdom be strengthened. Amen.
Repentance Prayer for After Communion
Its title places it after Communion, but this prayer of confession also fits the minutes before you go forward, when Paul asks each person to examine himself.
Holy Mighty and gracious Lord, we come before You with heavy hearts, full of regret for our sins and shortcomings. We know we are unworthy servants and we humbly ask for Your forgiveness and grace that You would grant us mercy and make us righteous.
We pray for the strength to turn away from our transgressions and to live in holiness and righteousness. Grant us the wisdom to make wise decisions and the courage to stand firm in our faith. Teach us to walk in Your ways and to trust in You.
We thank You for the many blessings You have bestowed upon us and Your faithfulness and love. We thank You for the sacrifice of Your Son, Jesus, on the cross and for the gift of communion, we share in remembrance of Him.
Help us live lives of devotion and service so that we might be found faithful in Your sight. Guide us with Your Holy Spirit, that our lives may become a pleasing offering unto You. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
Love and Charity Communion Prayer: Ask God to fill you with love for others.
This prayer asks God to fill you with his love, so that you are generous with what you have and merciful in how you treat people.
Heavenly Father, we thank you for the love you have shown us through the sacrifice of your son, Jesus Christ. His love is a beacon of hope and joy that eases our fears and allows us to persevere. Let us not forget the power of love and ask that you fill us with your divine love. May it guide us to open our hearts to others, to be generous with our resources, and to extend grace and mercy in our interactions. Help us see the divine in each person and recognize their uniqueness’s beauty. We ask that your love overflow in us so we may share it with everyone we meet. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Wisdom and Guidance Prayer for Before or After Communion
For wisdom and direction in the days after Communion: to recognize God’s will and to have the courage to stand up for what is right.
Heavenly Father, we come to You with gratitude for the communion gift. We thank You for the reminder of Your son Jesus and the sacrifice He made for us. We ask that You be with us as we strive to live lives that honor You in the time after communion.
Help us recognize Your will and seek Your wisdom in all we do. Show us the paths we should take and the paths we should avoid. Grant us the courage to stand up for what is right and the wisdom to recognize Your presence in our lives.
Fill us with the knowledge of Your grace and mercy and strengthen our understanding of Your teachings. May we always be guided by Your love and grace, and never forget that we are Your children.
We pray in Your Son’s name, Amen.
A Short Communion Prayer for Peace
For an anxious heart. It asks that God’s peace take the place of worry, and it ends with thanks for the time spent with him.
Almighty God, we come before You in worship and thanksgiving. We give You all the praise and glory for the many blessings You have bestowed upon us. In Your loving kindness, You have given us all we need and strength and courage to overcome our trials and tribulations.
We ask for Your peace to fill our hearts and replace any anxiety or worry we may feel. Grant us Your protection and guidance in our daily lives, and help us to be obedient to Your will. Let us never forget that You are always with us and will always provide the strength and courage we need to face any challenges that may come our way.
We thank You, Lord, for giving us this time to commune with You and filling us with Your peace. We ask these things in the mighty name of Jesus, Amen.
Mission and Outreach Communion Prayer
This prayer asks that remembering Christ’s sacrifice will make you bold to share the gospel with people who have not heard it.
Lord, we thank You for the precious gift of Your Son, Jesus. We remember His ultimate sacrifice for us, and we thank You for the reminder of His love and mercy. We pray that taking communion would fill us with a desire to share the gospel with those who have not yet heard of Your grace. Help us to be bold and courageous in our mission, and give us the strength and resolve to proclaim Your truth. May our words and actions exemplify Your love, mercy, and grace, and may those who hear the gospel be drawn closer to You. Amen.
Family and Loved One’s Prayer for After Communion: Lift your family and loved ones in prayer.
This prayer lifts your family and the people you love to God, asking his guidance and protection over them.
Heavenly Father, we thank You for Your grace and mercy and the gift of family and loved ones. We thank You for coming before You in prayer and gathering together in Your presence. We ask for Your guidance and protection over our families and loved ones so that You may work in their lives as You are working in ours. Help us remember Your love and faithfulness so we may never forget Your kindness and goodness.
We ask that You give us strength and courage to do Your will, guide us in the paths of righteousness, and help us show love and kindness to those around us. May each of our family and loved ones know Your peace, and may they be surrounded by Your everlasting love.
We ask this in Your name, Amen.
Church Leadership Communion Prayer
For pastors, elders and the other leaders of your church, that the Holy Spirit will guide them and keep them humble and faithful.
Gracious and loving Father, we thank You for the gift of the Holy Spirit You gave us. We pray for the church leadership to be led by the Spirit in their ministry and be ever faithful to Your will. Give them strength and courage to lead us in the way You have set before us, and guide them in their decisions and actions. Give them wisdom to counsel and instruct us and a heart to love and care for Your flock. Bless them with integrity and humility, that they may serve You with righteousness and justice. Help them to lead with grace and mercy and to honor and glorify You in all their ways. In the mighty name of Jesus, Amen.
Global Church Communion Prayer: Pray for the Universal Church.
For the Church around the world, and especially for Christians who are persecuted or suffering because of their faith.
Our loving and compassionate Father, we thank You for the gift of Your Son, on Whose life we model our own. We thank You for the work of Your Church, which brings Your love and truth to the world. We pray today for those persecuted or suffering because of their faith in You. Grant them courage and hope in the face of hardship. May they feel the comfort of Your presence and the joy of Your promises. Endow them the strength to persevere in their faith and keep their eyes focused on You. We ask You to bring healing to those who are hurting and to restore our faith in You. In Jesus’ name, we pray. Amen.
Personal Petitions Prayer After Communion
For bringing your own needs to God: guidance for the day, patience with the people you love, forgiveness for those who have wronged you, and help in hard times.
Gracious Lord, we come to You in humble prayer, with our hearts filled with gratitude for the gift of Communion. We thank You for your spiritual sustenance and offer our requests and petitions for Your attention.
We ask for Your guidance, support, and courage to face our daily challenges. Give us the wisdom to make the right decisions and the humility to accept the consequences, whatever they may be.
We ask for the grace to be patient with our loved ones and the wisdom to forgive those who wronged us. We ask for guidance and strength in our relationships so that we might be beacons of light in the darkness.
We ask for Your help in our times of need and the courage to stand firm in our convictions. We ask for Your mercy and blessing on all those who are suffering and in need of Your comfort.
We thank You for Your presence in our lives and Your never-ending love. Amen.
A Communion Prayer of Gratitude for Community Prayer After Communion
This prayer thanks God for the believers who share Communion with you and asks him to make them kind and compassionate to one another.
Lord, we come before You with heavy hearts filled with love and gratitude. We thank You for the community of believers who share communion with us. We thank You for the unity and fellowship we experience together in prayer. Lord, we ask that You grant them strength, courage, wisdom, grace, and love. Help them to be kind and compassionate to one another. Guide them daily so they may continually strive to do Your will. Lord, hear our prayer and grant us the courage to shine in the darkness. Let us be instruments of Your peace and love. Amen.
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