Communion Prayers: Before Communion, Over the Bread and Cup, and After

Prayers before communion

The Prayer of Humble Access

In the Episcopal Church’s 1928 Book of Common Prayer, the priest kneels at the Lord’s Table just before the people receive 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.

The Book of Common Prayer (1928), Holy Communion, p. 82

“Lord, I am not worthy”

At Mass, just before receiving, Catholics say a short prayer adapted from the words of the centurion who asked Jesus to heal his servant: “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). The Catechism of the Catholic Church quotes it at paragraph 1386. An older English form reads:

Lord, I am not worthy that Thou shouldst enter under my roof; but only say the word, and my soul shall be healed.

A Manual of Prayers for the Use of the Catholic Laity (1888), p. 102

Thomas Aquinas’s prayer before communion

The Roman Missal includes this prayer, credited to Thomas Aquinas, among the priest’s prayers of preparation before Mass. A Manual of Prayers, the 1888 prayer book of the Third Plenary Council of Baltimore, prints it for lay Catholics among its devotions for Holy Communion, in this translation.

Almighty, Everlasting God, lo, I draw near to the Sacrament of Thine Only-begotten Son, our Lord Jesus Christ. As sick, I approach 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 Thee, therefore, out of the abundance of Thy boundless mercy, that Thou wouldst 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, the Lord of lords, with such reverence and humility, such contrition and devotion, such purity and faith, such purpose and intention, as is expedient for the health of my soul. Grant, I beseech Thee, that I may receive not only the Sacrament of the Body and Blood of the Lord, but also the whole grace and virtue of that 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 found worthy to be incorporated into His mystical Body, and accounted among His members. And, O most loving Father, grant that whom now I purpose to receive under a veil I may at last behold with unveiled face, even Thy beloved Son. Who with Thee and the Holy Ghost ever liveth and reigneth, one God, world without end. Amen.

A Manual of Prayers for the Use of the Catholic Laity (1888), pp. 311–312

The Orthodox prayer before communion

In the Orthodox Divine Liturgy, the priest says this prayer aloud before the people come forward to receive, and the Orthodox service book also prints it among the prayers of preparation for Holy Communion. The second part, “Of thy Mystical Supper,” is also quoted in the Catholic Catechism at paragraph 1386.

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.

Of thy Mystical Supper, O Son of God, accept me to-day as a communicant: for I will not speak of thy Mystery to thine enemies, neither, like Judas, will I give thee a kiss; but like the thief will I confess thee: Remember me, O Lord, in thy kingdom.

And let not this participation in thy Holy Mysteries be unto judgment upon me, or unto condemnation, O Lord, but unto the healing of soul and body.

Isabel F. Hapgood, trans., Service Book of the Holy Orthodox-Catholic Apostolic Church (1906), pp. 116–117 and 575

Short prayers before communion

Paul told the Corinthians, “But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of that bread, and drink of that cup” (1 Corinthians 11:28). These short prayers are for that moment.

To confess

Lord, I have sinned against you this week in what I thought, said and did. I will not hide it from you. You have promised, “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness” (1 John 1:9). I confess, and I trust that promise. Amen.

When you feel unworthy

Jesus, I am not ready, and I cannot make myself ready. I come because you invited me. “Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me” (Psalm 51:10). Amen.

When you are holding a grudge

Lord, I am coming to your table angry with [name]. You forgave me first and at far greater cost. Help me to forgive, or at least to want to, before I eat this bread. Amen.

When your mind is elsewhere

Jesus, my mind is on a hundred other things. Quiet it for these few minutes. Let me think of your body broken and your blood shed for me, and of nothing else. Amen.

Prayers over the bread and the cup

Paul’s account of the Lord’s Supper can be read aloud before the bread and the cup are shared:

For I have received of the Lord that which also I delivered unto you, That the Lord Jesus the same night in which he was betrayed took bread: And when he had given thanks, he brake it, and said, Take, eat: this is my body, which is broken for you: this do in remembrance of me. After the same manner also he took the cup, when he had supped, saying, This cup is the new testament in my blood: this do ye, as oft as ye drink it, in remembrance of me. For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do shew the Lord’s death till he come.

1 Corinthians 11:23–26

In Matthew’s Gospel, Jesus “took bread, and blessed it” and then “took the cup, and gave thanks” (Matthew 26:26–27). A leader can follow that order, with one prayer of thanks over the bread and another over the cup.

The oldest prayer over the cup and bread

The Didache, or Teaching of the Twelve Apostles, is the oldest surviving Christian church order, probably written in Egypt or Syria in the second century. Its ninth chapter gives these thanksgivings, with the cup first.

We thank thee, our Father, for the holy vine of David Thy servant, which Thou madest known to us through Jesus Thy Servant; to Thee be the glory for ever.

We thank Thee, our Father, for the life and knowledge which Thou madest known to us through Jesus Thy Servant; to Thee be the glory for ever. Even as this broken bread was scattered over the hills, and was gathered together and became one, so let Thy Church be gathered together from the ends of the earth into Thy kingdom; for Thine is the glory and the power through Jesus Christ for ever.

The Didache, chapter 9, in Ante-Nicene Fathers, vol. 7 (1886)

Short prayers for a communion service

To open the service

Father, we have come to the table your Son set on the night he was betrayed. Make us honest about our sins, thankful for his death, and ready to receive what he gives. Amen.

Over the bread

Lord Jesus, on the night you were betrayed you took bread, gave thanks and broke it. We thank you for this bread and for your body, given for us. As we eat, help us remember you, and make us one, for “we being many are one bread, and one body: for we are all partakers of that one bread” (1 Corinthians 10:17). Amen.

Over the cup

Father, we thank you for this cup and for the blood of Jesus, “shed for many for the remission of sins” (Matthew 26:28). As we drink, remind us that we are forgiven, and keep us faithful until he comes. Amen.

Words said when giving the bread and the cup

The 1928 Book of Common Prayer gives these words to the minister who hands each person the bread and then the cup:

The Body of our Lord Jesus Christ, which was given for thee, preserve thy body and soul unto everlasting life. Take and eat this in remembrance that Christ died for thee, and feed on him in thy heart by faith, with thanksgiving.

The Blood of our Lord Jesus Christ, which was shed for thee, preserve thy body and soul unto everlasting life. Drink this in remembrance that Christ’s Blood was shed for thee, and be thankful.

The Book of Common Prayer (1928), Holy Communion, pp. 82–83

Prayers after communion

The Prayer Book thanksgiving

After everyone has received, the 1928 Book of Common Prayer has the priest say this prayer for the whole congregation.

Almighty and everliving God, we most heartily thank thee, for that thou dost vouchsafe to feed us who have duly received these holy mysteries, with the spiritual food of the most precious Body and Blood of thy Son our Saviour Jesus Christ; and dost assure us thereby of thy favour and goodness towards us; and that we are very members incorporate in the mystical body of thy Son, which is the blessed company of all faithful people; and are also heirs through hope of thy everlasting kingdom, by the merits of his most precious death and passion. And we humbly beseech thee, O heavenly Father, so to assist us with thy grace, that we may continue in that holy fellowship, and do all such good works as thou hast prepared for us to walk in; through Jesus Christ our Lord, to whom, with thee and the Holy Ghost, be all honour and glory, world without end. Amen.

The Book of Common Prayer (1928), Holy Communion, p. 83

The Anima Christi

The Roman Missal places the Anima Christi (“Soul of Christ”) among the priest’s prayers of thanksgiving after Mass. The prayer is often credited to Ignatius of Loyola, who put it at the start of his Spiritual Exercises, but the Catholic Encyclopedia of 1907 says it dates from the first half of the fourteenth century and appears in manuscripts written a hundred years before Ignatius was born.

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.

A Manual of Prayers for the Use of the Catholic Laity (1888), p. 103

Short prayers after communion

In thanks

Lord, I have eaten and drunk at your table. “What shall I render unto the LORD for all his benefits toward me? I will take the cup of salvation, and call upon the name of the LORD” (Psalm 116:12–13). Thank you. Amen.

For peace

Jesus, you said, “Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid” (John 14:27). I take that peace home with me now. Keep it when the week turns hard. Amen.

For the week ahead

Lord, you said, “Without me ye can do nothing” (John 15:5). Go with me into work, into the decisions I have to make and into the conversations I would rather avoid. Give me courage to speak of you when the moment comes, and patience with the people I find hardest to love. Amen.

For a child’s first communion

Lord Jesus, [name] receives communion for the first time today. Let [him or her] remember this day, grow up knowing you, and come back to your table for the rest of [his or her] life. Amen.

A prayer when you cannot receive communion

Catholics who are not receiving the sacrament can make a “spiritual communion.” The 1888 Manual of Prayers tells those who do not receive at Mass that they “may communicate spiritually.” This short act of spiritual communion is by Alphonsus Liguori:

My Jesus, I believe that Thou art in the Blessed Sacrament. I love Thee above everything, and I long for Thee in my soul. Since I can not now receive Thee sacramentally, come at least spiritually into my heart. As though Thou wert already come, I embrace Thee and unite myself entirely to Thee; allow me not to be separated from Thee.

F. X. Lasance, With God (1911), p. 206

The 1928 Book of Common Prayer makes a similar provision for Episcopalians kept away by “extremity of sickness” or another “just impediment.” If such a person does “truly repent him of his sins, and stedfastly believe that Jesus Christ hath suffered death upon the Cross for him,” the Prayer Book says that “he doth eat and drink the Body and Blood of our Saviour Christ profitably to his soul’s health, although he do not receive the Sacrament with his mouth” (p. 323).