St. Vincent's Manual/Devotions Before Holy Communion
DEVOTIONS BEFORE HOLY COMMUNION.
The following, or similar Aspirations, may be used whilst preparing for Communion.
O MY blessed Mother, obtain for me some portion of those virtues which made thee so agreeable to God, as to draw upon thee the favor of being the Mother of our Jesus. Remember, it is the same Jesus that I am to receive; and assist me in preparing my poor heart for his reception.
O my good Angel! it is your Lord, as well as mine, that I am going to receive; help me to receive him worthily, &c.
O my God! I have in myself nothing worthy of thee, but I desire now, more than ever, to receive thee worthily; to have more faith, more hope, &c.
O Jesus, my God! I am not worthy to receive thee, on account of my grievous and manifold sins, my innumerable infidelities, and my little love for thee,&c. But say only the word, and my soul shall be healed. Thou canst, with one word, supply every thing that is wanting in me. Say it then, I beseech thee, my merciful Saviour.
My sweet Saviour, I long to receive thee; not only that I may be freed from my miseries, but chiefly that I may have the happiness of being united to thee: and since thou art so good as to desire to unite thyself to me, do thou thyself, I beseech thee, prepare me for the honor thou deignest to confer on me.
On the morning of your communion, place yourself in the presence of God, invoke the intercession of the Blessed Virgin, your guardian Angel, your holy patrons and patronesses, and all the Saints and Angels. Reflect that it may be your last communion. Were you certain it would be your last, with what devotion and recollection would you not prepare for it.
I.
Verily thou art a hidden God, the God of Israel, the Saviour. Isaias xlv 15.
The bread which I will give, is my flesh. St. John vi 52.
O MY Jesus! true God and true Man, of the same substance, power and majesty with thy eternal Page:StVincentsManual.djvu/268 Page:StVincentsManual.djvu/269 Page:StVincentsManual.djvu/270 Page:StVincentsManual.djvu/271 Page:StVincentsManual.djvu/272