Dear Holy Family,

Glory to Jesus Christ!

I'd like to encourage you to take time after Holy Communion to pray in thanksgiving for the Holy Gifts we have received. Traditionally, Catholics use this time while others are partaking of the Holy Eucharist to thank the Lord for the good He has done for us, to ask for needed help and to pray for others.  We are sacramentally closest to the Lord after we have worthily received Holy Communion by uniting our bodies to His Body and after we have shared in the Chalice of His Blood when His Blood flows in our veins.

 

Below is an ancient prayer for use after receiving Holy Communion.  Since we are not back to using hymnals, if you have spiritual use for the prayer, print it and bring it with you to church to pray during the time of thanksgiving.

Health and all good,

Fr. Phil

 

My heart has been filled with joy and my tongue with rejoicing. 

Let my spirit glorify the Lord, and my soul rejoice in God my Savior. 

I have been drawn so close to You, O Lord, 

Mercifully, clothe me with a radiant garment and 

make me worthy to enter into the wedding feast. 

 

Let my union with You today be forever, for through it I increase and
grow firm in virtue, I am made strong in faith, and strengthened in my hope. 

Let my communion become a sign of salvation, a garment of grace, 

a vesture of the new birth, for purity and righteousness of body and soul, 

for a cleansing of love, eternal happiness and joy, 

and a good defense before Your awesome judgement seat. 

 

I bind myself to Your compassion to make me one with You and under Your will. 

I open my mind and my senses to You. 

My will is to bless You and to obey Your will. 

Enliven my heart and awaken my conscience. 

Disperse the temptations of the Adversary. Still my restlessness. 

Walk with me and calm my fears. 

Quench my thirst, kindle the flame of Your love in my heart. 

Abide with me for the day is far spent, and accompany me until daybreak. 

For You are my hope and my happiness. 

You alone, O Lord, forever. Amen.