Prayers Before Holy Communion
These prayers help the soul prepare with reverence, humility, and love to receive the most pure Body and precious Blood of our Lord Jesus Christ.
In the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Glory to Thee, our God, glory to Thee.
O Heavenly King, Comforter, Spirit of Truth, Who art everywhere present and fillest all things, Treasury of good things and Giver of life: Come and dwell in us, and cleanse us of all impurity, and save our souls, O Good One.
Holy God, Holy Mighty, Holy Immortal, have mercy on us. (3 times)
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, both now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
All-Holy Trinity, have mercy on us. Lord, cleanse us from our sins. Master, pardon our iniquities. Holy One, visit and heal our infirmities for Thy Name’s sake.
Lord, have mercy. (3 times)
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, both now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
Our Father, Who art in the heavens, hallowed be Thy Name. Thy Kingdom come, Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our debts as we forgive our debtors; and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.
Prayer of St. Basil the Great
O Lord, I know that I am not worthy that Thou shouldst enter under the roof of the house of my soul, for it is entirely desolate and fallen in ruin, and Thou wilt not find in me a place worthy to lay Thy head. But as Thou didst humble Thyself from on high for our sake, so now humble Thyself to my lowliness. As Thou didst deign to lie in a cavern and in a manger of irrational beasts, so now deign to enter into the manger of my irrational soul and into my defiled body. As Thou didst not disdain to enter and to eat with sinners in the house of Simon the leper, so now be pleased to enter into the house of my humble soul, leper and sinner that I am. As Thou didst not reject the woman who was a harlot and a sinner like me when she approached and touched Thee, so also be compassionate with me, a sinner, as I approach and touch Thee. And grant that I may partake of Thy most pure Body and precious Blood for the sanctification, enlightenment, and strengthening of my humble soul and body, for the relief of the burden of my many sins, for my protection against every action of the devil, for the expulsion and restraint of my evil and wicked habits, for the mortification of my passions, for the keeping of Thy commandments, for the application of Thy divine grace, and for the appropriation of Thy Kingdom. For it is not with a light heart, O Christ my God, that I approach Thy Holy Table, but with firm confidence in Thy loving-kindness and compassion. Amen.
A Short Prayer Before Communion
O Lord Jesus Christ, my God, I am not worthy that Thou shouldst enter under the roof of my soul, but as Thou art the Lover of mankind, I come unto Thee with faith and love. Cleanse me from every stain, and save me. Amen.