After Communion prayers

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dizzy_dave

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What prayer(s) should I say after communion? I never know what to say to Jesus or what I am to think, what’s the proper thing to say or think, etc?
For that matter what should I do before communion?
 
Before Communion, you should tell God you are sorry for your sins and ask for forgiveness, tell Him how much you love Him and can’t wait to receive Him, and ask your guardian angel to help you receive with attention and love.

After Communion, sentiments like, Welcome, Thank You, I love You, are appropriate. Tell Him you want to do His will and make good use of the graces He is giving you in Communion. You can offer your Communion for specific intentions if you like - this is completely optional, but a good way to pray for others. You can also say some of the beautiful prayers composed years ago by some of the saints. I’m sure others will post them if you ask.

To sum up: Before Communion, clean the house, light a fire, put out flowers. After Communion, big hug!

Betsy
 
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baltobetsy:
Before Communion, you should tell God you are sorry for your sins and ask for forgiveness, tell Him how much you love Him and can’t wait to receive Him, and ask your guardian angel to help you receive with attention and love.

After Communion, sentiments like, Welcome, Thank You, I love You, are appropriate. Tell Him you want to do His will and make good use of the graces He is giving you in Communion. You can offer your Communion for specific intentions if you like - this is completely optional, but a good way to pray for others. You can also say some of the beautiful prayers composed years ago by some of the saints. I’m sure others will post them if you ask.

To sum up: Before Communion, clean the house, light a fire, put out flowers. After Communion, big hug!

Betsy
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Well said Betsy! I follow a similar form, BTW, I love your “summation.”
In Christ, Annunciata:)
 
Hi, Dave, Betsy’s reply is quite good. There are so many ways to approach this topic. Betsy’s way of a “big hug” is excellent. We always feel that we have to speak, but this is not so! An example is that there are two people in love who live very far apart. They communicate by letter or by Phone or now adays by email. But then their comes a real person to person visit. When they greet each other, they hug and no words are necessary at this time. So it is at Holy Communion. While you are waiting to receive you can make a good act of Contrition followed by the response: O’Lord I am not worthy that Thou shouldst come under my roof, but only say the Word and my soul shall be Healed. You can repeat this prayer as an ejaculitory prayer until you receive Jesus. Then you would greet Him with a comment like telling Him of your love for HIm. Then something like I wish never to offend you again, Help me to love You always and Do with me whatever You Will. Then, just let your mind relish the thought that Christ is truly present in you at this time. Conjure up Joy in your heart . Your soul will thrive on the graces that you receive. The effects of your Communion with Jesus, may not be immediate, but it will come and become more noticeable as your relationship with Him, increases. There are good prayer books for before and after Communion prayers. One in particular is Fr. Lascance’s “My Prayerbook”. It is back in print and in my opion, the best prayerbook in print. I do not have the publisher,but I can find out and post it. It costs about 20 dollars. It will help to expand your approach to Holy Communion.
Blessings to you. It is quite wonderful that you are seeking to go deeper in your relationship with the Lord.
 
A little over four years ago, while on a retreat, I read a book called, “My All For Him.” I can’t remember exactly what it said, but one of the things I got out of it is that Jesus is our beloved. He called Himself the “Bridegroom” at least once in the bible.

With this in mind, once I receive communion, I go back to my pew and focus on that. I have just received my beloved!! This is Jesus here!! He has entered me physically. I am sustained by His very body and soul.

One “scene” that helps me is to imagine a wedding. When the bride enters, the first one she looks for is her beloved. And she stays focused on him because of that. So Jesus is my (and your) beloved bridegroom. I always feel such gratitude when I think of this.
 
I’ve begun praying what St. Therese of Lisieux prayed after receiving the Eucharist and which comes from St. Paul. “I am alive; rather, not I; it is Christ who lives in me.”

Marianne
 
One of the Propers of the Mass, the Prayer After Communion, is recited by the priest just before the announcements. It is worthwhile to pray this earlier and meditate on it a bit.
 
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dizzy_dave:
What prayer(s) should I say after communion? I never know what to say to Jesus or what I am to think, what’s the proper thing to say or think, etc?
For that matter what should I do before communion?
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Dave,
Let me share with you what Eastern Catholics say before communion. We say this EVERY Sunday at the Divine Liturgy: I took this out or our missal, it’s in all Caps:

COMMUNION PRAYER
ALL: O LORD, I BELIEVE AND PROFESS THAT YOU ARE TRULY CHRIST, THE SON OF THE LIVING GOD WHO CAME INTO THE WORLD TO SAVE SINNERS, OF WHOM I AM THE FIRST! ACCEPT ME AS A PARTAKER OF YOUR MYSTICAL SUPPER, O SON OF GOD; FOR I WILL NOT REVEAL YOUR MYSTERY TO YOUR ENEMIES, NOR WILL I GIVE YOU A KISS AS DID JUDAS, BUT LIKE THE THIEF I CONFESS TO YOU: REMEMBER ME, O LORD, + WHEN YOU SHALL COME INTO YOUR KINGDOM! REMEMBER ME, O MASTER, + WHEN YOU SHALL COME INTO YOUR KINGDOM! REMEMBER ME, O HOLY ONE, + WHEN YOU SHALL COME INTO YOUR KINGDOM!

MAY THE PARTAKING OF YOUR HOLY MYSTERIES. O LORD, BE NOT FOR MY JUDGMENT OF CONDEMATION, BUT FOR THE HEALING OF SOUL AND BODY!

O LORD, I ALSO BELIEVE AND PROFESS THAT THIS, WHICH I AM ABOUT TO RECEIVE, IS TRULY YOUR MOST PRECIOUS BODY AND YOUR LIFE-GIVINGG BLOOD, WHICH, I PRAY, MAKE ME WORTHY TO RECEIVE FOR THE REMISSION OF ALL MY SINS AND FOR LIFE EVERLASTING. AMEN!
O GOD, + BE MERCIFUL TO ME, A SINNER! O GOD, + CLEANSE ME OF MY SINS AND HAVE MERCY ON ME! O LORD, + FORGIVE ME, FOR I HAVE SINNED WITHOUT NUMBER!

As for prayers after communion, I just started (today in fact) to read a several prayers a ByzCath prayer book. If you are interested I sure would be glad to send you a copy.

go with God!
Edwin
 
Here is a short after Communion prayer from one of my prayer books:

Thou, my Jesus, hast consummated the sacrifice of Thy body and blood, the same in substance to that which Thou didst consummate on the Cross, in obedience to Thy heavenly Father. Grant that I, too, may give my life as a victim sacrificed to Thy glory, and immolated to Thy holy will. I wish for nothing but what may be according to Thy holy will and pleasure; and I desire to live and die in the manner mst conformable to Thy sacred appointments.

After saying this I have started to say Saint Gertrude’s as many time as I can until Communion is over. The prayer is as follows;

Eternal Father,
I offer Thee the Most Precious Blood of Thy Divine Son, Jesus,
in union with the Masses said throughout the world today,
for all the Holy Souls in Purgatory, for sinners everywhere,
for sinners in the Universal Church,those in my own home
and within my family. Amen.

Jesus told St.Gertrude that 1000 souls would be released from purgatory each time this prayers is said.

olrl.org/pray/stgertrude.shtml
 
After I receive the Eucharist, I pray the Prayer Before the Crucifix, the Anima Christi, and the Litany of Humility. Of course, I don’t actually do this until after Mass. During the reception of Communion, there is usually singing, and I find it difficult to concentrate. My DH is a sacristan and has to prepare for the next Mass, so that gives me time to sit and pray.

Peace,
Linda
 
Great suggestions here!

Before receiving Communion, I also focus on the image of the Bridegroom–as I walk down the aisle, I imagine myself as a bride anxiously walking toward my beloved, as He waits for me.

After Communion, I love to pray the Anima Christi, one of the first prayers I learned when I converted. I try to say it slowly in my mind, concentrating on the powerful images as I plead to Christ:

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 your wounds, hide me.
Separated from you, let me never be.
From the evil one, protect me.
At the hour of my death, call me.
And close to you, bid me,
That with your saints I may be
Praising you forever and ever. Amen.
 
I much prefer daily mass to Sunday mass because there are fewer distractions. The Sunday music is very distracting. A few months ago the Bishop of San Jose required that we remain standing until everyone had received. Again, that creates another distraction… keeping our eyes on the communicants. One time I shut my eyes while standing and when I opened them I was the only one standing because I didn’t constantly check to see if all had received. Another problem is that most priests do not give us much time after we finally can kneel down for our communion prayers. I have solved that problem by shutting my eyes and staying at least 5 minutes after mass. Those are the most wonderful 5 minutes of the day. I was taught many years ago to shut my eyes after communion and that was the best advice I ever got. Praying comes much more naturally when it is just between you and Christ. You can feel his presence better with the eyes shut.
 
It is an excellent idea to close your eyes and pay no mind to the movement of people receiving. I was also taught this, by the Sisters of Charity. Many parishes have several communion songs during this time and you are expected to sing. My personal feelings about this is that this is my alone time with Jesus present in me, Body and Soul. So I don’t sing, but stay wrapped in the presence of Jesus. The proper method of after communion singing is when all the people have received, that there is an extended period of time for reflection, then a communion hymn is played and we all join in as the Body of Christ! I tried staying after Mass to continue my thanksgiving and it was just impossible. The noise level was piercing. How I miss the old days when the church was a place of prayer and peace, before and after Mass and just anytime you came to visit!!!
 
Thanks Ally and JoJo: We are blessed with a new church that has a narthex and our Pastor insists on post Mass conversations being held there and not in the nave. I guess I’m a bit fussy but I’d prefer silence following Communion until the final blessing. It is such a central moment in the exercise of our faith.
 
Jo Jo

I agree it IS impossible to stay after on Sunday…that’s why I prefer the daily mass. I go to the Sunday mass with the fewest people…usually the earliest. I do not stay after on Sunday because Sunday mass seems to be a social event for alot of people and the noise is deafening.
 
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ally:
Jo Jo

I agree it IS impossible to stay after on Sunday…that’s why I prefer the daily mass. I go to the Sunday mass with the fewest people…usually the earliest. I do not stay after on Sunday because Sunday mass seems to be a social event for alot of people and the noise is deafening.
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I feel saddened for those who do not stay a few minutes after Mass/Liturgy is over to thank God once again for His presence in the Eucharist.
I do not like it when people talk in the sanctuary before Mass/Liturgy because I want to pray over the upcoming acceptance of the Eucharist, AND afterwards…Most people if they are now worried about socializing, it’s racing out of the parking lot like Speed Racer. :eek:

go with God!
Edwin

P.S. …oh I loved that old cartoon!
 
As others have mentioned, the Anima Christi is a great prayer. There are a few other ones in my new prayer book, the Manual of Prayers for the North American College in Rome - I think one by Thomas Aquinas. I’m lucky because I’ve never yet run across a priest in my area that doesn’t sit and pray silently himself after everyone has received the sacrament, so there’s always time for me to recite a few silent prayers.
 
I’m going to be radically different here.

I don’t “say” (think) any prayer after Communion. I listen quietly to what God has to say to me.
 
I have a prayer book called Prayers and Heavenly Promises. In it, it says to offer up the Communion for the debt of all souls, and then I personally always offer it up for my own intentions, the list of which is miles long-but they are all important to me.

JMJ
SFX
 
This is a prayer I discovered recently by John Cardinal Newman:

Dear Jesus, help me to spread Your fragrance everywhere I go. Flood my soul with Your Spirit and Life. Penetrate and possess my whole being so utterly that my life may only be a radiance of Yours. Shine through me and be so in me that every soul I come in contact with may feel Your presence in my soul. Let them look up and see no longer me but only Jesus! Stay with me and then I shall begin to shine as You shine, so to shine as to be a light to others. The light, O Jesus, will be all from You; none of it will be mine. It will be You, shining on others through me. Let me thus praise You in the way which You love best, by shining on those around me. Let me preach You without preaching, not by my words but by my example, by the catching force, the sympathetic influence of what I do, the evident fullness of the love my heart bears for You. Amen.

God bless you,
Joanna
 
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