Need help with understanding Anima Christi

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jesusmademe said:
Touch but never enter. So we wasnt fully withing the wounds.
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Yes why not John 6:53 So Jesus said to them, “Very truly, I tell you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you have no life in you. 54 Those who eat my flesh and drink my blood have eternal life, and I will raise them up on the last day; 55 for my flesh is true food and my blood is true drink. 56 Those who eat my flesh and drink my blood abide in me, and I in them.

Well the Heart of Jesus is big enough for it is said in Isaiah 66:1-2 **Thus says the Lord:Heaven is my throne and the earth is my footstool;what is the house that you would build for me,and what is my resting place?**2 All these things my hand has made,and so all these things are mine,says the Lord.But this is the one to whom I will look,to the humble and contrite in spirit,who trembles at my word.

2 Chronicles 2:6 But who is able to build him a house, since heaven, even highest heaven, cannot contain him? Who am I to build a house for him, except as a place to make offerings before him?

The indwelling of God with in our hearts Isaiah 57:15 For thus says the high and lofty one who inhabits eternity, whose name is Holy:**I dwell in the high and holy place,and also with those who are contrite and humble in spirit,**to revive the spirit of the humble,and to revive the heart of the contrite.

Thus Jesus heart is big enough to contain the whole universe even the heavens and the earth. we can always prayer thus, Jesus i place my family and myself in your heart guide and protect me from all dangers both physically and mentally and against all the enemies of my soul,and salvation ,hide me in your wounds in your sacred heart ,shield me and protect me until the the destroying storm pass by which is you divine Justice against my sins until you show your mercy once again especially at the hour of my death, give me Godly repentance ,prepare my heart to receive you worthy in the Eucharist at Mass today ,God’s mercy this is a spontaneous prayer which came to the mind ,you can pray as the Holy Spirit inspires you.
 
@jesusmademe
jesusmademe said:
I really dont have the imagination of a medieval Catholic. How did those people look at “within thy wounds”? Where would such a language come from? It just confuses me.
The Holy Spirit helps us how to pray ,as many saints prayed with such favor ,zeal and heavenly language , as said in Romans 8:26 Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness; for we do not know how to pray as we ought, but that very Spirit intercedes with sighs too deep for words.John 14:26 But the Advocate,the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you everything, and remind you of all that I have said to you.

How would a person enter into another person’s body. I rember hearing about people sleeping in dead animals eg a horse but I cant verify it. This would never happen with a human body. You could enter a big animal and hide but never a human (especially not through a wound)
I mean, the language used here isnt exactly an easy one for me.
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Since the Holy spirits teaches us how to pray more that the medieval Prophets as in Ephesians 3:5 In former generations this mystery was not made known to humankind, as it has now been revealed to his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit:

As Jesus also prayed in Hebrews 5:7 In the days of his flesh, Jesus offered up prayers and supplications, with loud cries and tears, to the one who was able to save him from death, and he was heard because of his reverent submission.

1 Kings 8:27 “But will God indeed dwell on the earth? Even heaven and the highest heaven cannot contain you, much less this house that I have built!

1 Corinthians 6:19-20 Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, which you have from God, and that you are not your own? 20 For you were bought with a price; therefore glorify God in your body.

1 Corinthians 3:16 Do you not know that you are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit dwells in you?

Romans 12:1 I appeal to you therefore, brothers and sisters, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. 2 Do not be conformed to this world,but be transformed by the renewing of your minds, so that you may discern what is the will of God—what is good and acceptable and perfect.

Thus Jesus heart is big enough to contain the whole universe even the heavens and the earth. we can always prayer thus, Jesus i place my family and myself in your heart guide and protect me from all dangers both physically and mentally and against all the enemies of my soul,and salvation

As St Francis of Assisi said The world is my monastery, my body is my cell, and my soul is the hermit within.​

 
When do you say this prayer? I say it before lunch. It is often called a communion prayer, right? Anyone who said it at Mass?
 
Anima Christi is traditionally said as a Thanksgiving prayer after Communion. A partial indulgence is earned when a Catholic in a state of grace says it at that time. I always say both it and “Look down upon me, good and gentle Jesus” after Communion in order to get the two partial indulgences (One for each prayer or else hopefully a bigger single partial indulgence for saying both prayers).

We wouldn’t typically say Anima Christi before lunch, although it’s not forbidden or anything, it’s just not the typical lunch prayer. You’re not consuming the Body and Blood of Christ, you’re consuming your lunch. We would more likely say the Grace Before Meals (aka Benedic, Domine).
 
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I say grace as well.
At Mass I only want to follow the Liturgy without private devotions.
 
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Thanksgiving after Communion is not a private devotion, it’s part of the Mass. We’re all supposed to give thanks after Communion in some way. If you don’t want to use Anima Christi, you can use whatever words you want, or no words, just give your thoughts to God, but it’s part of the Mass, not a “private devotion”, and is why we usually have a quiet time after Communion (although some priests rush it).
 
Mass is obviosly not a private devotion but Anima Christi is, right?
 
Please read my post again.

There is nothing requiring you to use Anima Christi in your giving thanks to God after Holy Communion. However, if someone personally chose to use Anima Christi, or the Our Father, or silent reflection on Scripture, or the Jesus Prayer, or one’s own words, or just turning one’s thoughts to God, in giving thanks after Holy Communion and before the priest says “The Mass is Ended, go in peace”, then it’s not a “private devotion”.
The Mass is still going on.
We are expected to give some kind of thanks to God after we receive Him in the Eucharist.
By contrast, we are discouraged from doing “private devotions” during Mass.
Therefore, giving thanks to God may be private in the sense that we don’t say a prayer in union with the whole congregation, but it’s not a “private devotion” in the sense of “I don’t like to do private devotions during Mass”.

If you said a prayer of Thanksgiving after Mass, as in after the priest said “The Mass is Ended”, THEN it would be a “private devotion”. Because the Mass is over.

Nobody cares if you ever say Anima Christi after Communion, at lunch, or any other time. In fact, I’d recommend that if you’re going to complain this much about the prayer, just skip it because it’s obviously not working for you. Say another prayer.

But if you received Communion without offering some kind of gratitude or thanksgiving to God, in a form that works for you ,that would be wrong.
 
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