What words to pray?

[on_the_hill]

I had never been taught and have never been told what to pray when I first enter the pew at Mass and when I return to the pew after receiving Communion.

It seems like a silly question, but are there specific prayers we’re supposed to meditate on during those times? I always made it up as I went along.

By the way, I’m in my late 40s.

 

[pianistclare]

Speak from the heart. There nothing " written in stone". Specifically, one should view this special time as time alone, personally, with Jesus. Yes, we receive in community, but when Jesus is with you personally, body, blood, soul, and divinity, only you can put together the words that need to be said to Him. Thus the church doesn’t specify what you should say.

The Anima Christi is a beautiful, ( and rather traditional) post-communion prayer:

Soul of Christ, sanctify me
Body of Christ, save me
Blood of Christ, inebriate me
Water from Christ’s side, wash me
Passion of Christ, strengthen me
O good Jesus, hear me
Within Thy wounds hide me
Suffer me not to be separated from Thee
From the malicious enemy defend me
In the hour of my death call me
And bid me come unto Thee
That I may praise Thee with Thy saints
and with Thy angels
Forever and ever
Amen

 

[Della]

What I was taught to do, but it’s completely optional, is to offer our intentions before Mass, such as this:

Father, I offer this Mass for the intentions of the celebrant, those in attendance, our loved ones, those recommended to our prayers and those for whom we have promised to pray. I desire to participate in this Mass with ardor and devotion, therefore, I ask your mercy, forgiveness and help. Amen.

After receiving the Eucharist I give thanks and ask for the graces of the sacrament.

After Mass, I thank God for the joy, privilege and freedom to worship him in spirit and in truth, to have heard his word proclaimed, and to have received the body and blood, soul and divinity of Christ, his Son, Our Lord. I then ask that the graces I received might enable me to be holy and do good in love. I finish by asking for the intercession of Mary, St. Joseph and the saints and angels to aid me in my intention to do God’s will.

Having written all that, whatever helps you or however you feel moved to pray is just fine. But, it does help to have some type of form/template to follow, as long as the form doesn’t overwhelm the substance of your prayers.

 

[on_the_hill]

Thank you.

 

[Della]

Thank you.

You’re welcome. Here’s a resource you may find helpful: catholic.org/prayers/prayer.php?p=126.

 

[John_Lilburne]

The Roman Missal envisages singing during the Communion Procession, from the General Instruction:

“86. While the priest is receiving the Sacrament, the Communion Chant is begun, its purpose being to express the spiritual union of he communicants by means of the unity of their voices, to show gladness of heart, and to bring out more clearly the ‘communitarian’ character of the procession to receive the Eucharist. The singing is prolonged for as long as the Sacrament is being administered to the faithful.”

If there is no singing there is the Communion Antiphon.

At the back of the Roman Missal there are prayers under the heading “Thanksgiving After Mass”. These are:
Prayer of Saint Thomas Aquinas
Prayer to the Most Holy Redeemer
Prayer of Self-Offering
Prayer to Our Lord Jesus Christ Crucified
The Universal Prayer Attributed to Pope Clement XI
Prayers to the Blessed Virgin Mary

Under the heading “Preparation for Mass” it has:
Prayer of Saint Ambrose, beginning “I draw near, loving Lord Jesus Christ”.
Prayer of Saint Thomas Aquinas, beginning “Almighty eternal God, behold, I come to the Sacrament …”.
Prayer to the Blessed Virgin Mary, beginning “O most Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of tenderness and mercy …”.
Formula of Intent. This is clearly intended for a priest, as it begins: “My intention is to celebrate Mass and to consecrate the Body and Blood of our Lord Jesus Christ according to the Rite of the Holy Roman Church, …”.

 

[on_the_hill]

The Roman Missal envisages singing during the Communion Procession, from the General Instruction:

“86. While the priest is receiving the Sacrament, the Communion Chant is begun, its purpose being to express the spiritual union of he communicants by means of the unity of their voices, to show gladness of heart, and to bring out more clearly the ‘communitarian’ character of the procession to receive the Eucharist. The singing is prolonged for as long as the Sacrament is being administered to the faithful.”

If there is no singing there is the Communion Antiphon.

So singing along is a valid option? I can do that–I usually sing to start off, but I usually stop when I receive, because I thought I was supposed to pray.

 

[GoGoDiego]

Soul of Christ, sanctify me
Body of Christ, save me
Blood of Christ, inebriate me
Water from Christ’s side, wash me
Passion of Christ, strengthen me
O good Jesus, hear me
Within Thy wounds hide me
Suffer me not to be separated from Thee
From the malicious enemy defend me
In the hour of my death call me
And bid me come unto Thee
That I may praise Thee with Thy saints
and with Thy angels
Forever and ever
Amen

My uncle’s parish always sings that when the priest or acolyte purify the vessels. We sing it all kneeling when we have a chance to attend Mass there.

 

[GoGoDiego]

Since I have a hand missal, I pray the communion antiphon and Psalm 117 when I go back. I usually pray Psalm 42 before the Mass and after the Mass, the Leonine Prayers.

 

[baliano]

So singing along is a valid option? I can do that–I usually sing to start off, but I usually stop when I receive, because I thought I was supposed to pray.

I know I’m going to catch some flak but singing in church is one of the worst deterrents to prayer, especially after communion. It took me a long time before I could tune out the caterwauling and pray in thanksgiving for what I had just received.

I now arrive at church a full hour before Mass so I can pray a rosary and some personal prayers before Mass and pray them before the choir makes its noisy entrance and tunes up/warms up.

I understand singing is a form of prayer but like all things it should be in moderation, at appropriate times and should not preempt the personal prayer needs of the congregation. The period after communion is one time that quiet is appropriate, it is a period when the congregation should be concentrating on what they just witnessed and received, it’s should not be another Kumbaya moment for the choir.