THE THREE PRAYERS BEFORE COMMUNION

A REFLECTION FOR THE SUNDAY WITHIN THE OCTAVE OF SACRED HEART

Today I wish to offer one last confirmation of those three requirements for salvation that are demanded of all of us.  On this feast of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus, we would do well to take a look at the three prayers said in silence by the priest at Mass in the seconds before he receives Holy Communion.

Look at them with new eyes, and behold! You will find that in these three prayers the priest is asking, in the name of all of us, that we may fulfill the same three requirements of 1) having the true faith through our membership of Christ’s Church; 2) keeping the commandments and remaining in the state of grace; and 3) receiving and uniting with our Lord in holy Communion.

O Lord Jesu Christ, who saidst to thine Apostles:  Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: regard not my sins, but the faith of thy Church: and grant her that peace and unity which is agreeable to thy will:  Who livest and reignest, God, world without end.  Amen.

O Lord Jesu Christ, Son of the living God, whom the Father with the Holy Ghost hath willed by death to make the world to live: by this most holy Body and Blood of thine, set me free from all my sins, and from all evil things: and make me in such wise ever to abide in thy commandmentsthat I may never be separated  from thee: Who with the same God the Father, and Holy Ghost, livest and reignest, One God, world without end.  Amen.

O Lord Jesu Christ, I, thine unworthy servant, do presume to take thy Body: but let not this act be unto my judgment and damnation: rather, of thy mercy let it ward me in body and soul, and shew thy healing forth in me: Who livest and reignest with God the Father in the unity of the Holy Ghost, ever one God, world without end.  Amen.

We pray for these three things so that we may be worthy of the promises of Christ.  The three prayers coincide perfectly with the three contents of the Ark of the Covenant, the holist artefact of the Old Testament.  May the Staff of Aaron lead us into the Church and into the way of truth!  May the Ten Commandments be our unfailing guide in our struggle to stay on the straight and narrow path that leads to salvation!  And may the Manna of the New Testament, the Bread of Life that is Christ himself, strengthen, nourish and protect us in our journey towards our Promised Land!  Above all, may each of them join us to God in this world, so that we may be ready to be one with him in heaven.  One with Christ’s Mystical Body the Church, temples of the Holy Spirit in the state of grace, and supremely united to Christ, spiritually, physically and mystically in the Blessed Sacrament of Unity.    May God grant us these three most needful things!