Contents Oratio ante perceptionem Eucharistiae
Prayer before the reception of the Eucharist
AnteMissam


This prayer appears in the corpus of St. Anselm's (1033 - 1109) works in Migne's Patrologia Latina. St. Anselm was the founder of Scholasticism and is a Doctor of the Church. The opening line bears a striking resemblance to the priest's private prayer before communion in the current Roman Missal, which first appears in a 9th century Sacramentary of Amiens, and no doubt was influenced by it.

DOMINE Iesu Christe, Fili Dei vivi, qui ex voluntate Patris, cooperante Spiritu Sancto, per mortem tuam mundum vivificasti, adoro et veneror hoc sanctum Corpus tuum, et hunc sanctum Sanguinem tuum, quod traditum, et qui effusus est pro multis in remissionem peccatorum. Deprecor clementiam tuam, misericors Domine, per horum virtutem, fac me unum de illis multis, et fac me haec sic sentire per fidem et affectum, ut sentiam ea per salutis effectum: et absolve et libera servos et ancillas tuas, me et omnes qui mihi confessi sunt sua peccata, et pro quibus promisi vel obnoxius sum orare, et qui se sperant vel petunt meis orationibus apud te iuvari, ab omni peccato et poena peccati; et fac Ecclesiam nostram continua tua protectione et consolatione laetari. Qui cum Deo Patre... Amen. O LORD Jesus Christ, Son of the Living God, who according to the will of the Father and with the cooperation of the Holy Spirit hast by Thy death given life unto the world, I adore and revere this Thy holy Body which was given over and this Thy holy Blood which was poured forth for the many unto the remission of sins. O merciful Lord, I beg of Thy mercy that through the power of this sacrament Thou willst make me one of that many. Through faith and love make me feel the power of these sacraments so I may experience their saving power. Absolve and free from all sin and punishment of sin Thy servants, Thy handmaidens, myself, all who have confessed their sins to me, those who I have promised or am obliged to pray for, and so too those who themselves hope or beg to be helped by my prayers with Thee. Make our Church rejoice in Thy constant protection and consolation. Thou who with God the Father.... Amen.

From PL, Migne, V 158, p 1035. Tr. MWM.


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