Prayer of St. Thomas Aquinas
I give thee thanks, O Lord Holy, Father Almighty, Everlasting God: for that thou hast vouchsafed to feed me a sinner, through no merits of mine own, but only by the infinite goodness of thy mercy, with the precious Body and Blood of thy Son, Jesus Christ our Lord. And I pray thee that this Holy Communion may not bring upon me guilt unto an increase in my condemnation; but may be an effectual intercession for my pardon and salvation. Let it be unto me the armour of faith and the shield of godly resolution. Let it be profitable unto me for deliverance from all manner of vices; for the destruction of all concupiscence and wantonness; for the increase of charity and patience, of holiness and obedience; and for advancement in all manner of virtues. Let it be my sure defence against all the assaults of mine enemies seen and unseen; let it be effectual for the subduing of all sinful motions both of my flesh and of my spirit; that cleaving steadfastly unto thee, the one true God, I may attain in the end unto perfect felicity. And I pray thee that thou wouldest vouchsafe to bring me a sinner, unto the unspeakable joys of that heavenly banquet; where thou, with thy Son and the Holy Ghost, art to thy Saints true light and full contentment, everlasting joy, delight unfailing, and perfect happiness. Through the same Christ our Lord. Amen.
Prayer of St Bonaventure
Pierce, I beseech thee, O most dear Lord Jesus Christ, my inmost soul with the most joyous and healthful wound of thy love, and with true, calm, and most holy apostolic charity, in such wise that my soul may ever languish and grow weak, consumed with the fever of divine love in yearning after thee alone; that I may have a desire to enter into thy courts, and thus to be dissolved and to be with thee. Grant that my soul may hunger after thee, who art the Bread of Angels and the comforting refreshment of the souls of the Saints. Be thou each day our daily Bread, containing in itself all sweetness and savour, and able to content every man's delight. Be thou each day that for which my heart doth hunger, that it may always feed upon thee, on whom the Angels ever desire to set their gaze. May my soul ever thirst for thee, who art the source of life, the fount of wisdom and knowledge, the brightness of everlasting light, the flood of all true happiness, the fullness of the house of God. May I at all times think of thee; may I ever seek thee and ever find thee; may I always follow thee and reach thee; may thy holy Name be in my heart and on my lips; and to thy praise and glory may every work of mine be done. Humble and discreet, loving and happy, ever ready, and cheerful in thy service, may I persevere, by thy grace, even unto the end. Be thou alone and evermore my hope; be thou all my trust; be thou my wealth, my delight, my joy, my consolation, my rest and endless peace. Be thou to me as a goodly taste, as a pleasant perfume, as a soothing sweetness. Be thou my food and my refreshment; my refuge and my help; my wisdom; my portion, mine own possession, and my treasure. In thee, O Lord, may my mind and my heart remain ever fixed and firm, and rooted immovably for evermore. Amen.
Prayer before a Crucifix
Look down upon me, O good and most dear Jesus, while before thy sight I humbly kneel, and with the greatest desire of my soul, do pray and beseech thee to fix deep within my heart lively sentiments of faith, hope, and charity, true contrition for my sins, and a firm purpose of amendment: and while I contemplate with great love and sorrow thy five wounds, contemplating them within me, and having before mine eyes that which David the prophet spoke concerning thee, O good Jesus: They have pierced my hands and my feet, they have numbered all my bones.
Prayer to the Blessed Virgin Mary
O Mary most holy, Virgin and Mother, behold I have received thy most beloved Son whom thou hast conceived in thine immaculate womb, brought forth, nourished, and embraced with caresses most gentle. Behold, I present and offer unto thee, with all reverence and humility, him at whose very sight thou shalt rejoice, and be filled with all delights, that he may be loved by thy heart, and be embraced in thine arms; that he may be offered unto the Most Holy Trinity in the supreme act of worship, for thine honour and glory and for mine own needs and of the whole earth. I ask thee, therefore, O most holy Mother, to beg for me the forgiveness of all my sins, the abundant grace of henceforth serving him more faithfully, and the final grace, that I may be able to praise him with thee forever and ever. Amen.
Prayer to St Joseph
O guardian and Father of Virgins, Holy Joseph, to whose faithful care was committed Christ Jesus, very innocence itself, and Mary, Virgin of virgins, I beg and beseech thee through this double dear pledge of Jesus and Mary, that, preserved from all uncleanness, thou mayest make me with an undefiled mind, a pure heart, and a chaste body, to serve Jesus and Mary ever most chastely. Amen.
