Wednesday, September 11, 2013

Preparing to Receive Holy Communion



A Litany of Preparation for Receiving Holy Communion
(Contemporary English)


God the Father: 
   Have mercy on us.

God the Son: 
   Have mercy on us.

God the Holy Spirit: 
   Have mercy on us.

Holy Trinity, One God: 
   Have mercy on us.

Help us, O God our Savior: 
   Have mercy on us.

From the dominion of all vices: 
   Lord, deliver us.

From blindness of heart: 
   Lord, deliver us.

From all evil: 
   Lord, deliver us.

Spare us from our sin: 
  Grant this, Lord

Give us a sure hope: 
  Grant this, Lord

Give us a right faith: 
  Grant this, Lord

Bestow on us a perfect love: 
  Grant this, Lord

Mortify in us all vices: 
  Grant this, Lord

Enliven us in all virtues: 
  Grant this, Lord

By your Incarnation open for us an entrance into the Holy of Holies: 
  Grant this, Lord

By this most holy Mystery renew our souls and bodies: 
  Grant this, Lord

By it, purify our consciences: 
  Grant this, Lord

Let not this tremendous Mystery be to our condemnation: 
  Grant this, Lord

That we may handle with pure hands this Holy Sacrament: 
  Grant this, Lord

That we may receive it with pure minds: 
  Grant this, Lord

That by it we may obtain pardon of all sins: 
  Grant this, Lord

That by it we may evermore cleave to you: 
  Grant this, Lord

That by it we may dwell in you, and you in us: 
  Grant this, Lord

That through it you will pour into our hearts the Grace of the Holy Spirit: 
  Grant this, Lord

That it may please you to preserve the Christian people who have been redeemed by your most precious Blood: 
  Grant this, Lord

That through it we may find repentance: 
  Grant this, Lord

The Lord be with you.
  And also with you.

Let us pray.

Take away from us, O Lord, all our sins and the spirit of pride and arrogance which you resist, and fill us with the spirit of a godly fear, giving us a contrite and humble heart, which you do not despise, that we may be enabled with pure minds to enter into the Holy of Holies; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.  

Adapted from an ancient Litany, c. 900 AD.
The closing collect was adapted from the
 Mozarabic original.

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