prayer of st. thomas aquinas
Lord, Father all-powerful and ever-living God, I thank you, for even though I am a sinner, your unprofitable servant, not because of my worth but in the kindness of your mercy, you have fed me with the precious body and blood of your Son, our Lord Jesus Christ. I pray that this holy communion may not bring me condemnation and punishment but forgiveness and salvation. May it be a helmet of faith and a shield of good will. May it purify me from evil ways and put an end to my evil passions. May it bring me charity and patience, humility and obedience, and growth in the power to do good. May it be my strong defense against all my enemies, visible and invisible, and the perfect calming of all my evil impulses, bodily and spiritual. May it unite me more closely to you, the one true God, and lead me safely through death to everlasting happiness with you. And I pray that you will lead me, a sinner, to the banquet where you, with your Son and Holy Spirit, are true and perfect light, total fulfillment, everlasting joy, gladness without end, and perfect happiness to your saints. Grant this through Christ our Lord. Amen.
Grátias tibi ago, Dómine, sancte Pater, omnípotens ætérne Deus, qui me peccatórem, indígnum fámulum tuum, nullis meis méritis, sed sola dignatióne misericórdiæ tuæ satiáre dignátus es pretióso Córpore et Sánguine Fílii tui, Dómini nostri Iesu Christi. Et precor, ut hæc sancta commúnio non sit mihi reátus ad pœnam, sed intercéssio salutáris ad véniam. Sit mihi armatúra fídei, et scutum bonæ voluntátis. Sit vitiórum meórum evacuátio, concupiscéntiæ et libídinis exterminátio, caritátis et patiéntiæ, humilitátis et obœdiéntiæ, omniúmque virtútum augmentátio: contra insídias inimicórum ómnium, tam visibílium quam invisibílium, firma defénsio: mótuum meórum, tam carnálium quam spiritálium, perfécta quietátio: in te uno ac vero Deo firma adhǽsio, atque finis mei felix consummátio. Et precor te, ut ad illud ineffábile convívium me peccatórem perdúcere dignéris, ubi tu, cum Fílio tuo et Spíritu Sancto, Sanctis tuis es lux vera, satíetas plena, gáudium sempitérnum, iucúnditas consummáta et felícitas perfécta. Per Christum Dóminum nostrum. Amen.