Participating at Mass& Offering of Holy Communion
The greatest prayer we can pray is to fully and actively participate in the Sacrifice of the Mass and offer up Holy Communion. It would be praiseworthy to frequently offer Holy Communion for the sanctification of Priests, especially the priest that you have adopted as a Spiritual Mother.
Prepare for Mass by meditating on the Mass readings of the day and praying the Divine Office (the Liturgy of the Hours). Praying Morning Prayer (Lauds) and Evening Prayer (Vespers), as well as the other hours of the Divine Office, help us sanctify our day and prepare us to actively participate at Mass. During Mass, as the priest elevates the Sacred Host and Precious Blood after the Consecration, spiritually “put yourself” on the paten and in the chalice for your specific Holy Communion intention.
After receiving Holy Communion, renew your specific intention to Jesus while he is Truly, Really, and Substantially within you. For example, you may want to say to our Lord within you: “Jesus I offer this Holy Communion for the fidelity and perseverance of Father (Name of your spiritually adopted priest). Make sure to spend some quiet time in prayer after Mass making a Eucharistic thanksgiving. Jesus physically remains within us for about twelve minutes after we receive Him.
Prayer Before Mass
Prayer of St. Ambrose
Lord, Jesus Christ, I approach your banquet table in fear and trembling, for I am a sinner, and dare not rely on my own worth but only on your goodness and mercy. I am defiled by many sins in body and soul, and by my unguarded thoughts and words. Gracious God of majesty and awe, I seek your protection, I look for your healing; Poor troubled sinner that I am, I appeal to you, the fountain of all mercy. I cannot bear your judgment, but I trust in your salvation. Lord, I show my wounds to you. I know my sins are many and great, and they fill me with fear, but I hope in your mercies, for they cannot be numbered. Lord Jesus Christ, eternal King, God and man, crucified for mankind, look upon me with mercy and hear my prayer, for I trust in you. Have mercy on me, full of sorrow and sin,for the depth of your compassion never ends. Praise to you, saving sacrifice, offered on the wood of the cross for me and for all mankind. Praise to the noble and precious blood,flowing from the wounds of my crucified Lord Jesus Christ and washing away the sins of the whole world. Remember, Lord, your creature, whom you have redeemed with your blood. I repent my sins, and I long to put right what I have done. Merciful Father, take away all my offenses and sins; purify me in body and soul, and make me worthy to taste the holy of holies. May your body and blood, which I intend to receive, although I am unworthy, be for me the remission of my sins, the washing away of my guilt, the end of my evil thoughts, and the rebirth of my better instincts. May it incite me to do the works pleasing to you and profitable to my health in body and soul, and be a firm defense against the wiles of my enemies. Amen.
“Rather, blessed is she who hears the word of God and keeps it!”
–Luke 11:28
Prayer after Mass
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 & 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.