A Prayer before Mass by St. Thomas Aquinas.
Almighty and everlasting God, behold
I come to the Sacrament of Thine only-begotten Son, our Lord Jesus Christ: I
come as one infirm to the physician of life, as one unclean to the fountain of
mercy, as one blind to the light of everlasting brightness, as one poor and
needy to the Lord of heaven and earth. Therefore I implore the abundance of Thy
measureless bounty that Thou wouldst vouchsafe to heal my infirmity, wash my
uncleanness, enlighten my blindness, enrich my poverty and clothe my nakedness,
that I may receive the Bread of Angels, the King of kings, the Lord of lords,
with such reverence and humility, with such sorrow and devotion, with such
purity and faith, with such purpose and intention as may be profitable to my
soul's salvation. Grant unto me, I pray, the grace of receiving not only the
Sacrament of our Lord's Body and Blood, but also the grace and power of the
Sacrament. O most gracious God, grant me so to receive the Body of Thine
only-begotten Son, our Lord Jesus Christ, which He took from the Virgin Mary,
as to merit to be incorporated into His mystical Body, and to be numbered
amongst His members. O most loving Father, give me grace to behold forever Thy
beloved Son with His face at last unveiled, whom I now purpose to receive under
the sacramental veil here below.
Amen.
Amen.
