Thanksgiving after Holy Mass

St. Michael the Archangel, defend us in battle. Be our defence against the wickedness and snares of the devil. May God rebuke him, we humbly pray, and do thou, O Prince of the heavenly hosts, by the power of God, cast into hell Satan and all the evil spirits who prowl about the world seeking the ruin of souls. Amen.

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 defence 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.

Pierce, O most sweet Lord Jesus, my inmost soul with the most joyous and healthful wound of thy love, and with true, calm and most holy apostolic charity, that my soul may ever languish and melt with entire love and longing for Thee, may yearn for Thee and for thy courts, may long to be dissolved and to be with Thee.

Grant that my soul may hunger after Thee, the Bread of Angels, the refreshment of holy souls, our daily and super substantial bread, having all sweetness and savour and every delightful taste.

May my heart ever hunger after and feed upon Thee, whom the angels desire to look upon, and may my inmost soul be filled with the sweetness of thy savour; may it ever thirst for Thee, the fountain of life, the fountain of wisdom and knowledge, the fountain of eternal light, the torrent of pleasure, the fullness of the house of God;

May it ever compass Thee, seek Thee, find Thee, run to Thee, come up to Thee, meditate on Thee, speak of Thee, and do all for the praise and glory of thy name, with humility and discretion, with love and delight, with ease and affection, with perseverance to the end; and be Thou alone ever my hope, my entire confidence, my riches, my delight, my pleasure, my joy, my rest and tranquility, my peace, my sweetness, my food, my refreshment, my refuge, my help, my wisdom, my portion, my possession, my treasure; in whom may my mind and my heart be ever fixed and firm and rooted immovably. Amen.

Attributed to Pope Clement XI

Lord, I believe in You: increase my faith. I trust in You: strengthen my trust. I love You: let me love You more and more. I am sorry for my sins: deepen my sorrow.

I worship You as my first beginning, I long for You as my last end, I praise You as my constant helper, and call on You as my loving protector.

Guide me by your wisdom, correct me with your justice, comfort me with your mercy, protect me with your power.

I offer You, Lord, my thoughts: to be fixed on You; my words: to have You for their theme; my actions: to reflect my love for You; my sufferings: to be endured for your greater glory.

I want to do what You ask of me: in the way You ask, for as long as You ask, because You ask it.

Lord, enlighten my understanding, strengthen my will, purify my heart, and make me holy.

Help me to repent of my past sins and to resist temptation in the future. Help me to rise above my human weaknesses and to grow stronger as a Christian.

Let me love You, my Lord and my God, and see myself as I really am: a pilgrim in this world, a Christian called to respect and love all whose lives I touch, those under my authority, my friends and my enemies.

Help me to conquer anger with gentleness, greed by generosity, apathy by fervor. Help me to forget myself and reach out toward others.

Make me prudent in planning, courageous in taking risks. Make me patient in suffering, unassuming in prosperity.

Keep me, Lord, attentive at prayer, temperate in food and drink, diligent in my work, firm in my good intentions.

Let my conscience be clear, my conduct without fault, my speech blameless, my life well-ordered.

Put me on guard against my human weaknesses. Let me cherish your love for me, keep your law, and come at last to your salvation.

Teach me to realize that this world is passing, that my true future is the happiness of heaven, that life on earth is short, and the life to come eternal.

Help me to prepare for death with a proper fear of judgment, but a greater trust in your goodness.

Lead me safely through death to the endless joy of heaven. Grant this through Christ our Lord. Amen.

Behold, O good and loving Jesus, that I cast myself on my knees before You and, with the greatest fervor of spirit, I pray and beseech You to instil into my heart ardent sentiments of faith, hope and charity, with true repentance for my sins and a most firm purpose of amendment. With deep affection and sorrow I ponder intimately and contemplate in my mind your five wounds, having before my eyes what the prophet David had already put in your mouth about Yourself, O good Jesus: They have pierced my hands and my feet; they have numbered all my bones (Ps 22:17-18).

Soul of Christ, sanctify me.

Body of Christ, save me.

Blood of Christ, embolden me.

Water from the side of Christ, wash me.

Passion of Christ, strengthen me.

O good Jesus, hear me.

Within your wounds hide me.

Never permit me to be parted from You.

From the evil enemy defend me.

At the hour of my death call me

and bid me come to You,

that with your Saints I may praise You for age upon age. Amen.

O Mary, Virgin and Mother most holy, behold, I have received thy dearly beloved Son, whom thou didst conceive in thy immaculate womb, didst bring forth and nourish and strain to thyself in sweetest embrace.

Behold Him whose every glance filled thee with joy and all delight: Him I present and offer to thee in loving humility, to be clasped in thy arms and loved in thy heart, and to be offered in supreme adoration to the most Holy Trinity, for thine own honor and glory, for my needs, and for the needs of the whole world.

I beg thee, therefore, most dear Mother, obtain for me forgiveness of all my sins, the precious grace of serving thee more faithfully for the future, and that final grace of being able along with thee to praise Him through endless ages. Amen.

Saint Joseph, Guardian of virgins and father, to whose faithful care Christ Jesus, innocence itself, and Mary, Virgin of virgins, were entrusted, I ask and beg of thee, through these two dearest pledges, Jesus and Mary, preserve me from all defilement, and make it always possible for me unsullied in mind, pure in heart, and chaste in body to give to Jesus and Mary my holiest service. Amen.

Antiphon. Let us sing the hymn of the three children, which these holy ones sang of old in the fiery furnace, giving praise to the Lord (Easter Time. Alleluia).

Canticle of the Three Children

Dan. 3:57-88; 56

1. Bless the Lord, all you works of the Lord; praise and exalt Him above all forever.

2.⁠ ⁠Heavens, bless the Lord; angels of the Lord, bless the Lord.

3.⁠ ⁠All you waters that are above the heavens, bless the Lord; let all the powers bless the Lord.

4.⁠ ⁠Sun and moon, bless the Lord; stars of heaven, bless the Lord.

5. Every shower and dew, bless the Lord; all you winds, bless the Lord.

6.⁠ ⁠Fire and heat, bless the Lord; cold and heat, bless the Lord.

7.⁠ ⁠Dews and hoar frosts, bless the Lord; frost and cold, bless the Lord.

8.⁠ ⁠Ice and snow, bless the Lord; nights and days, bless the Lord.

9.⁠ ⁠Light and darkness, bless the Lord; lightnings and clouds, bless the Lord.

10. Let the earth bless the Lord; let it praise and exult Him above all for ever.

11.⁠ ⁠Mountains and hills, bless the Lord; everything growing from the earth, bless the Lord.

12.⁠ ⁠Seas and rivers, bless the Lord; fountains, bless the Lord

13.⁠ ⁠Whales and all that move in the waters, bless the Lord; all you fowls of the air, bless the Lord.

14.⁠ ⁠All you beasts and cattle, bless the Lord; sons of men, bless the Lord.

15.⁠ ⁠Israel, bless the Lord; praise and exalt Him above all forever.

16.⁠ ⁠Priests of the Lord, bless the Lord; servants of the Lord, bless the Lord.

17.⁠ ⁠Spirits and souls of the just, bless the Lord; holy men of humble heart, bless the Lord.

18.⁠ ⁠Ananias, Azarias and Misaël, bless the Lord; praise and exalt Him above all for ever.

19.⁠ ⁠Let us bless the Father and the Son, with the Holy Spirit; let us praise and exalt Him above all for ever.

20.⁠ ⁠Blessed are You, Lord, in the firmament of heaven; and worthy of praise, and glorious above all for ever.

Neither the Glory Be nor Amen is said here.

Psalm 150

1. Praise the Lord in his holy place, praise Him in his mighty heavens.

2.⁠ ⁠Praise Him for his powerful deeds, praise his surpassing greatness.

3.⁠ ⁠O praise Him with sound of trumpet, praise Him with lute and harp.

4.⁠ ⁠Praise Him with timbrel and dance, praise Him with strings and pipes.

5.⁠ ⁠O praise Him with resounding cymbals, praise Him with clashing of cymbals. Let everything that lives and that breathes give praise to the Lord

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.

As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.

Antiphon. Let us sing the hymn of the three children, which these holy ones sang of old in the fiery furnace, giving praise to the Lord (Easter Time. Alleluia).

All stand and the person leading the prayer says:

. Lord have mercy.

. Christ, have mercy. Lord, have mercy.

Our Father.

. And lead us not into temptation.

. But deliver us from evil.

. Let all your works praise You, Lord.

. And let your Saints bless You.

. Your saints shall rejoice in glory.

. They shall rejoice in their resting place.

. Not unto us, Lord, not unto us.

. But unto your name give glory.

. O Lord, hear my prayer.

. And let my cry come unto You.

Priests add:

. The Lord be with you.

. And with your spirit.

let us pray

God, who did allay the flames of fire for three children, grant in your mercy that the flame of vice may not consume us your servants.

Direct, we beseech You, Lord, our actions by your inspirations, and further them by your assistance: that every word and work of ours may begin always from You and by You be likewise ended.

Quench in us, we beseech You, Lord, the flame of vice, even as You did enable blessed Lawrence to overcome his fire of sufferings. Through Christ our Lord.

. Amen.