Preparation for Holy Mass

Mother of mercy and of love, most blessed Virgin Mary, I, a poor and unworthy sinner, fly to thee with all my heart and all my affection. I implore thy loving-kindness, that even as thou didst stand beside thy dear Son as He hung upon the Cross, so wilt thou also stand by me, a poor sinner, and by all the priests who are offering Mass here today and throughout the entire Church. Grant us that, by thy grace, we may offer a worthy and acceptable sacrifice in the sight of the most high and undivided Trinity. Amen.

Happy and blessed art thou, O Joseph, to whom it was given not only to see and to hear that God whom many kings desired to see, and saw not, to hear, and heard not; but also to bear Him in thine arms, to embrace Him, to clothe Him, and to guard and defend Him.

. Pray for us, O blessed Joseph.

. That we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ.

let us pray

O God, who hast given unto us a royal priesthood, vouchsafe, we beseech Thee, that as Blessed Joseph was found worthy to handle with his hands, and bear within his arms, thine only-begotten Son, born of the Virgin Mary, so may we be made fit, by cleanness of heart and innocence of works, worthily to receive the most sacred Body and Blood of thy Son, now in this present, and deserve to attain an everlasting reward in the world to come. Through the same Christ our Lord. Amen.

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.

Who lives and reigns with Thee in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God, forever. Amen.

Lord Jesus Christ, I approach thy banquet table in fear and trembling, for I am a sinner, and dare not rely on my own worth, but only on thy goodness and mercy. I am defiled by my many sins in body and soul, and by my unguarded thoughts and words.

Gracious God of majesty and awe, I seek thy protection, I look for thy healing. Poor troubled sinner that I am, I appeal to Thee, the fountain of all mercy. I cannot bear thy judgment, but I trust in thy salvation.

Lord, I show my wounds to Thee and uncover my shame before Thee. I know my sins are many and great, and they fill me with fear, but I hope in thy 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 Thee. Have mercy on me, full of sorrow and sin, for the depth of thy compassion never ends.

Praise to Thee, 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, thy creature, whom Thou hast redeemed with thy blood; I repent my sins, and I long to put right what I have done.

Merciful Father, take away all my offences and sins; purify me in body and soul, and make me worthy to taste the Holy of Holies.

May thy 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 Thee, and a firm defence of body and soul against the wiles of my enemies. Amen.