Catholic Faith and Reason
  • Home
  • Apologetics
    • Divinity of Christ>
      • Christ is God: Proofs from Scripture
      • The Bible>
        • The Bible in the Church
          • The Canon of the Old Testament
            • The Challenge to Bible Inerrancy: Combating Biblical Scepticism
            • Mary, Mother of God>
              • Mary: Our Mother in the Order of Grace
              • The Pope>
                • Papal Supremacy in the Bible and Church Fathers
                  • Papal Infallibility
                    • On This Rock
                    • The Eucharist>
                      • The Body and Blood of Christ I
                        • The Body and Blood of Christ II
                          • The Early Church Fathers Speak about the Eucharist
                            • Apologetics on the Doctrine of the Real Presence of Jesus in the Holy Eucharist.
                              • Prayers Before and After Holy Communion
                              • The Holy Spirit>
                                • The Gospel of the Holy Spirit
                                  • The Holy Spirit in the Life of the Church
                                    • Prayer to the Holy Spirit
                                    • Confessing Sins>
                                      • Confession of Sins - How Biblical is It
                                      • The Dignity of Life>
                                        • Support Life from Conception to Natural Death
                                          • Adult Stem Cell Cures
                                            • Vote for Pro-Life Candidates
                                            • Various Apologetics>
                                              • The Deposit of Faith and the Holy Spirit of God
                                                • Some Scriptures on Eternal Life
                                                  • St. Agustine Explains Genesis
                                                • Church Fathers
                                                  • 6th Century>
                                                    • St. Gregory the Great (540-604 A.D.)
                                                    • 5th Century>
                                                      • St. Leo the Great
                                                      • 4th Century>
                                                        • St. Ephraim (306-373 A.D.)
                                                          • St. Athanasius (295-373 A.D.)
                                                            • St. Basil the Great (330-379 A.D.)
                                                              • St. Gregory of Nazianz (330-389 A.D.)
                                                                • St. Augustine of Hippo (about 354-430 A.D.)>
                                                                  • Christian Truths
                                                                  • St. Gregory of Nyssa (330-395 A.D.)
                                                                    • St. John Chrysostom (about 344-407 A.D.)>
                                                                      • Writings of the Golden Mouth, Doctor of the Church
                                                                      • St. Ambrose of Milan (333-397 A.D.)
                                                                      • 3rd Century>
                                                                        • St. Hippolytus of Rome (170-236 A.D.)
                                                                          • Origen (185-253 A.D)
                                                                            • St. Cyprian of Carthage (200-253 A.D.)
                                                                            • 2nd Century>
                                                                              • St. Ignatius of Antioch (died 110 A.D.)
                                                                                • St. Polycarp of Smyrna (69-155 A.D.)
                                                                                  • St. Justin the Martyr (105-165 A.D.)
                                                                                    • Tertullian (155-245 A.D.)
                                                                                      • St. Irenaeus of Lyons (130-202 A.D.)
                                                                                        • St. Theophilus of Antioch (about 120-190 A.D.)
                                                                                          • St. Clement of Alexandria (150-216 A.D.)
                                                                                          • 1st Century>
                                                                                            • St. Clement of Rome (died 110 A.D.)
                                                                                          • Prayers
                                                                                            • Prayer to the Holy Spirit
                                                                                              • Prayer to St. Michael the Archangel
                                                                                                • Prayers Before and After Holy Communion
                                                                                                  • Prayers of St. Francis of Assisi
                                                                                                    • Prayer to Our Lady of Guadalupe
                                                                                                      • Prayer of St. Bonaventure
                                                                                                        • Anima Christi
                                                                                                          • Prayer of St. Thomas Aquinas
                                                                                                          • Upcoming Events
                                                                                                            • Events Calendar
                                                                                                              • Hot Item List
                                                                                                              • Bible Answers
                                                                                                              • Our Blog
                                                                                                              • Adult Faith Formation
                                                                                                                • Bishop Helmsing Institute
                                                                                                                  • Faith Formation Team Training
                                                                                                                    • Running A Bible Study
                                                                                                                    • Resources
                                                                                                                      • Audio Archive
                                                                                                                        • Listen to Catholic Radio
                                                                                                                          • Bibles Online
                                                                                                                            • The Catechism of the Catholic Chuch>
                                                                                                                              • Searchable Catechism
                                                                                                                                • Catechism on Vatican Website
                                                                                                                                • Catholic Glossary of Terms
                                                                                                                                  • Churches of the Holy Land
                                                                                                                                    • Teachings on Tape
                                                                                                                                      • Useful Websites
                                                                                                                                      • Contact Us

                                                                                                                                      Picture
                                                                                                                                      Prayer of St. Thomas Aquinas Before Mass

                                                                                                                                       






                                                                                                                                      Almighty and ever-living God,
                                                                                                                                      I approach the sacrament
                                                                                                                                      of Your only-begotten Son
                                                                                                                                      Our Lord Jesus Christ,
                                                                                                                                      I come sick to the doctor of life,
                                                                                                                                      unclean to the fountain of mercy,
                                                                                                                                      blind to the radiance of eternal light,
                                                                                                                                      and poor and needy to the Lord
                                                                                                                                      of heaven and earth.

                                                                                                                                      Lord, in your great generosity,
                                                                                                                                      heal my sickness,
                                                                                                                                      wash away my defilement,
                                                                                                                                      enlighten my blindness, enrich my poverty,
                                                                                                                                      and clothe my nakedness.
                                                                                                                                      May I receive the bread of angels,
                                                                                                                                      the King of kings and Lord of lords,
                                                                                                                                      with humble reverence,
                                                                                                                                      with the purity and faith,
                                                                                                                                      the repentance and love,
                                                                                                                                      and the determined purpose
                                                                                                                                      that will help to bring me to salvation.
                                                                                                                                      May I receive the sacrament
                                                                                                                                      of the Lord's Body and Blood,
                                                                                                                                      and its reality and power.

                                                                                                                                      Kind God,
                                                                                                                                      may I receive the Body
                                                                                                                                      of Your only-begotten Son,
                                                                                                                                      our Lord Jesus Christ,
                                                                                                                                      born from the womb of the Virgin Mary,
                                                                                                                                      and so be received into His mystical body
                                                                                                                                      and numbered among His members.

                                                                                                                                      Loving Father,
                                                                                                                                      as on my earthly pilgrimage
                                                                                                                                      I now receive Your beloved Son
                                                                                                                                      under the veil of a sacrament,
                                                                                                                                      may I one day see him face to face in glory,
                                                                                                                                      who lives and reigns with You forever.


                                                                                                                                      Amen.