Traditional Prayers After Mass Taken from the St. Andrew Daily Missal This page is dedicated to Father Nelson Baker, beloved and renowned Pastor of Our lady of Victory parish in Lackawana, New York, and whose cause is up for beatification. May all priest not only imitate his clerical deportment and garb, but most especially is steadfast and single-minded duty to the priesthood with the help of Our Lady, Queen of Clergy, every ready with the zeal for the salvation of souls. PRAYER OF ST AUGUSTINE (Made public by order of Pope Urban VII.) Before Thy eyes, O Lord, we bring our offences, and we compare them with the stripes we have received. If we consider the evil we have wrought, what we suffer is little, what we deserve is great. What we have committed is very grave, what we have suffered is very slight. We feel the punishment of sin, yet withdraw not from the obstinacy of sinning. Under Thy lash our inconstancy is visited, but our sinfulness is not changed. Our suffering soul is tonnented, but our neck is not bent. Our life groans under sorrow, yet mends not in deed. If Thou spare us we correct not our ways: if Thou punish we cannot endure it. In time of correction we confess our wrong-doing: after Thy visitation we forget that we have wept. If Thou stretchest forth Thy hand we promise amendment; if Thou withholdest the sword we keep not our promise. If Thou strikest we cry out for mercy: if Thou sparest we again provoke Thee to strike. Here we are before Thee, O Lord, shameless criminals: we know that unless Thou pardon we shall deservedly perish. Grant then, almighty Father, without our deserving it, the pardon we ask for; Thou who madest out of nothing those who ask Thee. Through Christ our Lord. Amen. V. Deal not with us, O Lord, according to our sins. R. Neither requite Us according to our iniquities. Let us pray. O God, Who by sin art offended and by penance pacified, mercifully regard the prayers of Thy suppliant people, and turn away the scourges of Thy wrath, which we deserve for our sins. Through Christ our Lord. R. Amen. OTHER DEVOTIONS AFTER HOLY COMMUNION The following acts, corresponding to the four ends of sacrifice, may also be said after Mass, or after Holy Communion outside Mass, by way of thanksgiving. AN ACT OF ADORATION O Lord Jesus, I have received Thee within myself, and from within the sanctuary of my heart into which Thou hast deigned to descend, do Thou give to almighty God, in my name, all the glory that is His due. I unite myself to Thee, O sacred humanity, Who in Heaven and in the Holy Eucharist, dost never cease offering to the most Holy Trinity an infinite worship, that which alone is truly worthy of the three Divine Persons. Through Thee, O Divine Priest, I wish to render glory to the Father, the Word and the Holy Ghost, even in proportion to the immensity of their Divine Majesty, because I know that by Thee, with Thee and in Thee all honour and glory are given to them. In union, therefore with Thee, I prostrate myself in adoration before God, acknowledging His sovereign dominion over me and over all creatures. AN ACT OF THANKSGIVING What shall I render to the Lord for all the favours and graces He has bestowed upon me? What great blessings both known and unknown have I not received, and to all this have I replied only with ingratitude. But having Thee, O Lord Jesus Christ, in my heart, I can at this very moment, pay my whole debt of gratitude to almighty God. For this purpose I unite myself to that infinite act of thanksgiving rising continually from Thy Sacred Heart. Thou knowest well all the gifts I have received from Thy Divine goodness ever since I was placed in the world and born again to the life of grace. Do Thou, O Lord, render for me due thanks to the most Holy Trinity, since in union with Thine Own giving of thanks do I desire to make my thanksgiving consist. AN ACT OF EXPIATION "The whole reason for our glory," says our holy Mother the Church, "is in Thee, O Christ, in Whom we live, in Whom we merit, in Whom we make satisfaction by worthy fruits of penance which, deriving their value from Thee, are offered to the Father by Thee, and accepted by Him through Thee" (Council of Trent). When I communicate I share truly in the Holy sacrifice of the Mass which with that of the Cross, makes but one true propitiatory sacrifice, since by the offering of Thy Precious Blood, O Lord, it obtains the favour of Thy heavenly Father. Therefore, do I beseech that this Holy Communion may appease the Divine justice, obtain deliverance of Souls from Purgatory, cleanse away venial sins and remit whatever temporal punishment may still remain due. May this intimate union of my heart with Thine, O Divine Victim of Calvary, make me die more and more to myself. I offer Thee, O God the Father, in union with the Sacrifice of Thy Son upon the Cross and as satisfaction for my sins, all the crosses which I shall have to bear during this day. Give me, through Jesus Christ, the courage to endure them with a holy resignation. AN ACT OF PETITION Thou hast told us, O Lord Jesus, in the Holy Gospel that, "If you ask the Father anything in My name He will give it you". Therefore, "in Thy name," relying upon Thy merits, and uniting myself to Thee, Who art continually interceding for us in Heaven and in the Holy Eucharist, I ask the Father to grant all those graces necessary for me that I may ever do His holy will. Holy Father, seeing that Communion partakes of the efficacy of Holy Mass, which is the same as that of Calvary, I pray Thee, in the name of Jesus Christ, to grant me all the graces that Thou wouldst have accorded me had I been at the foot of the Cross when Thy Divine Son died for us. His Blood was shed for us; therefore may its saving power reach all souls and may they be gathered to Thee. Give to me, O God, and to all men, Thy grace in this world and Thy glory in the next. Amen. BACK TO THE HOLY EUCHARIST DIRECTORY www.catholictradition.org/Eucharist/after-mass.htm