Communion prayer

As communion prayers are the communion immediately preceding and the communion immediately following prayers referred to in the Eucharistic Liturgien of Alexandria ( Copt ), Antioch ( Syrian Orthodox ) Byzantine ( Orthodox ) and Roman ( Old Catholic , Roman Catholic and Anglican ) Rite as well as in the Armenian Orthodox Church, which, in addition to the James liturgy in Jerusalem, also knows the anaphora in the form of the St. Basil and Chrysostom liturgy , was in use or is still using it today. Preparatory prayers that ask for a dignified reception of Holy Communion are also in use in the Independent Evangelical Lutheran Church (Old Lutheran).

Liturgical history

In liturgical history, communion prayers belong to the category of private prayers , which in the Western Church have been included in Holy Mass since Carolingian times . In contrast to the presidential prayers, communion prayers emphasize the recipient's subjective, sinful and unworthy disposition . The recitation is usually done quietly by the priest .

The medieval missals knew and recommended a large number of different prayers for this, including rhyming prayers such as Ave verum , O salutaris hostia or Anima Christi .

Evangelical Lutheran Rite

Old Lutheran rite

According to the Evangelical Lutheran Church Agendas Volume I. of the Independent Evangelical Lutheran Church , the following prayers are used in Lutheran parishes to this day:

The pastor prays out loud: O Lord, although I am not worthy of you entering into my heart, I am still in need of your help and eager for your grace, so that I may become pious and happy. Now I have no other confidence than your word, since you invite me to this table and tell me unworthy things that I should have forgiveness of my sins, your body and blood, if I eat and drink in this sacrament. O dear Lord, I know that your divine promise and your words are certain and true. I do not doubt it, and then I eat and drink; happen to me according to your word. O Lord Jesus, unite with me that I remain in you and you in me and that I may be undivided from you, here temporally and there forever.

Local community:

Amen.

The pastor prays out loud: Your holy body, Lord Jesus Christ, feed me. Your precious blood drink me. Your bitter suffering and death strengthen me. Your victorious resurrection please and comfort me. Lord Jesus Christ, hear me. I hide in your holy wounds. Don't ever let me get divorced from you. Save me from the evil enemy; in true faith preserve me that I, with all the elect, I praise and praise you here temporally and there for ever.

Church: Amen.

Roman rite

Old Catholic communion prayers

According to the altar book of 1959, the following communion prayers were prescribed in the Old Catholic Church in Germany , until they were abolished without replacement by a liturgical reform in the 1980s:

" The priest says with a deep bow:

God, merciful Father, hear us and give us all forgiveness of sins through the death of your Son Jesus Christ.

We humbly ask you

Let us all who partake in this holy meal receive the body and blood of our Lord Jesus Christ worthily, so that, filled with your grace and heavenly blessings, we may become one body with him, that he may dwell in us and we in him .

Through Christ our Lord. Amen."

" Optionally, the following can also be spoken:

The enjoyment of your body, Lord Jesus Christ,

whom we unworthy dare to receive,

do not reach us to judgment and damnation,

but be to us according to your goodness

a protection of body and soul and a way to salvation.

You live and rule forever and ever.

Amen."

After the chalice communion of the priest (it was not customary to distribute the chalice to the faithful):

In the First Order of Holy Mass :

" The priest drinks the chalice and cleanses it and the paten:

What we have received with the mouth, O Lord, we want to keep our minds pure, and what you give us in time, guide us to eternal salvation.

We received your body, O Lord, your blood gave us water. So stay in us, chase away every thought of evil from us, since we are abundantly refreshed with your pure and holy sacraments. Thanks be to you and forever. Amen."

In the Second Order of Holy Mass :

" The priest drinks the chalice, cleans it and the paten in the proper way and says the following prayers of thanksgiving silently or in unsung masses:

What I received with the mouth, Lord, we want to keep with a pure heart and this temporal gift will give us eternal salvation.

Your body, Lord, which I received and your blood, which I drank, always remain in my heart!

Do not leave any blemishes in me, as this pure and holy sacrament has strengthened me.

Thank you and praise forever!
A .: Amen. "

Roman Catholic communion prayers

According to the usus antiquior

"Domine Jesu Christe, Fili Dei vivi,

qui ex voluntate Patris, cooperante Spiritu Sancto, per mortem tuam mundum vivificasti:

libera me per hoc sacrosanctum Corpus et Sanguinem tuum from omnibus iniquitatibus meis, et universis malis:

et fac me tuis semper inhaerere mandatis, et a te numquam separari permittas:

Qui cum eodem Deo Patre et Spiritu Sancto vivis et regnas Deus in saecula saeculorum. Amen."

" German translation:

Lord Jesus Christ, Son of the living God:

obedient to the will of the Father, through your death you gave life to the world with the cooperation of the Holy Spirit.

Through this your most holy flesh and blood, deliver me from all my sins and from every evil.

Grant that I may be faithful to your commandments at all times and do not allow me to ever part with you.

You who live and rule with God the Father and the Holy Spirit, God for ever and ever. Amen."

"Perceptio Corporis tui, Domine Jesu Christe,

quod ego indignus sumere praesumo, non mihi proveniat in judicium et condemnationem:

sed pro tua pietate prosit mihi ad tutamentum mentis et corporis, et ad medelam percipiendam:

Qui vivis et regnas cum Deo Patri in unitate Spiritus Sancti, Deus per omnia saecula saeculorum. Amen."

" German translation:

The enjoyment of your body, Lord Jesus Christ, which I dare to receive more unworthy,

do not reach me for judgment and condemnation,

but through your kindness for protection for body and soul and for my healing.

You who live and rule with God the Father in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God for ever and ever. Amen."

Based on the Roman Missal of 1970/75

" The priest speaks softly:

Lord Jesus Christ, Son of the living God,

obedient to the will of the father,

you gave life to the world in the Holy Spirit through your death.

Deliver me from all sins and all evil through your body and your blood.

Help me to keep your commandments faithfully

and don't let me ever get separated from you. "

" Or:

Lord Jesus Christ,

the reception of your body and blood,

do not bring me judgment and condemnation,

but blessings and salvation. "

Communion prayers from the Eastern Church

In the Orthodox churches the term is also called inclination prayers .

Chrysostomos liturgy ( Byzantine Rite )

" Priest :

I believe, Lord, and confess: You are in truth Christ, the Son of the living God, who came into this world to save the sinners, of whom I am the first.

I also believe that this is your very purest body and this is your precious blood. I ask you now: Have mercy on me and forgive me my transgressions, which I have committed, intentionally or unintentionally, in word and work, consciously or unconsciously. And dignify me to partake in your most pure mysteries, not for damnation but for forgiveness of sins and eternal life.

As a participant in your mystical Lord's Supper, receive me today, Son of God, because I will not betray the mystery to your enemies, nor will I give you a kiss like Judas, but like the robber I confess: Remember me, Lord, in your kingdom. "

James Liturgy ( Jerusalem Rite )

" And again [the deacon]:

Let us bow our heads before the Lord.

The priest bends the following prayer:

Sole Lord, Merciful God! We bow our necks before your altar and expect spiritual gifts from you. Send us your kind grace and bless us all with every spiritual and inalienable blessing that you dwell on high and look down on the low.

Loud prayer:

For your holy name, the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit, is praised, adored and most glorious, now and always and for all eternity. "

St Mark's Liturgy ( Alexandrian Rite )

" The priest:

Peace to all.

The people:

And your spirit.

The deacon:

Let us bow our heads to the Lord.

The people:

Before you, O Lord.

The priest prays:

Lord, Lord God, Almighty, who are enthroned over the cherubim and glorified by the seraphim, who have prepared heaven from the waters and adorned with the choirs of the stars and set up the disembodied armies of angels on high before you we have bowed the necks of our souls and bodies as a sign of our bondage. We ask you to drive away the hidden attacks of sin from our souls and cheer up our spirits with the god-shaped rays of your sanctuary, so that we, filled with your knowledge, can benefit from the goods lying before us, the pure body and the precious blood of your innate Of the Son of our Lord God and Savior Jesus Christ. For the sake of Your great and unfathomable mercy, forgive us all kinds of sins. By the grace, compassion and love of man of your only begotten Son,

Loud prayer:

through which and with which you and your holy, good and quickening spirit may be honor and power, now and always and in all eternity.

The people:

Amen."

See also

• Communion
• Chalice communion
• Holy Mass
• Community fair
• Tridentine Mass
• Mass offering

Web links

Wiktionary: Communion prayer  - explanations of meanings, word origins, synonyms, translations

• Additional information

Individual evidence

1. ^ Josef Andreas Jungmann SJ: Missarum Sollemnia. A genetic explanation of the Roman mass. Volume 2, Herder Verlag, Vienna, Freiburg, Basel, 5th edition 1962, p. 431, note 16.
2. ↑ Altar book. For the celebration of the Holy Eucharist in the Catholic Diocese of Old Catholics in Germany. Published by the Liturgical Commission on behalf of the Bishop. In the publishing house of the diocese, Bonn 1959, p. 91.
3. ↑ Altar book. P. 92.
4. ↑ Altar book. P. 128.
5. ↑ Michael Kunzler : To be liturge. Draft of an ars celebrandi . Bonifatius-Verlag, Paderborn 2007, ISBN 978-3-89710-377-1 , p. 557.
6. ↑ http://www.unifr.ch/bkv/kapitel2162.htm
7. ↑ http://www.unifr.ch/bkv//kapitel2186-1.htm