Prayer of St. Ambrose
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.
Ad mensam dulcíssimi convívii tui, pie Dómine Iesu Christe, ego peccátor de própriis meis méritis nihil præsúmens, sed de tua confídens misericórdia et bonitáte, accédere véreor et contremísco. Nam cor et corpus hábeo multis crimínibus maculátum, mentem et línguam non caute custodítam.
Ergo, o pia Déitas, o treménda Maiéstas, ego miser, inter angústias deprehénsus, ad te fontem misericórdiæ recúrro, ad te festíno sanándus, sub tuam protectiónem fúgio: et, quem Iúdicem sustinére néqueo, Salvatórem habére suspíro.
Tibi, Dómine, plagas meas osténdo, tibi verecúndiam meam détego. Scío peccáta mea multa et magna, pro quibus tímeo. Spero in misericórdias tuas, quarum non est númerus.
Réspice ergo in me óculis misericórdiæ tuæ, Dómine Iesu Christe, Rex ætérne, Deus et homo, crucifíxus propter hóminem. Exáudi me sperántem in te: miserére mei pleni misériis et peccátis, tu qui fontem miseratiónis numquam manáre cessábis.
Salve, salutáris víctima, pro me et omni humáno génere in patíbulo Crucis obláta.
Salve, nóbilis et pretióse Sanguis, de vulnéribus crucifíxi Dómini mei Iesu Christi prófluens, et peccáta totíus mundi ábluens.
Recordáre, Dómine, creatúræ tuæ, quam tuo Sánguine redemísti. Pœnitet me peccásse, cúpio emmendáre quod feci.
Aufer ergo a me, clementíssime Pater, omnes iniquitátes et peccáta mea, ut, purificátus mente et córpore, digne degustáre mérear Sancta sanctórum.
Et concéde, ut hæc sancta prælibátio Córporis et Sánguinis tui, quam ego indígnus súmere inténdo, sit peccatórum meórum remíssio, sit delictórum perfécta purgátio, sit túrpium cogitatiónum effugátio, ac bonórum sénsuum regenerátio, operúmque tibi placéntium salúbris efficácia, ánimæ quoque et córporis contra inimicórum meórum insídias firmíssima tuítio. Amen.