Preparation For Holy Communion

[FutureSister2009]

The hymnals we use have prayers before Mass and prayers for after Mass in the back. I usually try to say them.

[White Knight]

A Examination of Conscience is very much aided by the standard "three legged stool." approach to the preparation in order to receive Our Lord Jesus in Eucharist.
Also not just looking at the Basic levels of the questions, but taking it deeper to the subterior level of each question.

"A example"

[b]The Ten Commandments.[/b]

1 Commandment: [b]"Thou Shalt not have any gods before the LORD Your God."

[color="#0000FF"]a) Have I began my day in prayer with God?

b) Do I have anything that I give more time to that takes away from my time with God?

c) Do I believe in all the Divine Relevation that God has given to humanity, through the Old and New Covenant?

d) Have I sinned against Faith by not believing rather its knowledgeable doubt or involuntary doubt?

e) Is spending time with God how I end my day?[/b][/color]

2) Commandment: [b]"Thou shalt not take the LORD's name in vain."[/b]

[color="#0000FF"]a) Have I cursed or used God's name with lack of reverance?

b) Do I mis-use anything God has considered Holy? Places, Objects, or people?

c) Have I commited blasphemy?

d) Do I always try to treat the Lord with Reverence when acknowledging Him directly or to others?[/color]

3) 3rd Commandment: [b]"Honor the Sabbath Day and Keep it Holy."[/b]

[color="#0000FF"][b]a) Have I given my full attention to the Lord's Day by attending Mass and focusing on the Readings and prayers?

b) Have I refrained from any unnecessary work that would voliate the resting on the Sabbath?

c) Did I fast for one hour before receiving Holy Communion?

d) Do I attend Mass on all Sundays and Holy Days of Obligation throughout the year?

e) Do I treat the Lord's Day with any concern? Do I put other tasks or plans ahead of The Lord's Day?[/b][/color]








[b]The Beatitudes[/b]

1) Beatitude [b]"Blessed are the poor in Spirit, for theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven"[/b]

[color="#0000FF"][b]a) Have I been so attached to my wealth, and my poccessions that they hinder my relationship with God or others?

b) Have I placed trust in God first in my giving and caring of others especially with my wealth and materials?

c) Do I live for the present or do I invest my desires, and treasues in God for the future? Life here, and here after?

d) When it comes to my wealth, am I a giving person when it comes to gifts?

e) If rich or poor, do you focus your attention more on God or your pocessions or does God?[/b][/color]

2) Beatitude [b]"Blessed are they that mourn, for they shall be comforted."[/b]

[color="#0000FF"][b]a) In times of need of others, have you been there to provide consolation in anyway?

b) Have people helped you in your times of need, and have you been greatful? or have you taken advanage of those people?

c) When you and others mourn, what do you turn to in times of need, any destructful habits or is God the source of your comfort?

d) When people are hurt, physically, emotionally and/or spiritually, do you attend to their needs or are you caught up in yourself?[/b][/color]


3) Beatitude [b]"Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth."[/b]

[color="#0000FF"][b]a) Do I control myself when it comes to expressing anger, do I attempt to be humble and controling of my temper?

b) Do I remember my place with God and others? have I exalted myself above others or even God Himself?

c) Do I see myself as truely humble? or is it false in anyway?

d) Are my attempts to be humble strengthened by my own efforts or does my anger get the best of me each time?[/b][/color]


[b]The Virtues[/b]

1) Virtue "Humility"

a) What happens if you are accused of something wrong, Do you acknowledge it and correct yourself? or are you proud and refusing?

b) Do you see yourself above God and others in all your daily activity? or do you attempt to place others first in their needs and wants first, even if it means to sacrifice your time and wants in order to do the greater good of the Will of God?

c) Do you take a compassionate, kind, and understanding approach to times of error in your ways, especially when we fall short of doing good?

Edited May 31, 2011 by White Knight

[Chamomile]

[quote name='White Knight' timestamp='1306877741' post='2248357']
A Examination of Conscience is very much aided by the standard "three legged stool." approach to the preparation in order to receive Our Lord Jesus in Eucharist.
Also not just looking at the Basic levels of the questions, but taking it deeper to the subterior level of each question.

& etc.
[/quote]


Interesting... I think this is good for some people, but personally, I would make myself so scrupulous with this approach that I would have a hard time receiving at all...

Since starting this thread, my approach has basically become the liturgy itself and not so much a specific prayer or prayers.

Of course, asking for mercy...

[TeresaBenedicta]

My preparation for receiving Holy Communion is less about formal prayers, but about truly entering into the Holy Sacrifice itself. Entering into the liturgy. More specifically: Offering myself, [i]all[/i] of myself, to God in union with Jesus' sacrifice. Being completely empty of self, I approach the Sacrament of True Life.

How I word my prayer of offering differs... sometimes it even includes formal prayers I've memorized. For example, one that I occasionally incorporate, just prior to receiving Holy Communion, is from Bl. Elizabeth of the Trinity: [i]O my Beloved Christ, crucified by love, I wish to be a bride for Your heart, I wish to cover You with glory, I wish to love You even unto death... but I feel my weakness. So I ask You to clothe me with Yourself, to identify my soul with all of the movements of Your soul, to overwhelm me, to possess me, to substitute Yourself for me so that my life may be but a radiance of Your life.[/i]

[Amppax]

Soul of Christ, sanctify me
Body of Christ, save me
Blood of Christ, inebriate me
Water from Christ's side, wash me
Passion of Christ, strengthen me
O good Jesus, hear me
Within Thy wounds hide me
Suffer me not to be separated from Thee
From the malicious enemy defend me
In the hour of my death call me
And bid me come unto Thee
That I may praise Thee with Thy saints
and with Thy angels
Forever and ever
Amen

Read more:[url="http://www.ewtn.com/devotionals/prayers/anima2.htm#ixzz1O8HfpZFc"]http://www.ewtn.com/...m#ixzz1O8HfpZFc[/url]\


I believe that Red already mentioned this... I say this before and after Communion myself. It is probably my favorite prayer

I believe that i use different words then this, but all in all, its an [i]a[/i]wesome prayer!

Edited June 2, 2011 by Amppax