I was reflecting on following prayer of St. Thomas and realized how his philosophical and theological insights are reflected in this inspired prayer. I think that St. Thomas opposes the dispositions for Communion in different pairs that correspond to: potency and act, body and soul, and intellect and will. Hence, St. Thomas asks that one shows: “reverence and humility,” “sorrow and devotion,” “purity and faith,” and “purpose and intention.” Thus, one is disposed to receive not only “Our Lord’s Body and Blood” but the “grace and power” of the Sacrament.
St. Thomas’ Prayer before Communion
Almighty and everlasting God, behold, I come to the Sacrament of Your only begotten Son, Our Lord Jesus Christ. I come as one infirm to the physician of life, as one unclean to the fountain of mercy, as one blind to the light of everlasting brightness, as one poor and needy to the Lord of heaven and earth. Therefore, I implore the abundance of Your measureless bounty that You would vouchsafe to heal my infirmity, wash my uncleanness, enlighten my blindness, enrich my poverty and clothe my nakedness, that I may receive the Bread of Angels, the King of kings, the Lord of lords with such reverence and humility, with such sorrow and devotion, with such purity and faith, with such purpose and intention as may be profitable to my soul’s salvation. Grant unto me, I pray, the grace of receiving not only the Sacrament of Our Lord’s Body and Blood, but also the grace and power of the Sacrament. O most gracious God, grant me so to receive the Body of Your only-begotten Son, Our Lord Jesus Christ, which He took from the Virgin Mary, as to merit to be incorporated into His Mystical Body and to be numbered among His members. O most loving Father, give me grace to behold forever Your beloved Son with unveiled face, Whom now I propose to receive veiled in the way. Amen. —St. Thomas Aquinas
