The Book of Common Prayer, based on a prayer of St Ambrose: We do not presume to come to this your table, O merciful Lord, trusting in our own righteousness, but in your many and great mercies. We are not worthy even to gather up the crumbs under your table. But you are the same God whose property is always to have mercy: grant us, therefore, gracious Lord, so to eat the flesh of your dear Son Jesus Christ, and to drink his blood, that our sinful bodies may be made clean by his body, and our souls washed through his most precious blood, and that we may evermore dwell in him and he in us.
Prayer of St Augustine: Lord Jesus, let me know myself and know you, and desire nothing, save only you. Let me hate myself and love you. Let me do everything for the sake of you. Let me humble myself and exalt you. Let me think of nothing except you. Let me accept whatever happens as from you. Let me banish self and follow you, And ever desire to follow you. Let me fly from myself and take refuge in you, That I may deserve to be defended by you. Let me fear for myself, let me fear you, And let me be among those who are chosen by you. Let me be willing to obey for the sake of you. Let me cling to nothing, save only to you, And let me be poor because of you. Look upon me, that I may love you. Call me, that I may see you, And for ever enjoy you. Amen.
Preparation for Mass; attributed to St Ambrose(c. 339-397), bishop of Milan: Lord Jesus Christ, I approach your banquet table in fear and trembling, for I am a sinner and dare not rely on my own worth but only on your goodness and mercy. I am defiled by many sins in body and soul and by my unguarded thoughts and words. Gracious God of majesty and awe, I seek your protection, I look for your healing. Poor troubled sinner that I am, I appeal to you, the fountain of all mercy. I cannot bear your judgement, but I trust in your salvation. Lord, I show my wounds to you and uncover my shame before you. I know my sins are many and great, and they fill me with fear, but I hope in your mercies, for they cannot be numbered.
Lord Jesus Christ, eternal king, divine and human, crucified for humanity, look upon me with mercy and hear my prayer, for I trust in you… Have mercy on me, full of sorrow and sin, for the depth of your compassion never ends. Praise to you, saving sacrifice, offered on the wood of the cross for me and for all. 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, your creatures, whom you have redeemed with your blood. I repent of my sins and I long to put right what I have done.
Merciful Lord, take away all my offenses and sins; purify me in body and soul, and make me worthy to taste the holy of holies. May your 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 spur me on to works pleasing to you and be profitable to my health in body and soul and a firm defense against the wiles of my enemies. Amen.
