🍷 Prayer Before Communion – Catholic Eucharistic Prayer

The Prayer Before Communion is a beautiful Catholic prayer that helps us prepare our hearts to receive Jesus Christ in the Holy Eucharist. This prayer expresses our humility, gratitude, and love as we approach the most sacred moment of the Mass. It reminds us of the incredible gift we are about to receive—the real presence of Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament.

Full Text of the Prayer

Lord, I am not worthy that you should enter under my roof,

but only say the word and my soul shall be healed.

Amen.

Alternative Prayer Before Communion

Jesus, my Lord and my God, I believe that you are truly present in the Most Holy Sacrament of the Altar.

I love you above all things, and I desire to receive you into my soul.

Since I cannot at this moment receive you sacramentally, come at least spiritually into my heart.

I embrace you as if you were already there and unite myself wholly to you.

Never permit me to be separated from you.

Amen.

Meaning and Reflection

The Prayer Before Communion is a powerful expression of humility and faith, echoing the words of the centurion in the Gospel who said, "Lord, I am not worthy that you should enter under my roof." This Catholic prayer reminds us that we are sinners in need of God's mercy and healing, yet we trust in His power to make us worthy through His grace.

The prayer's simplicity belies its profound meaning—we acknowledge our unworthiness while expressing our faith in Jesus' power to heal and transform us. Just as the centurion's servant was healed by Jesus' word, we believe that our souls will be healed and strengthened through receiving the Eucharist. This prayer teaches us the proper disposition for approaching the altar: humility, faith, and trust in God's mercy.

The alternative prayer, often used for spiritual communion, expresses our deep love for Jesus and our desire to be united with Him. It reminds us that even when we cannot receive the Eucharist sacramentally, we can still invite Jesus into our hearts spiritually. This prayer helps us maintain our connection with Christ and prepares us for the day when we can receive Him in the Blessed Sacrament again.