Soul of Christ, sanctify me.
Body of Christ, save me.
Blood of Christ, inebriate me.
Water from the side of Christ, wash me.
Passion of Christ, strengthen me.
O Good Jesus, hear me.
Within your wounds hide me.
Do not let me be separated from you.
From the wicked foe, defend me.
At the hour of my death, call me
and bid me come to you
that with your saints I may praise you
forever and ever. Amen.
In verse by John Henry Newman:
Soul of Christ, be my sanctification;
Body of Christ, be my salvation;
Blood of Christ, fill all my veins;
Water of Christ’s side, wash out my stains;
Passion of Christ, my comfort be;
O good Jesus, listen to me;
In thy wounds I fain would hide;
Ne’er to be parted from thy side;
Guard me, should the foe assail me;
Call me when my life shall fail me;
Bid me come to thee above,
With thy saints to sing thy love,
World without end. Amen.
Source: Anima Christi, source unknown. Earliest manuscript found dates to c. 1370. This prayer has its own article on Wikipedia.
Original in Latin:
Anima Christi, sanctifica me.
Corpus Christi, salva me.
Sanguis Christi, inebria me.
Aqua lateris Christi, lava me.
Passio Christi, conforta me.
O bone Jesu, exaudi me.
Intra tua vulnera absconde me.
Ne permittas me separari a te.
Ab hoste maligno defende me.
In hora mortis meae voca me.
Et iube me venire ad te,
Ut cum Sanctis tuis laudem te,
In saecula saeculorum.
Amen.
A Collection of Prayers 
is it appropriate for a Lutheran to pray this prayer?
is this prayer consistent with Lutheran theology?
LikeLike
What about the prayer seems inappropriate or inconsistent with Lutheran theology? The source and common use of this prayer may distract us from the prayer’s focus on Christ and on his saving work.
One issue I see is the prayer asks Jesus to do what he has already done–not all that different from “Jesus, Savior, wash away, all that I’ve done wrong today.”
“Blood of Christ, inebriate me” has a hint of mysticism. It also can be understood in the light of Ephesians 5:18.
LikeLike
Thank you for your response, Pastor. A few comments here…
While the prayer focuses on what Christ has done, it also focuses on what we need Him to do for us continually throughout our lives (sanctify, strengthen, defend etc.). I see no problem with that.
As for the Ephesians 5:18 reference, I don’t see how it relates since Paul is warning us about drunkenness, while the prayer simply seems to be taking some poetic license (however unclear it may be).
Nonetheless, I’m not terribly comfortable with this prayer. Its lack of any reference to our sinfulness and our need for constant forgiveness just doesn’t sit well with me. Would you agree?
Again, thank you and I’m eager to read your response. God bless….
LikeLike
“Its lack of any reference to our sinfulness and our need for constant forgiveness just doesn’t sit well with me. Would you agree?”
I would see “Water from the side of Christ, wash me” is a poetic way of referring to our sinfulness and our need for forgiveness.
LikeLike