Here I Receive Christ, My Soul’s Salvation

Almighty and Eternal God,
I come to the sacrament
of your only-begotten Son, our Lord Jesus Christ.
As one sick I come to the Physician of life;
unclean, to the Fountain of mercy;
blind, to the Light of eternal splendor;
poor and needy to the Lord of heaven and earth.

Therefore, through your infinite mercy and generosity,
heal my weakness,
wash my uncleanness,
give light to my blindness,
enrich my poverty,
and clothe my nakedness.
May I thus receive the Bread of Angels,
the King of kings,
the Lord of lords,
with reverence and humility,
contrition and devotion,
purity and faith,
purpose and intention,
since here I receive Christ,
my soul’s salvation.

Grant that I may receive not only
the Sacrament of the body and blood of our Lord,
but also its full grace and power.
Give me the grace, most merciful God,
to receive the body of your only Son,
our Lord Jesus Christ,
born of the virgin Mary,
and unite me with his mystical body
and include me among his members.

Most loving Father,
grant that I may behold for all eternity,
face to face,
your beloved Son,
whom now on my pilgrimage,
I am about to receive in this sacrament,
who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and forever. Amen.

Source: Thomas Aquinas, 13th century.

Source of this version: Freely modified from https://www.ourcatholicprayers.com/aquinas-before-communion.html

Prayer was edited for stylistic and doctrinal reasons. Translation from ourcatholicprayers.com reads as follows:

Almighty and Eternal God, behold I come to the sacrament of Your only-begotten Son, our Lord Jesus Christ. As one sick I come to the Physician of life; unclean, to the Fountain of mercy; blind, to the Light of eternal splendor; poor and needy to the Lord of heaven and earth. Therefore, I beg of You, through Your infinite mercy and generosity, heal my weakness, wash my uncleanness, give light to my blindness, enrich my poverty, and clothe my nakedness. May I thus receive the Bread of Angels, the King of Kings, the Lord of Lords, with such reverence and humility, contrition and devotion, purity and faith, purpose and intention, as shall aid my soul’s salvation.

Grant, I beg of You, that I may receive not only the Sacrament of the Body and Blood of our Lord, but also its full grace and power. Give me the grace, most merciful God, to receive the Body of your only Son, our Lord Jesus Christ, born of the Virgin Mary, in such a manner that I may deserve to be intimately united with His mystical Body and to be numbered among His members. Most loving Father, grant that I may behold for all eternity face to face Your beloved Son, whom now, on my pilgrimage, I am about to receive under the sacramental veil, who lives and reigns with You, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God, world without end. Amen.