Fathers, PNCC

January 19 – St. Symeon Metaphrastes, A Prayer of Thanksgiving after Holy Communion

O Thou who willingly dost give Thy flesh to me as food, Thou who art a Fire, consuming the unworthy, consume me not, O my Creator; but rather pass through all my body parts, into all my joints, my reins, my heart. Burn Thou the thorns of all my transgressions, cleanse my soul, and hallow Thou my thoughts. Make firm my knees, and my bones likewise; enlighten as one my five senses, establish me wholly in Thy fear; ever shelter me, and guard and keep me from every soul-corrupting deed and word, chasten me, purify me, and control me; adorn me, teach me, and enlighten me. Show me to be a tabernacle of Thy Spirit only, and in no wise the dwelling-place of sin, that from me, Thy habitation, through the entrance of Thy Communion, every evil deed and every passion may flee as from fire. As intercessors I bring to Thee all the saints, both the angelic leaders of the bodiless powers, Thy Fore-runner, and Thy wise Apostles; and besides these, Thine immaculate and chaste Mother; do Thou accept their prayers, my Christ, Who art compassionate, and make Thy servant to be a child of the light: For Thou alone, Good Lord, are the sanctification and splendor of our souls, and to Thee as God and Master, day by day, duly we all ascribe glory.

May Thy holy Body, O Lord Jesus Christ our God, be unto me for life eternal, and thy precious Blood unto remission of my sins. May this Eucharist be unto me for joy, health, and gladness; and at Thy dread Second Coming make me, a sinner, worthy to stand at the right hand of Thy glory: through the intercessions of Thine all-immaculate Mother and of all Thy Saints.

Amen.