The Greatest of Thanksgivings

The Universal Prayer of Thanksgiving After Mass

(Attributed to Pope Clement XI)

 

Lord, I believe in you: increase my faith.

I trust in you: strengthen my trust.

I love you: let me love you more and more.

I am sorry for my sins: deepen my sorrow.

 

I worship you as my first beginning,

I long for you as my last end,

I praise you as my constant helper,

and call on you as my loving protector.

 

Guide me by your wisdom,

correct me with your justice,

comfort me with your mercy,

protect me with your power.

 

I offer you, Lord, my thoughts: to be fixed on you;

my words: to have you for their theme;

my actions: to reflect my love for you;

my sufferings: to be endured for your greater glory.

 

I want to do what you ask of me:

in the way you ask,

for as long as you ask,

because you ask it.

 

Lord, enlighten my understanding,

strengthen my will,

purify my heart,

and make me holy.

 

Help me to repent of my past sins

and to resist temptation in the future.

Help me to rise above my human weaknesses

and to grow stronger as a Christian.

 

Let me love you, my Lord and my God,

and see myself as I really am:

a pilgrim in this world,

a Christian called to respect and love 

all whose lives I touch, 

those in authority over me 

or those under my authority, 

my friends and my enemies.

 

Help me to conquer anger with gentleness,

greed by generosity,

apathy by fervor.

Help me to forget myself 

and reach out toward others.

 

Make me prudent in planning,

courageous in taking risks.

Make  me patient in suffering,

Unassuming in prosperity,

Keep me,Lord, attentive at prayer,

Temperate in food and drink,

diligent in my work,

Let my conscience be clear,

my conduct without fault,

my speech blameless,

my life well-ordered.

 

Put me on guard against my human weaknesses.

Let me cherish your love for me,

keep your law,

and come at last to your salvation.

 

Teach me to realize that this world is passing,

that my true future is the happiness of heaven,

that life on earth is short,

and the life to come eternal.

 

Help me to prepare for death,

with a proper fear of judgment,

but a greater trust in your goodness.

Lead me safely through death

to the endless joy of heaven.

 

Grant this through Christ our Lord. Amen.

 

Thanksgiving Prayer after Holy Communion:

The Anima Christi

 

Soul of Christ, sanctify me

Body of Christ, save me

Blood of Christ, inebriate me

Water from Christ’s side, wash me

Passion of Christ, strengthen me

O good Jesus, hear me

Within Thy wounds hide me

Suffer me not to be separated from Thee

From the malicious enemy defend me

In the hour of my death call me

And bid me come unto Thee

That I may praise Thee with Thy saints

and with Thy angels for all eternity.

Amen