A Preparation for Holy Communion

Tracts for the Times: Tract 88

Devotions of Bishop Lancelot Andrews: “A Preparation for Holy Communion”

O LORD, I am not worthy, I am not fit, that Thou shouldst come under the roof of my soul; for it is all desolate and ruined; nor hast Thou in me fitting place to lay Thy head. But, as Thou didst vouchsafe to lie in the cavern and manger of brute cattle, as Thou didst not disdain to be entertained in the house of Simon the leper, as Thou didst not disdain that harlot, like me, who was a sinner, coming to Thee and touching Thee; as Thou abhorredst not her polluted and loathsome mouth; nor the thief upon the cross confessing Thee: So me too the ruined, wretched, and excessive sinner; deign to receive to the touch and partaking of the immaculate, supernatural, lifegiving, and saving mysteries of Thy all-holy Body and Thy precious Blood. Listen, O LORD, our GOD, from Thy holy habitation, and from the glorious throne of Thy kingdom, and come to sanctify us. O Thou who sittest on high with the FATHER, and art present with us here invisible; come Thou to sanctify the gifts which lie before Thee, and those in whose behalf, and by whom, and the things for which, they are brought near Thee. And grant to us communion, unto faith without shame, love without dissimulation; fulfilment of Thy commandments, alacrity for every spiritual fruit; hindrance of all adversity, healing of soul and body; that we too, with all Saints, who have been well-pleasing to Thee from the beginning, may become partakers of Thy incorrupt and everlasting goods, which Thou hast prepared, O LORD, for them that love Thee; in whom Thou art glorified for ever and ever. Lamb of GOD,

that takest away the sin of the world, take away the sin of me, the utter sinner.

We then remembering too, O sovereign LORD, in the presence of Thy holy mysteries, the salutary passion of Thy CHRIST, His lifegiving cross, most precious death, three days sepulture, resurrection from the dead, ascent into heaven, session at the right hand of Thee, O LORD, that we, receiving in the pure testimony of our conscience, our portion of Thy sacred things, may be made one with the holy Body and Blood of Thy CHRIST; and receiving them not unworthily, we may hold CHRIST indwelling in our hearts, and may become a temple of Thy HOLY SPIRIT Yea, O our GOD, nor make any of us guilty of Thy dreadful and heavenly mysteries, nor infirm in soul or body from partaking of them unworthily. But grant us until our last and closing breath, worthily to receive a hope of Thy holy things, for sanctification, enlightening, strengthening, a relief of the weight of my many sins, a preservative against all satanic working, a riddance and hindrance of my evil conscience, a mortification of my passions, an appropriation of Thy commandments, an increase of Thy divine grace; and a securing of Thy kingdom.

It is finished and done, so far as in our power, CHRIST our GOD, the mystery of Thy dispensation. For we have held remembrance of Thy death, we have seen the figure of Thy resurrection, we have been filled with Thy endless life, we have enjoyed Thy uncloying dainties, which graciously vouchsafe all of us in the world to come. LORD, the good GOD, pardon every soul, that purifieth his heart to seek GOD, the LORD GOD of His fathers, though he be not cleansed according to the purification of the sanctuary.

*Bishop Lancelot Andrews (1555-1626), Bishop of Chichester, Ely and Winchester

God's Peace,

Fr. Aaron