The Ave Verum Corpus is a short medieval Eucharistic hymn, probably from the fourteenth century, that greets Jesus truly present in the Blessed Sacrament. It was traditionally sung at the elevation of the Host during Mass, and it is famous today through the musical settings of Mozart, Byrd, and Elgar. In just a few lines, it connects the Eucharist to the Incarnation, the Cross, and our own death. Pray it during Eucharistic adoration, after receiving Holy Communion, at Benedic

Psalm 51 (Psalm 50 in the Douay numbering), known by its Latin first word Miserere, is the great psalm of repentance. Tradition connects it to King David after the prophet Nathan confronted him with his sin. It has shaped Christian sorrow for sin for three thousand years and is prayed every Friday morning in the Liturgy of the Hours and throughout Lent. Pray it before Confession, during an examination of conscience, on Ash Wednesday and Good Friday, or any time you want to re

In Confirmation, the Holy Spirit strengthens the baptized with His seven gifts and sends them out as witnesses of Christ. Preparation can take months, and candidates, whether teens in a parish program or adults entering the Church, benefit greatly from the prayers of family, sponsors, catechists, and parishioners. This prayer asks the Holy Spirit to fill candidates with faith, hope, and charity and to make them faithful witnesses. Pray it through the preparation period, at a

Offer Jesus to the Father in union with the Mass. The Prayer Eternal Father, I offer Thee the most Precious Blood of Thy Divine Son, Jesus, in union with the Masses said throughout the world today, for all the Holy Souls in Purgatory, for sinners everywhere, for sinners in the Universal Church, those in my own home and within my family. Amen. Traditional offering of the Precious Blood; classic devotionals, public domain. If these prayers help you, you can support Daily Cathol

During Benediction, adore and ask blessing from Jesus in the monstrance. The Prayer O God, Who under a wonderful Sacrament hast left us a memorial of Thy Passion; grant us, we beseech Thee, so to venerate the sacred mysteries of Thy Body and Blood, that we may ever feel within us the fruit of Thy Redemption. Who livest and reignest forever and ever. Amen. Blessed be God. Blessed be His holy Name. Blessed be Jesus Christ, true God and true Man. Blessed be the Name of Jesus. Bl

Baptism is the doorway to every other grace. In it we were washed of original sin, made children of God, and joined to the Church, most of us long before we could understand what had happened. It is good to go back to that gift deliberately and give thanks for it. This short prayer of thanksgiving is ideal on the anniversary of your baptism (worth finding out and marking on the calendar), at the Easter Vigil when the baptismal promises are renewed, on the feast of the Baptism

Eucharistic aspirations are short acts of praise to Jesus truly present in the Most Holy Sacrament. "O Sacrament most holy" in particular has been sung and recited for generations and is often said at Benediction, during adoration, and at the close of a Holy Hour. These lines are easy to memorize and can be prayed at any moment: when you pass a Catholic church, as you genuflect before the tabernacle, while waiting in line for Communion, or during your thanksgiving after Mass.

A "visit" to the Blessed Sacrament is simply stopping into a church or chapel, outside of Mass, to spend a few minutes with Jesus present in the tabernacle. St. Alphonsus Liguori wrote a whole book of such visits, and generations of Catholics have made the practice part of their day on the way to work, school, or home. This short prayer thanks Our Lord for His presence and asks never to be separated from Him. Pray it when you kneel before the tabernacle, look for the sanctuar

When the Blessed Sacrament is exposed in the monstrance, the Church invites us to stop and simply look at Jesus, truly present in the Host, and let Him look at us. Many parishes offer Eucharistic adoration weekly or even perpetually, and a short prayer helps settle the heart when you first kneel down. This traditional act of adoration asks for an increase in the three theological virtues of faith, hope, and charity. Pray it when you arrive at adoration, at the start of a Holy

After receiving Holy Communion, the Church encourages a few minutes of quiet thanksgiving, while Christ is sacramentally present within us. This traditional prayer thanks God the Father for refreshing us with the Body and Blood of His Son and asks that Communion bring not judgment but salvation and health of soul and body. It echoes St. Paul's warning to receive the Lord worthily (1 Corinthians 11:27-29). Pray it in the pew after Communion or after the final blessing, before

The Holy Sacrifice of the Mass is offered for four great purposes, often called the four ends of the Mass: adoration of God, thanksgiving for His benefits, satisfaction for sin, and petition for our needs. This short prayer before Mass names each of them and asks for the grace to take part with attention, reverence, and devotion, for the salvation of the living and the dead. Pray it in the pew before Mass begins, after a moment of silence, or on the way to church. Arriving a

After receiving Our Lord, linger in thanksgiving with this traditional prayer. The Prayer My good Jesus, I thank Thee with all my heart for giving Thyself to me in this Holy Communion. May Thy holy Body and Blood increase my faith, strengthen my hope, and inflame my charity. Take entire possession of me, that I may live only for Thee. Keep me from all sin, and make me persevere in Thy love until death. Amen. Traditional prayer after Communion; classic manuals, public domain.

Approach the altar with this traditional prayer of faith, humility, and desire. The Prayer O Lord Jesus Christ, King of everlasting glory, behold I desire to come to Thee this day, and to receive Thy Body and Blood in this heavenly Sacrament, for Thy honor and glory, and the good of my soul. I desire to receive Thee, because it is Thy desire, and Thou hast so ordained: blessed be Thy Name forever. I desire to come to Thee like Magdalen, that I may be delivered from all my evi

After receiving absolution, this traditional thanksgiving asks for perseverance in amendment. The Prayer O almighty and most merciful God, I give Thee hearty thanks for having admitted me to the Sacrament of Penance, and for having cleansed my soul from sin through the Precious Blood of Jesus Christ. Strengthen me by Thy grace, that I may never again offend Thee, and that I may carefully avoid the occasions of sin. Help me to perform my penance faithfully, and to begin a new

Prepare for the Sacrament of Penance with this traditional prayer for light and true sorrow. The Prayer O Almighty and most merciful God, Who hast made me out of nothing, and redeemed me by the Precious Blood of Thine only Son; Who hast with so much patience borne with me to this day, notwithstanding all my sins and ingratitude; look down upon me with pity and compassion, and grant me now earnestly to confess my sins with such sorrow as may obtain Thy forgiveness. Give me lig

When unable to receive sacramentally, this act of desire expresses longing for Jesus in the Eucharist. The Prayer My Jesus, I believe that Thou art present in the Most Holy Sacrament. I love Thee above all things, and I desire to receive Thee into my soul. Since I cannot at this moment receive Thee sacramentally, come at least spiritually into my heart. I embrace Thee as if Thou wert already there and unite myself wholly to Thee. Never permit me to be separated from Thee. Ame

Pange Lingua glorifies the Eucharist and the Passion. This traditional English excerpt is suitable for Eucharistic devotion. The Prayer Sing, my tongue, the Savior's glory, Of His Flesh the mystery sing; Of the Blood, all price exceeding, Shed by our immortal King, Destined, for the world's redemption, From a virgin's womb to spring. Of a pure and spotless Virgin Born for us on earth below, He, as Man with man conversing, Stayed, the seeds of truth to sow; Then He closed in s

Adoro Te Devote is St. Thomas Aquinas's hymn of Eucharistic adoration. This traditional English form is found in classic hymnals. The Prayer Godhead here in hiding, whom I do adore, Masked by these bare shadows, shape and nothing more, See, Lord, at Thy service low lies here a heart Lost, all lost in wonder at the God Thou art. Seeing, touching, tasting are in Thee deceived: How says trusty hearing? that shall be believed; What God's Son has told me, take for truth I do; Trut

Tantum Ergo concludes the Pange Lingua and is sung at Benediction. This traditional English translation is from classic Catholic hymnals. The Prayer Down in adoration falling, Lo! the sacred Host we hail; Lo! o'er ancient forms departing, Newer rites of grace prevail; Faith for all defects supplying, Where the feeble senses fail. To the everlasting Father, And the Son who reigns on high, With the Holy Ghost proceeding Forth from Each eternally, Be salvation, honor, blessing,

O Salutaris Hostia is the traditional Eucharistic hymn often sung at Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament. The English below is a classic public-domain rendering. The Prayer O saving Victim, opening wide The gate of heaven to man below! Our foes press on from every side; Thine aid supply, Thy strength bestow. To Thy great Name be endless praise, Immortal Godhead, one in Three; Oh, grant us endless length of days In our true native land with Thee. Amen. Traditional Eucharistic