Prayers For During Mass

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Prayers that parallel the prayers said by the priest which can be said during Mass in lieu of following the prayers of the priest in a missal.

At the Beginning of Holy Mass.
In the name of the Father, etc. +
I Adore Thee, O my God, and I firmly believe that the Mass at which I am going to assist, is the Sacrifice of the Body and Blood of Thy Son Christ Jesus, my Saviour. O grant, that I may assist at it with the attention, reverence and devotion due to such a Holy Mystery. Give me those sentiments I would have had on Mount Calvary, had I been a witness of that bloody Sacrifice.
Dear Jesus, I offer up this Holy Mass in union with Thee, and for those whom Thou wish me to pray, especially for N. N., and also for myself, to obtain all the graces I need, especially . . . . . .

Prayer at the Confiteor (when the priest bows).
I bow myself down, O my God, before Thee, confessing that I have in many ways offended Thee in thought, word, and deed, and that I am not worthy of the many blessings Thou bestowest upon me. Give me grace, O God, from this time to love Thee more, and to do always what is most pleasing in Thy sight.
O blessed Virgin, and all ye Saints and Angels, intercede and pray for me. And may the almighty God grant to us all pardon and peace.

At the Introit (when the priest goes to the Missal).
O my God, direct my steps, I beseech Thee, in the way of Thy commandments, and grant that nothing may ever separate me from Thy love. Blessed are they that love God and do not commit sin.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost.

At the "Kyrie Eleison."
Have mercy on me, O Lord. Have mercy on me, my dear Jesus. Have mercy on me, O my good God, and forgive me my sins.

At the "Dominus Vobiscum."
Be Thou always with us, O my God, and let Thy grace never depart from us.

At the Collect(s).
Almighty and Eternal God, we humbly beseech Thee, to look down upon this congregation from Thy heavenly sanctuary, and graciously hear these prayers, which Thy Church sends up to Thee for us, by the ministry of Thy priest.
Grant us, in Thy infinite mercy, pardon of our sins, health of mind and body; peace in our days; unity and increase of Catholic Faith; fervent charity; sincere devotion; patience in suffering, and everything, which leads to Thy glory, and our own salvation. Through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

At the Epistle.
O my God, I thank Thee from the bottom of my heart, that Thou hast made me a child of Thy Holy Church, whilst so many, who are perhaps better than I am, are not members of the Church. It was Thy love for me, that has given me the true Faith. Give me in this Thy love, also a great veneration for the Catholic Church, its precepts and commandments, and mayest Thou never permit me to transgress any of these commandments.

At the Gospel.
O Jesus, Thou hast the words of eternal life; teach me, I beseech Thee, what I must do to merit and obtain life.
Answer of Jesus: "If thou wilt enter into life, my child, and obtain heaven, keep the commandments. Love the Lord Thy God with Thy whole heart, and with thy whole soul, and with thy whole mind, and with thy whole strength. Seek first the kingdom of heaven, and all other things shall be given to thee. Love thy neighbor as thyself. Love thy enemies; do good to those that hate thee, and pray for those that persecute thee. Take thy cross upon thee and follow Me. Watch and pray, that thou enterest not into temptation. Happy they, who hear the word of God, and keep it."
O my good Saviour, give me grace to lay to heart these and all Thy holy precepts, and to practice them. What will it profit me to know the way of life, if I do not show forth in my conduct that I am Thy child! O Jesus, assist me to believe in Thee, to love The, and to imitate Thee.

At the Offertory.
Accept, O heavenly Father, this unspotted host, and the chalice which the priest offers up to Thee, and which will soon become the Body and Blood of our Saviour. I offer it up to Thy divine Majesty for my innumerable sins and offenses, and for all here present, and for all faithful Christians, living and dead, that it may help me and them to life everlasting.
Receive, O Holy Trinity, this oblation which we make to Thee in memory of the Passion, Resurrection and Ascension of our Lord Jesus Christ; and in honor of the blessed Mary, ever Virgin, of blessed John the Baptist, of the holy Apostles Peter and Paul, and of all the Saints, those especially whose feast we celebrate today.
And in union with this offering, O my God, I offer Thee my heart, though unworthy; change it, and make it like unto the Sacred Heart of Jesus, meek and humble, and full of love for Thee and my neighbor. I also offer to Thee whatever I shall do or suffer today. I wish to do all things, and suffer all things for the love of my Saviour, who offered Himself up for me in a bloody manner on the cross, and offers himself again in an unbloody manner in this Holy Mass.

At the Lavabo (when the priest washes his hands).
O Lord, who at the last supper didst wash the feet of Thy Apostles, wash also me; not only my feet, but my heart and my soul; cleanse it in Thy most Precious Blood from all stains of sin, and make me wholly pure and innocent.Glory be to the Father, etc.

At the "Orate Fratres."
May our Lord receive from us this Sacrifice, and our own sacrifices and offerings, to the praise and glory of His name, for our good and the benefit of His whole Church.

At the Preface.
Indeed it is but meet and just, that we make such offerings to God, and that we praise and glorify His name, for He is the only God, He is the Holy One who deserves all praise and glory. And as we are but poor wretched sinners, who can never praise such a God as we should do, let us unite ourselves with all the Angels and Saints, who humbly adore Him; let us join our voices with them and cry out from the bottom of our heart:
Holy, holy, holy, art Thou, O my Lord and God. Heaven and earth are full of Thy glory. Blessed is He who will soon come down upon this altar.

At the Canon.
Now the moment is drawing near when Thou, O my Lord, shalt come down from heaven and dwell in our midst. Cleanse, therefore, our hearts, purify and bless them, that we may become worthy of Thy most holy presence. Bless and protect our Holy Church; pour forth Thy benediction on our Holy Father, the Pope; on our Bishop; on our Pastor, and on all the faithful. Accept this Sacrifice in thanksgiving, for all the benefits which I have received from Thee; in satisfaction for my sins; for obtaining Thy holy grace; for my parents, my relations, my friends and benefactors. Grant us all Thy blessing, spiritual and temporal.
But it is not only Thy blessing we desire; no, it is Thyself. O Jesus, after Whom we long and sigh. Thou art coming; the gates of heaven open; the great God is now on the altar.

At the Elevation of the Host.
Hail, sweet Jesus; I humbly adore Thee as my Lord and God.
O Jesus, I believe in Thee.
O Jesus, I hope in Thee.
O Jesus, I love Thee from the bottom of my heart. Have mercy on me, O good Jesus, according to Thy great mercy.

At the Elevation of the Chalice.
Hail, most precious and adorable Blood of my Saviour. I humbly adore Thee who art washing away the sins of the world. Wash away also my sins. Cleanse and purify me. Live, Jesus, in me, and may I live in Thee.

After the Elevation.
It is now no more bread and wine, which is on the altar, but Jesus Christ Himself. Indeed, here, O my Jesus, is Thy Body that was broken; here is Thy Blood that was shed for us. Apply, O good God, this most Precious Blood to the wants of the living and the dead. Looking down upon the unspotted Sacrifice of Thy own divine Son, which cries out to Thee for mercy, have mercy on the poor souls who are yet suffering in purgatory; and in particular on the souls of N. N.; and on those of my deceased parents, relations, benefactors, neighbors, etc. Likewise on such as I have in any way injured, or to whom I have been the occasion of sin, or who have injured me. To them, O Lord, and to all that rest in Christ, grant, we beseech Thee, a place of refreshment, light and peace. Through the same Christ our Lord.

At the "Nobis Quoque Peccatoribus."
And also to us, poor miserable sinners, grant the same, O Lord; judge us not according to our sins, but through Thy infinite mercy in which we hope to obtain pardon of them, and Thy holy grace. We ask it of Thee in the name of Him who is here on the altar, and who liveth and reigneth with Thee for ever and ever.

At the "Pater Noster."
Our Father, who art in heaven, etc.
Deliver us from the present evils: from all those things which are an obstacle in our way to heaven; from past evils: which are our sins, and for which we humbly ask forgiveness; and from all evils to come: from the danger of falling into sin again. Jesus who has suffered so much for my sins, let me never offend Thee any more by committing new sins.

At the "Agnus Dei."
Lamb of God who takest away the sins of the world, have mercy on us.
O most loving Jesus who art here present, I adore Thee with a lively faith. All my hope is in Thee; and I love Thee above all things who hast loved me so much.
Come, O Lord, to me, and heal my sinful soul. Feed me, for I am hungry; strengthen me, for I am weak; sanctify me, and deliver me from all sins, and make me always obedient to Thy Commandments. Let me never be separated from Thee, O my Saviour, but let me always be united with Thee now and forever.

At the "Domine, Non Sum Dignus."
O Lord, I am not worthy, that Thou shouldst enter under my roof; but only say the word, and my soul shall be healed. (Three times.)

At Holy Communion.
Anima Christi.
Soul of Christ, sanctify me;
Body of Christ, save me;
Blood of Christ, inebriate me;
Water from the side of Christ, wash me;
Passion of Christ, strengthen me;
O Good Jesus, here me;
Within Thy wounds hide me;
Suffer me not to be separated from Thee;
From the malicious enemy defend me;
In the hour of death call me;And bid me come to Thee;
That with Thy Saints, I may praise Thee for ever and ever. Amen.

At the Last Prayers.
Once more, O my God, does the priest pray for Those for whom he has offered up this holy Sacrifice. I unite my prayers with his, recommending to Thee again all my wants and needs, as well as the necessities of all, for whom I am bound to pray. Graciously hear our prayers, and grant us whatever is salutary for soul and body. Through Christ Jesus our Lord.

Before the Blessing.
O Lord Jesus, before Thy ascension into heaven Thou didst bless Thy holy Apostles and Disciples. I humbly beseech Thee, do the same now with me, before I leave Thy holy dwelling. Bless my soul, that from now it may care but for Thee who hast done so much for me. Bless my body, that henceforth it may work faithfully in Thy holy service; bless all the actions which I may perform this day; all the words I shall speak; all the thoughts I shall have, that everything I may do, may be done for Thy greater honor and glory.

At the Blessing.
The + blessing of God the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost descend upon us, and dwell in our hearts forever. Amen.

At the Last Gospel.
O my God, now that this Holy Mass is at an end, I return Thee heartfelt thanks for having obtained the grace to assist at it. Pardon me, I humbly beseech Thee, all the distraction and negligences which I have been guilty of during it. And Thou, O good Jesus, who hast instituted this Holy Sacrifice for me as a living sacrifice, and as Thy devoted servant. Yes; from now on I shall only live for Jesus who has sacrificed Himself for me. May the good God give the grace to put my resolution into practice. Amen.

From: The Pocket Manual (B. Herder, Freiburg, Germany, 1911).

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