Prayers of Saint Ambrose before Mass for each Day of the Week

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Prayers of Saint Ambrose before Mass for each Day of the Week

This prayer is often ascribed to St. Ambrose (340 - 397), but scholars today ascribe the work to Jean de Fecamp (12th cent.). These prayers have been an important part of priestly private devotions since the Middle Ages and were included in the Missal by Pius V. The form of the prayers below have been modified for use by either the clergy or the laity. Those sections proper to the clergy are given in parentheses and alternates for the laity, if present, follow in brackets.


Sunday

O SUPREME High Priest and true Pontiff, Jesus Christ, who didst offer Thyself to God the Father as a pure and spotless Victim upon the Altar of the Cross for us miserable sinners, who didst give us Thy Flesh to eat and Thy Blood to drink, and who didst ordain that Mystery in the power of the Holy Spirit saying: "As often as you do this, do it in remembrance of me"; I ask Thee by this same Blood of Thine, the great price of our salvation, and by that wonderful and unspeakable love with which Thou dost love us so much so as to wash us from our sins in Thy Blood, as miserable and unworthy though we are: (teach me, Thy unworthy servant, whom among Thy other gifts, Thou hast deigned to call to the priestly office, not for my own merit but only out of the worthiness of Thy mercy) I beseech Thee teach me through Thy Holy Spirit to handle so great a Mystery with such great reverence and honor, with such fear and devotion, as are due and fitting. Through Thy grace make me always to believe and to understand, to conceive and to firmly hold, and to think and speak of this wondrous Mystery in such a way as it pleases Thee and benefits my own soul. Let Thy good Spirit enter into my heart where He may silently resound and, without clamor of words, speak all truth. For Thy Mysteries are indeed exceedingly deep and covered with a sacred veil. On account of Thy great mercy grant me to (celebrate) [assist] at the Solemnity of the Mass with a clean heart and a pure mind. Free my heart from all unclean, unholy, vain and hurtful thoughts. Defend me with a loving and faithful guard, the mighty protection of Thy blessed Angels, so the enemies of all good may go away ashamed. Through the virtue of this great Mystery and by the hand of Thy holy angel, drive away from me and from all Thy servants the stubborn spirit of pride and vain-glory, of impurity and uncleanness, of doubting and mistrust. May those who persecute us be confounded; may they perish those who make haste to destroy us.


Monday

O KING of virgins and lover of chastity and innocence, extinguish in my body by the dew of Thy heavenly blessing whatever may kindle the burning of wanton desire, so purity of body and soul may abide in me. Mortify in my members the incitements of the flesh and all lustful emotions. Also give me true and persevering chastity with Thine other gifts which please Thee in truth, so that I may with chaste body and pure heart offer unto Thee a sacrifice of praise. For with how great a contrition of heart and flowing of tears or a chastity of body and purity of soul should that divine and heavenly Sacrifice be celebrated, wherein Thy Flesh is in truth eaten, wherein Thy Blood in truth is drunk, wherein things lowest and highest, earthly and divine, are united, where the Holy Angels are present, where Thou art in a marvelous and unspeakable manner both Priest and Sacrifice.


Tuesday

WHO can worthily (celebrate) [assist] at this Sacrifice unless Thou, Almighty God, makest one worthy? I know, O Lord, yea, truly do I know and this do I confess to Thy loving-kindness, that I am unworthy to approach so great a Mystery on account of my sins and numberless negligences; but I know, and truly with my whole heart do I believe and with my mouth confess that Thou canst make me worthy, who alone canst make clean one conceived of unclean seed and canst make sinners to be righteous and holy. By this Thine almighty power I beseech Thee, O my God, to grant that I, a sinner, may (celebrate) [assist] at this Sacrifice with fear and trembling, with purity of heart and streams of tears, with spiritual gladness and heavenly joy. May my mind feel the sweetness of Thy most blessed Presence and the guardianship of Thy holy Angels round about me.


Wednesday

O LORD, ever mindful of Thy venerable Passion, I, though a sinner, approach Thine Altar so I might offer Thee that Sacrifice which Thou hast instituted and commanded us to offer in remembrance of Thee for our salvation. Receive it, I beseech Thee, O God Most High, for Thy holy Church and for the people whom Thou hast purchased with Thy Blood. (And since Thou hast willed that I, a sinner, should be in the midst between Thee and Thy people, although Thou perceivest not in me the evidence of good works, at least refuse not the service of the ministry which Thou hast given me; let not the price of their salvation be wasted through my unworthiness, whose saving Victim and redemption Thou didst deign to be.) I also bring before Thee, O Lord, if Thou wilt deign to consider them, the tribulations of the people, the perils of the nations, the groans of prisoners, the misery of orphans, the necessities of strangers, the helplessness of the weak, the depression of the weary, the infirmities of the aged, the aspirations of the young, the vows of virgins, and the lamentations of widows.


Thursday

O LORD, Thou art merciful unto all and hatest nothing that Thou hast made. Remember what we are made of, for Thou art our Father, Thou art our God. Be not angry with us for ever, nor withhold the multitude of Thy mercies from us; for it is not in our righteousness, but in Thy great compassion that we humbly place our prayers before Thee. Take from us our iniquities and graciously enkindle the fire of Thy Holy Spirit within us. Take from us our hearts of stone and give us hearts of flesh, which may love Thee, prefer Thee, delight in Thee, follow Thee, and enjoy Thee. O Lord, out of Thy mercy we beg Thee to look favorably upon Thy family awaiting the service of Thy holy Name, May the prayers of none be ineffectual, nor the petitions of any be unfruitful. Do Thou put into our minds such prayers as Thou mayest delight graciously to hear and answer.


Friday

O LORD, Holy Father, we beseech Thee on behalf of the souls of the faithful departed that this great Sacrament of Thy love may be for them health, salvation, joy and refreshment. O Lord and my God, may it be a great and abundant feast of Thee, the living Bread, who camest down from heaven and givest life unto the world; a feast of Thy holy and blessed Flesh, of the Lamb without spot, who takest away the sins of the world; the Flesh which was conceived of the Holy Spirit and taken from the holy and glorious womb of the blessed Virgin Mary; the Flesh of Thy most sacred Side pierced by the soldier's spear from which the Fountain of mercy flowed forth; with which after being fed and satisfied, refreshed and comforted, they may rejoice in Thy praise and glory.

O LORD, upon Thy mercy I pray that the fullness of Thy blessing and the sanctification of Thy divinity may descend upon the bread to be offered unto Thee. May the invisible and incomprehensible majesty of Thy Holy Spirit also descend as it came down of old upon the sacrifices of the Fathers; which will both make our oblations Thy Body and Blood, and teach (me Thy unworthy priest) [us, Thy unworthy servants], to treat so great a Mystery with purity of heart and with tears of devotion, with the reverence and trembling, so that Thou mayest graciously and favorably receive this sacrifice (at my hands) for the wellbeing of all, both the living and the departed.


Saturday

I ENTREAT Thee, O Lord, by this most holy mystery of Thy Body and Blood with which we are daily fed and given to drink, are washed and sanctified in Thy Church, and are made worthy partakers of the one supreme Divinity, grant unto me Thy holy virtues, that filled by them I may draw near to Thine Altar with a good conscience. May these heavenly Sacraments be made unto me salvation and life, for as Thou hast said with Thy holy and blessed mouth, "The bread that I will give is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world. I am the living bread which came down from heaven. If any man eat of this bread, he shall live forever."

SWEETEST Bread, heal the palate of my heart that I may taste the pleasant savor of Thy love. Heal it of all infirmities that I may find sweetness in nothing other than Thee. O purest Bread, having all delight and all savor, which ever refreshest us and never failest, let my heart feed on Thee and may my inmost soul be fulfilled with the sweetness of Thy savor. The Angels feed upon Thee fully: let the wayfaring man feed on Thee according to his measure, that, refreshed with such a Viaticum, he may not fall by the way.

HOLY Bread, O living Bread, O pure Bread, who camest down from heaven and givest life unto the world, come into my heart, and cleanse me from all defilement of flesh and spirit. Enter into my soul: heal and cleanse me within and without; be the protection and continual health of my soul and body. Drive far from me all foes that lie in wait; let them flee at the presence of Thy power, so that being guarded without and within by Thee, I may come to Thy kingdom straight away: where, not as now in mysteries, but face to face, we shall behold Thee: when Thou shalt have delivered up the kingdom to God, the Father, and shalt be God, all in all. Then shalt Thou satisfy me with Thyself in wondrous fullness, so that I shall never hunger nor thirst any more. Who with the same God the Father and the Holy Spirit livest and reignest forever and ever. Amen.

-Source [Link offers the Latin version as well.]