Both forms of the Mass are filled with beautiful prayers of gratitude or supplication.

But after receiving the Most Precious Body and Blood of Our Lord, Jesus Christ, perhaps you’d like to pray a bit more?

These prayers for after communion are perfect to pray while Father is purificating the sacred vessels and the communion hymn is finishing up.

Prayer of Humble Access and an Act of Spiritual Communion

First I want to touch on a prayer I love to pray before receiving communion and one I pray if I am not in a state of grace or cannot receive communion due to my gluten intolerance.

This prayer is something we prayed as Anglicans (though the Sacrament was invalid).

The Ordinariate of the Chair of Saint Peter still includes it in their liturgical prayers!

“In the Anglican Catholic form of the Mass, the Prayer of Humble Access is prayed after the consecration and before we receive Holy Communion. It reminds us of our unworthiness as sinners and reminds us of God’s goodness and great love for us.” [1]

Here is the text of this lovely prayer to pray before receiving communion:

We do not presume to come to this thy Table, O merciful Lord, trusting in our own righteousness, but in thy manifold and great mercies. We are not worthy so much as to gather up the crumbs under thy Table. But thou art the same Lord whose property is always to have mercy. Grant us therefore, gracious Lord, so to eat the flesh of thy dear Son Jesus Christ, and to drink his Blood, that our sinful bodies may be made clean by his Body, and our souls washed through his most precious Blood, and that we may evermore dwell in him, and he in us. Amen.

After everyone prays “I am not worthy that thou shouldst enter under my roof, but speak the Word only and my soul shall be healed” (Luke 7:6-8). I add in the prayer of humble access!

For those not receiving the Eucharist (for whatever reason!) it’s encouraged that you at least make an Act of Spiritual Communion.

What is an Act of Spiritual Communion?

“What it is very simply is an act, an interiorly expressed or exteriorly expressed act of desire to receive the Blessed Sacrament and to receive the effects of the Blessed Sacrament […]

The spiritual communion is nothing other than an act of desire for this nourishment and for this sweet union with Jesus as he is present under the appearances of bread and wine” [2].

There are many texts for this prayer instead of receiving communion, but here is the one I hear most commonly:

My Jesus, I believe that You are present in the Most Blessed Sacrament.I love You above all things,and I desire to receive You into my soul.Since I cannot now receive you sacramentally,come at least spiritually into my heart.I embrace You as if you were already there,and I unite myself wholly to You.Never permit me to be separated from You. (Saint Alphonsus Liguori)

Prayers After Communion

Once you’ve received the Eucharist, it’s important to meditate on the gift Jesus has given in His sacrifice and right to give Him thanks and praise!

Here are five different post-communion prayers you can offer to Our Lord:

Ordinary of the Mass (1846):

Grant, O Lord, that what we have taken with our mouth, we may receive with a pure mind, that of a temporal gift it may become to us an eternal remedy.

or

May Thy Body, O Lord, which I have received, and Thy Blood, which I have drunk, cleave to my bowels; and grant that no stain of sin may remain in me whi have been fed with this pure and Holy Sacrament. Who livest and reignest One God now and forever.

Catholic Prayer After Communion from Mass Conferring Holy Orders:

Complete within us, O Lord, we pray, the healing work of your mercy and graciously perfect and sustain us, that in all things we may please you. Through Christ Our Lord.

Another Post-Communion Prayer this time from the Ordinariate:

ALMIGHTY and everliving God, we most heartily thank thee for that thou dost feed us, in these holy mysteries, with the spiritual food of the most precious Body and Blood of thy Son our Saviour Jesus Christ; and dost assure us thereby of thy favour and goodness towards us; and that we are very members incorporate in the mystical body of thy Son, the blessed company of all faithful people; and are also heirs, through hope, of thy everlasting kingdom, by the merits of the most precious death and Passion of thy dear Son.

And we humbly beseech thee, O heavenly Father, so to assist us with thy grace, that we may continue in that holy fellowship, and do all such good works as thou hast prepared for us to walk in; through Jesus Christ our Lord, to whom, with thee and the Holy Spirit, be all honour and glory, world without end. Amen.

Finally, here’s a bonus Prayer to be said after Mass or that can be said after communion!

A Prayer of Saint Thomas Aquinas, very proper to be said after Mass.

I GIVE thanks to thee, O holy Lord, almighty Father, everlasting God, who hast vouchsafed, not for any merit of mine, but only out of the goodness of thy mercy, to feed me, a sinner, thine unworthy servant, with the precious Body and Blood of thy Son, our Lord Jesus Christ; and I pray thee that this holy Communion may not bring upon me guilt unto my condemnation, but that it may be a saving intercession for my pardon.

May it be to me as the armour of faith and the shield of good will. May it avail to deliver me from all my sins, to destroy in me all evil desires and wantonness, to increase in me charity and patience, humility and obedience, and every virtue; may it give me a sure defence against the wiles of all my enemies, visible and invisible; a perfect quieting of all my impulses, whether of soul or of body; a firm adherence to thee, the only true God; and a blessed end to my whole life.

And I pray thee that thou wouldest vouchsafe to bring me, although I am a sinner, unto that heavenly feast where thou, with thy Son and the Holy Spirit, art to thy Saints true light, full satisfaction, everlasting joy, endless happiness and perfect felicity; through the same Christ our Lord. Amen.

I hope that these Catholic prayers for after communion deepen your devotion to the Eucharist and gratitude to God for His sacrifice and mercy!

[1] Blessed Catholic Mom

[2] Catholic Answers