And We Call It Good

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I have a favorite prayer for after receiving Holy Communion. The Anima Christi. Most of you should be familiar with this prayer. It has been around for a long time. Some encyclopedia says since Medieval times, some attribute it to St. Ignatius Loyola. It doesn’t matter. It is a beautiful pray most suitable for Good Friday. And I happen to love the old language:

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, hear me. 
Within Thy wounds hide me. 
Suffer me not to be separated from Thee. 
From the evil one defend me. 
In the hour of my death call me. 
And bid me come unto Thee, 
That with all Thy saints, 
I may praise thee 
Forever and ever. 
Amen. 

One prays for oneself in this prayer. But I want to offer you this next version to use in prayer for others. Especially for those in dire need of your prayer. And perhaps, it’s for all of us on this Good Friday on which we pray alone in our homes, unable to gather together. Fill in the name of the person for whom you are praying:

Soul of Christ, sanctify _____. 
Body of Christ, save _____. 
Blood of Christ, inebriate ______.  
Water from the side of Christ, wash _____. 
Passion of Christ, strengthen _____. 
O Good Jesus, hear me. 
Within Thy wounds hide him/her. 
Suffer him/her not to be separated from Thee.  
From the evil one, defend him/her. 
At the hour of _____’s death, call him/her 
And bid him/her come unto Thee. 
That with Thy saints, he/she may praise Thee forever and ever. Amen 

And may your prayer be answered by our Good and Suffering Christ who died for us this day, and rose on the third day to give us eternal life. May your Triduum prayers be fruitful and your Easter most joyous! 

God Bless.

Contact the author

Jeanne Penoyar, an Accounts Manager at Diocesan, is a Lector at St. Anthony of Padua parish in Grand Rapids, MI. Jeanne has worked in parish ministry as an RCIA director, in Liturgy, and as a Cantor. Working word puzzles and reading fill her spare time. Jeanne can be reached at jpenoyar@diocesan.com.