EUCHARISTIC LITURGY – Communion: Reception of Communion

Communion of the celebrant

   The celebrant receives the Body of Christ, saying first:

   Corpus Domini nostri Jesu Christi custodiat animam meam in vitam aeternam. Amen.

   May the Body of our Lord Jesus Christ preserve my soul to life everlasting. Amen.

   He then receives the Precious Blood of the Lord, saying first:

   Quid retribuam Domino pro omnibus quae retribuit mihi? Calicem salutaris accipiam, et nomen Domini invocabo.
   Laudans, invocabo Dominum, et ab inimicis meis salvus ero.

   What shall I render to the Lord for all the things that he has rendered to me? I will take the chalice of salvation, and I will call upon the name of the Lord.
   Praising, I will call upon the Lord, and I shall be served from my enemies.

   Sanguis Domini nostri Jesu Christi custodiat animam mean in vitam aeternum. Amen.

   May the Blood of our Lord Jesus Christ preserve my soul to life everlasting. Amen.

Communion of the faithful

   The deacon at High Mass, at Low Mass the server (and the whole congregation), with contrition, say the Confiteor:

   Confiteor Deo omnipotente, beatae Mariae, semper Virgini, beato Michaeli Archangelo, beato Joanni Baptistae, sanctis Apostolis Petro et Paulo, omnibus Sanctis, et tibi, pater, quia peccavi nimis cogitatione, verbo, et opere: mea culpa, mea culpa, mea maxima culpa. Ideo precor beatam Mariam semper Virginem, beatum Michaelem Archangelum, beatum Joannem Baptistam, sanctos Apostolos, Petrum et Paulum, omnes Sanctos, et te, pater, orare pro me ad Dominum Deum nostrum.

   I confess to Almighty God, to blessed Mary ever Virgin, to blessed Michael the Archangel, to blessed John the Baptist, to the holy Apostles Peter and Paul, to all the Saints, and to you, father, that I have sinned exceedingly in thought, word and deed: through my fault, through my fault, through my most grievous fault. Therefore I beseech blessed Mary ever Virgin, blessed Michael the Archangel, blessed John the Baptist, the holy Apostles Peter and Paul, all the Saints, and you, father, to pray for me to the Lord our God. 

   The celebrant gives them absolution:

   Misereatur vestri omnipotens Deus, et dimissis peccatis vestris, perducat vos ad vitam aeternam.
   r.  Amen.

   May almighty God have mercy upon you, forgive you your sins, and bring you to life everlasting.
   r.  Amen.

   All present join with the celebrant in making the sign of the cross:

   Indulgentiam, absolutionem, et remissionem peccatorum nostrorum. tribuat nobis omnipotens et misericors Dominus.
   r.  Amen.

   May the almighty and merciful Lord grant us pardon, absolution and remission of our sins.
   r.  Amen.

   Holding up one of the small hosts, the celebrant repeats the words of St. John the Baptist, upon beholding the Redeemer:

   Ecce Agnus Dei: ecce qui tollit peccata mundi.

   Behold the Lamb of God: behold him who takes away the sins of the world.

   The communicant strikes the breast three times with the same faith as the centurion in the Gospel, saying, before receiving the host:

   Domine, non sum dignus ut intres sub tectum meum: sed tantum dic verbo et sanabitur anama mea.

   Lord, I am not worthy that you should enter under my roof: say but the word and my soul shall be healed.

   Administering Holy Communion, the celebrant says to each recipient:

   Corpus Domini nostri Jesu Christi custodiat animan tuam in vitam aeternam. Amen.

   May the Body of our Lord Jesus Christ preserve your soul to life everlasting. Amen.