Saints LightPrayer Before Mass (St Ambrose)
This is the opening of the Summe Sacerdos, a long medieval prayer of preparation for Mass printed in old missals under the name of St Ambrose (the attribution is traditional, not certain); this is a translation made for this app. Pray it in the pew before Mass begins, to set your heart on what is about to happen at the altar.
The prayer
O highest Priest and true High Priest, Jesus Christ, who didst offer Thyself to God the Father as a pure and spotless victim on the altar of the Cross for us miserable sinners; who didst give us Thy Flesh to eat and Thy Blood to drink, and didst establish this mystery by the power of the Holy Ghost, saying: As often as you do these things, you shall do them in memory of Me.
I beg Thee, by that same Blood, the great price of our salvation; I beg Thee, by that wonderful and unspeakable love with which Thou didst deign to love us, miserable and unworthy as we are, so much that Thou didst wash us from our sins in Thy own Blood: teach me, Thy unworthy servant, by Thy Holy Spirit, to approach so great a mystery with the reverence and honor, the devotion and fear that are due. Amen.
In Latin
Summe sacerdos et vere pontifex, qui te obtulisti Deo Patri hostiam puram et immaculatam in ara crucis pro nobis miseris peccatoribus...
Pray it this week
Arrive five minutes early to Mass this Sunday and pray this slowly before the entrance hymn, instead of checking your phone.
More in At Mass
- Anima Christi (Soul of Christ)
- Act of Spiritual Communion
- Prayer Before Communion (St Thomas Aquinas)
- Thanksgiving After Communion (St Thomas Aquinas)
- O Sacrament Most Holy
- The Gloria
- The Sanctus (Holy, Holy, Holy)
- The Agnus Dei (Lamb of God)
- The Confiteor (I Confess)
- Prayer for a Visit to the Blessed Sacrament
- The whole Prayer Book
Keep this prayer with you
The whole Prayer Book is free in the Saints Light app, always, along with a guided Rosary.
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