535 part iv: meditations for weekly retreats VOCAL PRAYER before Holy Communion (from the Roman Missal)270 I draw near, loving Lord Jesus Christ, to the table of [Y]our most delightful banquet in fear and trembling, a sinner, presuming not upon my own merits, but trusting rather in [Y]our goodness and mercy, I have a heart and body defiled by my many offenses, a mind and tongue over which I have kept no good watch. Therefore, O loving God, O awesome Majesty, I turn in my misery, caught in snares, to [Y]ou the fountain of mercy, hastening to [Y]ou for healing, flying to [Y]ou for protection; and while I do not look forward to having [Y]ou as Judge, I long to have [Y]ou as Savior. To [Y]ou, O Lord, I display my wounds, to [Y]ou I uncover my shame. I am aware of my many and great sins, for which I fear, but I hope in [Y]our mercies, which are without number. Look upon me, then, with eyes of mercy, Lord Jesus Christ, eternal King, God and Man, crucified for mankind. Listen to me, as I place my hope in [Y]ou, have pity on me, full of miseries and sins, [Y]ou, who will never cease 270 This prayer, composed by St. Ambrose as a “Preparation for Mass,” is found in the Appendices of the English translation of the Roman Missal along with other prayers in preparation for Mass. Appendix VI: Preparation for Mass — Prayer of Saint Ambrose, in: The Roman Missal, English trans. according to 3rd typical ed., Catholic Book Publishing Co., New Jersey 2011, pp. 1323-1324. Cf. MIR, pp. xlviixlviii (“Præparatio ad Missam — Oratio S. Ambrosii Ante Missam”).
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