Congregation of the Blessed Sacrament

January 28, 2026

Memorial of Saint Thomas Aquinas

At Mass, during the Fraction Rite, as we sing the “Lamb of God,” the priest prays one of these two prayers, with me summarizing the important part for the first prayer in Roman Missal (RM) 131:

[F]ree me by this, your most holy Body and Blood,
from all my sins and from every evil;
Keep me always faithful to your commandments,
and never let me be parted from you.

or

May the receiving of your Body and Blood, Lord Jesus Christ,
not bring me to judgment and condemnation, but through your loving mercy
be for me protection in mind and body, and a healing remedy.

While receiving communion, the priest then says in RM 133:

May the Body of Christ/Blood of Christ keep me safe for eternal life.

We owe much of our Eucharistic theology throughout the centuries to the great Saint Thomas, who provided an amazing foundation for our faith tradition. These three prayers in the third edition of the RM, that the priest recites quietly to himself, are key to our communion: the preparation for reception, reception of the Body and Blood of Christ, and then living the Eucharist we have received. We are communion, the Body of Christ. These prayers help us remember what the Eucharist is about as an “action” for living our faith. The Eucharist and reception of communion remove our sinfulness, keep us from evil, strengthen us to live the commandments, provide protection, inspire us to serve, heal, and lead us to eternal life.

Let’s review these prayers, make them our own, and learn from this opportunity for Thomistic theology on the Eucharist. May we keep this in mind as we receive and think intentionally, how will today’s Eucharist transform me?

Let Us Pray:

A Brief Thanksgiving Prayer after Mass, based on one written by Saint Thomas Aquinas

I give you thanks, Lord, who have been pleased to nourish me, with the precious Body and Blood of your Son, our Lord Jesus Christ. May this Holy Communion be for me the armor of faith and the shield of goodwill.

May it cancel my faults, increase charity and patience, humility and obedience, and all the virtues. And I beseech you to lead me, a sinner, to that banquet beyond all telling, in fullness of eternal gladness, consummate delight, and perfect happiness.
Through Christ our Lord.