Evening Mass of the Lord’s Supper
The “Anima Christi” prayer was made popular by St. Ignatius in his Spiritual Exercises. Over the years it has become personal piety and through the ages has been closely tied to the Eucharist as well as the Holy Thursday Celebration which celebrates the Commemoration of the Eucharist.
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 malignant enemy 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.
This prayer is very profound and makes for a good meditation on the Eucharist for Holy Thursday. The following will lead you through verse by verse, with references to the Readings for the Mass of the Lord’s Supper and questions to reflect on. May Christ bid you to come closer through this reflection.
Soul of Christ sanctify me.
“So when he had washed their feet and put his garments back on and reclined at table again, he said to them, “Do you realize what I have done for you? You call me ‘teacher’ and ‘master,’ and rightly so, for indeed I am. If I, therefore, the master and teacher, have washed your feet, you ought to wash one another’s feet. I have given you a model to follow, so that as I have done for you, you should also do.” John 13
It is through following the model of Christ that we become Holy… most especially in the celebration of the Eucharist. How faithful have you been to celebrating the Eucharist? Are you living a life modeled after Christ?
Body of Christ save me.
“Every family shall procure for itself a lamb… and shall share in the lamb.” “That same night they shall eat its roasted flesh with…” Exodus 12:1-8, 11-14
“The Lord Jesus, on the night he was handed over, took bread, and, after he had given thanks, broke it and said, “This is my body that is for you. Do this in remembrance of me.” 1 Cor 11
Only Christ can save us from our sins and it comes through the very eating of His Flesh.
What sins do you need saved from?
Blood of Christ inebriate me.
“For on this same night I will go through Egypt, striking down every firstborn of the land, both man and beast, and executing judgment on all the gods of Egypt—I, the LORD! But the blood will mark the houses where you are. Seeing the blood, I will pass over you; thus, when I strike the land of Egypt, no destructive blow will come upon you.” Exodus 12:1-8, 11-14
“This day shall be a memorial feast for you, which all your generations shall celebrate with pilgrimage to the Lord, as a perpetual institution.” Exodus 12:1-8, 11-14
“Our blessing-cup is a communion with the Blood of Christ.” 1 Cor 10:16
“The cup of salvation I will take up,” Psalm 116
“In the same way also the cup, after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood. Do this, as often as you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the death of the Lord until He comes.”
It is no accident that Jesus chose wine to become His blood… rather than a drunken inebriation we become inebriated by Christ when we Drink His Blood… There is a sense of joy, exhilaration, exuberance, and celebration. This Triduum of Holy Thursday, Good Friday, and The Easter Vigil plunge us into the Paschal Mystery of Christ, we experience and enter into the sorrows of the passion and death as well as the joy of the Resurrection.
You may find your life dry, barren, even boring, until you discover the inebriation that comes with Drinking Christ’s Blood. Wouldn’t you like to let go of control and be inebriated by Christ?
Water from Christ’s side wash me.
“Then He poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples’ feet and dry them with the towel around His waist. He came to Simon Peter, who said to him, ‘Master, are you going to wash my feet?’ Jesus answered and said to him, ‘What I am doing, you do not understand now, but you will understand later.’ Peter said to him, ‘You will never wash my feet.’ Jesus answered him, ‘Unless I wash you, you will have no inheritance with Me.’ Simon Peter said to Him, ‘Master, then not only my feet, but my hands and head as well.’ Jesus said to him, ‘Whoever has bathed has no need except to have his feet washed, for he is clean all over; so you are clean, but not all.’ For He knew who would betray Him; for this reason, He said, ‘Not all of you are clean.'” John 13
We all have our sins and are in need of cleansing. Every time we receive the Eucharist our sins are washed clean. Do you need cleansing?
Passion of Christ strengthen me.
“They shall eat its roasted flesh with unleavened bread and bitter herbs. This is how you are to eat it: with your loins girt, sandals on your feet and your staff in hand, you shall eat like those who are in flight.” Exodus 12:1-8, 11-14
Life, suffering, work and toil can get us down… but when we unite it to the Cross, when we enter into Christ’s passion we are strengthened. Are you in need of Strength?
O good Jesus hear me.
“To you will I offer sacrifice of thanksgiving, I will call upon the name of the Lord.” Psalm 116
Right now in this moment as you prepare to receive the Body and Blood of Christ call upon the name of the Lord… say these words “O good Jesus hear me.” What would you like to say to Him?
Within Thy wounds hide me.
It is the Passover of the Lord. For on this same night I will go through Egypt, striking down every firstborn of the land, both man and beast, and executing judgment on all the gods of Egypt – I, the LORD! But the blood will mark the houses where you are. Seeing the blood, I will pass over you.” Exodus 12:1-8, 11-14
“He rose from supper and took off His outer garments.” John 13
We all have a desire to be protected, to be hidden in the Lord. He was wounded for our sake. Imagine yourself hiding in Christ’s wounds… protected and sheltered by the King of Kings. What do you need refuge from? Let Him hide you.
Suffer me not to be separated from Thee.
“You have loosed my bonds.” Psalm 116
“How shall I make a return to the Lord for all the good he has done to me?” Psalm 116
“He took a towel and tied it around his waist.” John 13
There is no greater suffering in this earth than to be separated from God… we have all probably experienced some sense of separation from God. Remember a time when you were separated from the Church… Ask him now to keep you united.
From the malicious enemy defend me.
“When I strike the land of Egypt, no destructive blow will come upon you.” Exodus 12:1-8, 11-14
Do you have any enemies that you need defense from? He will defend you.
In the hour of my death call me,
“Precious in the eyes of the Lord is the death of His faithful ones.” Psalm 116
“Before the feast of Passover, Jesus knew that His hour had come to pass from this world to the Father.” John 13
At some point we will all come to the point of our death. Would you know the voice of the Good Shepherd? Could you follow His voice through the darkness? Ask Jesus to call you that you may hear His voice.
And bid me come unto Thee
“This day shall be a memorial feast for you, which all your generations shall celebrate with pilgrimage to the Lord, as a perpetual institution.” Exodus 12:1-8, 11-14
“I am your servant, the son of your handmaid” Psalm 116
“So, during supper, fully aware that the Father had put everything into His power and that He had come from God and was returning to God…” John 13
As Mary said “I am the handmaiden of the Lord, do with me what you will.” Have you been running from God, avoiding intimacy with God? Ask Him to invite you deeper right now.
that I may praise Thee with Thy saints
and with Thy angels.
“Our blessing-cup is a communion with the Blood of Christ.” 1 Cor 10:16
“My vows to the LORD I will pay in the presence of His people.” Psalm 116
Is there anyone in your life who has died? Someone that you miss terribly… realize that in this very Eucharist they are present… they are interceding with you and for you… Is there anyone that you would like to pray for now? Know that they are praising God with you along with all of the Saints and Angels.
Forever and ever,
“He loved His own in this world and He loved them to the end.” John 13
This moment now is forever. When we celebrate the Eucharist we enter into Eternity where we will worship and praise God, adore and contemplate God in all of His Glory.
Do you want to be with God forever?
He will never abandon you, He will never fail you, He is with you through the good times and the bad… God is with you forever and ever.
Amen
