HOW TO PREPARE FOR HOLY COMMUNION
Holy Communion is the culmination of the Divine Liturgy when the Lord shares his divine life with his people by means of his precious Body and Blood given under the forms of bread and wine. However, Communion is not something to be received lightly or without due consideration. Normally, only fully initiated Catholics who have prepared themselves should receive Holy Communion during the Divine Liturgy.
But how does one prepare?
Communion Fast. Traditionally, one would fast from all food and drink from midnight until reception of Holy Communion. Now that fast has been reduced to a minimum of fasting from food and drink (other then water) for 1 hour before reception. You are free, however, to adopt a fuller portion of the tradtional fast. Talk to your spiritual director or confessor about it if you that is something you would like to consider.
Prayer. You can find traditional prayers for Preparation for Communion in Orthodox prayer books. The teal-colored people's liturgy book also contains prayers you can use the night before or in the morning to prepare yourself (also available here).
Self-examination, repentance, confession. You should always make an examination of conscience. If you find a serious sin, you should plan to go to confession before coming to Divine Liturgy. At a minimum you should make an act of contrition and promise to confess the sin to a priest as soon as possible. Many priests gladly hear confessions after Divine Liturgy especially for such cases.
Forgiveness and reconciliation. Harboring resentment or unforgiveness in our hearts is incompatible with receiving the remission of sins promised in the reception of Holy Communion. Likewise, we should seek reconciliation with anyone we have seriously offended before approaching Holy Communion.
Attending Vespers and Matins. One of the most import ways we can prepare for the whole Divine Liturgy, including Holy Communion, is to attend Vespers and Matins. These services contain the prayers, hymnody, and readings that the Church has chosen specifically for this purpose.
PRAYERS OF PREPARATION
The following prayers are recommended as a personal preparation for Divine Liturgy.
Through the prayers of our holy fathers, O Lord Jesus Christ our God, have mercy on us. Amen.
Glory to you, our God, glory to you.
Heavenly King, Comforter, Spirit of Truth, everywhere present and filling all things, Treasury of Blessings and Giver of Life, come and dwell within us, cleanse us of all stain, and save our souls, O gracious One.
Throughout Pascha, the following is said in place of “Glory to you” and “Heavenly King.”
Christ is risen from the dead! By death he trampled Death; and to those in the tombs he granted life. (Three times)
Holy God, Holy and Mighty, Holy and Immortal, have mercy on us. (Three times)
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, now and ever and forever. Amen.
Most Holy Trinity, have mercy on us; Lord, cleanse us of our sins; Master, forgive our transgressions; Holy One, come to us and heal our infirmities for your name’s sake.
Lord, have mercy. (Three times)
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, now and ever and forever. Amen.
Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name; thy kingdom come; thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread; and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us; and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.
Amen.
Lord, have mercy. (Twelve times)
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, now and ever and forever. Amen.
Come, let us worship our King and God. Come, let us worship Christ, our King and God. Come, let us worship and bow before the only Lord Jesus Christ the King and our God.
PSALM 22
The Lord is my shepherd; there is nothing I shall want. Fresh and green are the pastures where he gives me repose. Near restful waters he leads me, to revive my drooping spirit. He guides me along the right path; he is true to his name. If I should walk in the valley of darkness no evil would I fear. You are there with your crook and your staff; with these you give me comfort. You have prepared a banquet for me in the sight of my foes. My head you have anointed with oil; my cup is overflowing. Your mercy, O Lord, shall follow me all the days of my life. In the Lord’s own house shall I dwell forever and ever.
PSALM 23
To the Lord belong the earth and its fullness, the world and all who dwell in it. It is he who set it on the seas; on the waters he made it firm. Who shall climb the mountain of the Lord? Who shall stand in his holy place? The man with clean hands and pure heart, who desires not worthless things, who has not sworn so as to deceive his neighbor. He shall receive blessings from the Lord and reward from the God who saves him. Such are the men who seek him, seek the face of the God of Jacob. O gates, lift high your heads; grow higher, ancient doors. Let him enter, the king of glory! Who is the king of glory? The Lord, the mighty, the valiant, the Lord, the valiant in war. O gates, lift high your heads; grow higher, ancient doors. Let him enter, the king of glory! Who is he, the king of glory? He, the Lord of armies, he is the king of glory.
PSALM 115
I trusted even when I said: “I am sorely afflicted,” and when I said in my alarm: “No man can be trusted.” What can I return to the Lord for all he has given me? I shall take the chalice of salvation, and call upon the name of the Lord. My vows to the Lord I will fulfill before all his people. Precious in the eyes of the Lord is the death of his faithful. Your servant, Lord, your servant am I; you have loosened my bonds. A thanksgiving sacrifice I make; I shall call on the Lord’s name. My vows to the Lord I will fulfill before all his people, in the courts of the house of the Lord, in your midst, O Jerusalem.
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, now and ever and forever. Amen.
Then three times, with a bow each time:
Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia! Glory to you, O God! (Three times)
Lord, have mercy. (Three times)
TROPARIA OF PREPARATION
O Lord, born of the Virgin, do not look upon my sins, but cleanse my heart, and make it a temple for your most pure Body and precious Blood. Do not cast me away from your presence, for you are merciful without limit.
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
How can I approach and partake of your holy mysteries, for I am unworthy; and if I come to your wedding feast without the proper garment of worthiness of heart, I would but earn my condemnation. However, you, O Lord, are able to cleanse my soul and call me to the table of salvation. For you are the Lover of us all.
Now and ever and forever. Amen.
O Mother of God, great is the number of my sins, but I hasten to you, seeking salvation; visit my soul in its weakness and pray to your Son our God to grant me the forgiveness of my evil deeds. For you alone are truly blessed.
TROPARION OF GREAT AND HOLY THURSDAY
While the illustrious disciples were enlightened as their feet were washed at the supper, the ungodly Judas, darkened by a sick love of silver, betrayed you – the just judge – to lawless judges. See how a money-hungry man hanged himself because of it; and flee the greedy soul who would do such things to the Teacher. O Lord, so good to everyone, glory to you!
Lord, have mercy. (Forty times)
1. Prayer of Our Holy Father Basil the Great
Lord and Master Jesus Christ, my God, source of life and immortality, maker of all things visible and invisible, coeternal Son of the immortal Father, accept the repentance of me, a sinner. Incline your ear and hear my prayer: I have sinned, O Lord, I have sinned before your face, and I am not worthy to lift up my eyes to your glory. I have provoked your goodness; I have transgressed your commandments and disobeyed your statutes. O Lord, be long-suffering with me and show me your mercy. O you who said through the prophet, “I desire not the death of the sinner, but that he may repent and live,” show me your love and forgive me. Wherefore, even unworthy of heaven and of earth as I am, I despair not of your salvation. In this life I have wholly yielded myself to sin and have become the slave of the pleasures of this world. I have defiled your image in me and turned my back on your loving kindness. When I consider your infinite compassion, I dare to come back to you, my God and my maker. Receive me, O Christ, as you received the Adulteress; accept me as you accepted the Prodigal Son, the Publican, and the thief on the cross. Take away the heavy burden of my sins, O you who take away the sins of the world. You heal human weaknesses and call to yourself and give rest to those who are weary and heavy-laden. Cleanse me, O Lord, from every stain of flesh and spirit; teach me to fulfill your will in fear and holiness that, having the witness of a pure conscience, I may receive my share of your holy things and may be united to your body and blood. May I have you to abide in me with the Father and the Holy Spirit. Grant me to receive the bread and wine which are your body and blood until my last breath and, thereby, to receive fellowship with the Holy Spirit as a provision for the journey to eternal life, and as an acceptable defense at your dread judgment-seat. Together with all your saints, may I be a partaker of the good things you have prepared for those who love you, O Lord my God. Amen.
2. Prayer of Our Venerable Father John Damascene
Lord and Master Jesus Christ, my God, who alone have power to absolve from sins, forgive all my transgressions both voluntary and involuntary, committed in word or deed. O loving God, allow me to partake of your divine, glorious, and pure mysteries. Let my sharing in your body and blood be for the cleansing of my sins and the healing of my body and a pledge of the life to come and of your kingdom. You are a merciful God, loving, kind, and full of compassion, and to you I give glory. Amen.
3. Prayer of Our Holy Father Basil the Great
I know, O Lord, that if I partake unworthily of your pure body and precious blood, I will be guilty! I will be eating and drinking my own condemnation, not discerning your body and blood. When I consider your loving kindness, O my Christ and my God, I dare come to you who said, “Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood remains in me and I in him.” Be merciful to me a sinner, O Lord, and do not rebuke me. Deal with me according to your mercy. Let the bread and wine be for the healing of my soul and body, for the enlightenment of my mind, and for the protection of my life. Let them give me confidence in you and love for my brothers and sisters. Let them be for the amendment of my conduct, for perseverance, for increase in virtue, and for perfection in the communion of your Holy Spirit. Give me your body and blood, O Lord, as a provision for the journey to eternal life and for an acceptable defense at your judgment-seat. Do not let them be for my judgment or condemnation. Amen.
4. Prayer of Our Holy Father Simeon the New Theologian
From defiled lips and from a vile heart, an unclean tongue, and a polluted soul, receive this prayer, O Christ. Reject not my words, nor my demeanor, nor my persistence. Allow me, my Christ, to speak boldly of my own desires. Moreover, teach me what you want me to do and say. I have sinned more than the woman in the city who, knowing where you dined, O Christ my Master and God, bought ointment and dared to anoint your feet. As you did not reject her whose heart led her to you, do not despise me, O Word, but allow me also to clasp and embrace your feet and anoint them with a flood of tears, as with a precious ointment. Wash and purify me with your tears, O Word. Forgive my trespasses and grant me pardon. You know the multitude of my evil-doings. You know my wounds and my sores. But you also know my faith. You know what I intend to do and you hear my sighing. No tear is hidden from you, O God, my maker and deliverer. Your eyes behold that which I have not yet done, for in your book is written that which has not yet come to pass. Consider my lowliness. Look upon my affliction and pain. Forgive my every sin, O God of All, that with a pure heart, a fearful mind, and a contrite spirit, I may partake of your undefiled and most holy mysteries that bring divine life to all who eat and drink with a pure heart. For you said, O Master, “Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood remains in me and I in him.” True in every way is the word of my Lord and God. Partaking of deifying grace, I am no longer alone but with you, my Christ, the Light of the World. Do not allow me to live apart from you, O Giver of Life, who are my breath, my life, my joy, and the salvation of the world. Therefore, I draw near and you see my tears and my contrite soul. I beseech you, deliver me from my sins and grant me to partake without condemnation of your pure and life-creating mysteries, that, according to your word, you may remain in me, as wretched as I am. For, if I am found fallen from your grace, the tempter may deceive me and entice me from your deifying precepts. For this reason, bountiful Lord, I fall down before you and earnestly cry to you: As you accepted the Prodigal Son and the woman in the city when she came to you, so also receive me, prodigal and vile as I am. Now turning to you with contrition, O Savior, I know that no one has sinned against you as I have, nor done the things I have done. Yet I know too that neither the magnitude of the transgression nor the multitude of the sins surpasses the long-suffering patience of my God and his exceeding love for us. In your merciful compassion you cleanse and raise up those who earnestly repent, and you make them partakers of the light and of your divine nature. Strange as it may seem to angels and human reason, you speak to us as if we are true friends. Inspired with boldness, confident of your rich mercy, O Christ, and with both rejoicing and trembling, I who am like grass partake of fire, and, amazingly, I am refreshed and, like the burning bush of old, I am not consumed. Filled with gratitude, I worship, glorify, and magnify you, my God, for you are blessed, now and ever and forever. Amen.
5. Prayer of Our Holy Father John Chrysostom
O God, absolve, remit, and forgive the transgressions I have committed in thought, word, or deed, voluntarily and involuntarily. Pardon all my sins, for you are a gracious and loving God. Allow me to receive your holy body and blood for the good of my soul and the healing of my body; through the prayers of your most pure Mother, of the spiritual and holy powers of heaven who serve you in holiness, and of all the saints who have pleased you since time began. Yours is the kingdom and yours is the glory. Amen.
When you approach for holy communion, you may say in your heart:
Behold, I draw near to divine communion, O Creator; let me not be destroyed. For you are fire to consume the unworthy. Then rather cleanse me from all that defiles.
The blood that makes divine, O (wo)man, let it be your fear, let it be your dread. It is fire to consume the unworthy. The divine body makes me a partaker of the divine nature, and likewise feeds me. It makes the spirit divine and wondrously nourishes the mind.
You have ravished my heart with your love, O Christ; your divine care has converted my soul. Yet, consume my sins with celestial fire.
Grant me to delight in you. Let me rejoice and exalt your incarnation and your second coming, O gracious Lord.
How shall I enter, unworthy as I am, into the splendor of your holy place? If I dare to go along into the bridal chamber my clothing will condemn me, for it is not wedding attire, and I will be bound and cast out by the angels. Purify my filthy soul, O Lord, and save me, for you love us all.
Loving Master, Lord Jesus Christ, my God, let not these holy gifts be to my judgment, in that I am unworthy; but rather for the cleansing and hallowing of soul and body and as a pledge of life eternal and the kingdom. For I hold it good to cling to God; to hope in the Lord for my salvation.