Prayer After Communion
After Communion, speak quietly to Christ, who is present within you, and thank Him. The Anima Christi, or a few simple words of thanks and surrender, makes a fitting prayer after Communion. These minutes matter because of who you have received. The Catholic Church teaches that the Eucharistic presence of Christ begins at the moment of consecration and endures as long as the Eucharistic species subsist (Catechism, no. 1377).
The word Eucharist comes from the Greek word for thanksgiving. The Mass itself makes room for your prayer. The General Instruction of the Roman Missal invites a period of silence after Communion. At the end of the Communion rite, the priest says the Prayer after Communion, and the people respond "Amen." Use that silence well.
Kneel or sit and speak to Christ in your own words, or begin with the question of the psalmist: "What shall I render unto the LORD for all his benefits toward me?" For words to pray before and during Communion, see our communion prayer guide. The Anima Christi, a short thanksgiving, or a single line of thanks can each be prayed slowly when you return to your pew.
The Anima Christi (Soul of Christ)
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 malicious enemy defend me. In the hour of my death call me. And bid me come unto Thee, That with Thy saints I may praise Thee For ever and ever. Amen.
A Short Thanksgiving Prayer After Communion
Lord Jesus, You have come to us under the appearance of bread, and we receive You with grateful hearts. Thank You for giving Yourself to us at this altar. Stay with us in the quiet of these moments. Teach us how to answer such a gift with our lives. We place our worries, our plans and the people we love into Your hands. Amen.
A Fuller Prayer After Communion for Thanksgiving and Surrender
Lord Jesus Christ, You took bread, gave thanks, and broke it, saying, "This is my body which is given for you." Today we have received that same gift, and we come to You in thanksgiving. You told us that whoever eats Your flesh and drinks Your blood dwells in You, and You in them. Let that promise settle in us now. We thank You for this Mass, for the Word we heard, and for the people who prayed beside us. We surrender to You the parts of our lives we have tried to carry alone: our fears, our habits of pride, and the hurts we keep reopening. Open our eyes as You opened the eyes of the disciples when You broke the bread before them. Help us recognize You in the people we meet this week. Make our words gentle and our work faithful. When we walk out of this church, keep us mindful that You came with us from the altar. We ask for nothing outside Your will. Receive our thanks, Lord, and keep us close to You. Amen.
A Prayer After Communion for a Loved One Far from the Church
Lord Jesus, while You dwell within us, we bring before You someone we love who has drifted far from Your Church. You know [Name] better than we do, and You love them more than we can. We do not know the road their heart is walking, so we leave that road in Your keeping. Give us patience in our words and kindness in our silence. Where we are tempted to lecture, teach us to love. If a moment ever comes for a real conversation, give us the courage to speak gently and the humility to listen. We entrust [Name] to Your mercy today. We trust You with everything we cannot see. Amen.
A Spiritual Communion for When You Cannot Receive Today
Lord Jesus, we cannot receive You in the Eucharist today, and You know the reason better than anyone. We believe You are truly present in the Blessed Sacrament. We long to be united with You. Since we cannot receive You sacramentally at this moment, come to us in spirit and draw our hearts close to Yours. Whatever keeps us from the altar today, whether illness, distance, a matter of conscience, or a season of doubt, we bring it to You just as it is. We come trusting in Your mercy and with a deep desire for You. Where we need to be reconciled, give us the grace to seek Your forgiveness in the sacrament of Penance. Keep alive in us the hope of receiving You again in Holy Communion. Stay near to everyone who prays from a pew, a sickbed or a kitchen table today. Amen.
A One-Line Prayer After Communion
Jesus, You dwell in us and we in You, so thank You for coming to us today and keep us Yours. Amen.
Scripture to pray
He that eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, dwelleth in me, and I in him.— John 6:56 (KJV)
And he took bread, and gave thanks, and brake it, and gave unto them, saying, This is my body which is given for you: this do in remembrance of me.— Luke 22:19 (KJV)
And it came to pass, as he sat at meat with them, he took bread, and blessed it, and brake it, and gave to them. And their eyes were opened, and they knew him— Luke 24:30-31 (KJV)
What shall I render unto the LORD for all his benefits toward me?— Psalm 116:12 (KJV)
Frequently asked questions
What should I pray after receiving Communion?
Pray a few moments of quiet thanksgiving, speaking to Christ who is present within you. The Anima Christi is a traditional choice, and simple words of thanks and surrender are also fitting. The word Eucharist comes from the Greek word for thanksgiving. You can also bring before Christ the people you love and the week ahead of you. Jesus said, "He that eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, dwelleth in me, and I in him," so these moments are a time to speak with Him who dwells in you.
What is the Anima Christi?
The Anima Christi is a devotional prayer of medieval origin that begins "Soul of Christ, sanctify me." It has long been associated with St. Ignatius of Loyola, who included it in his Spiritual Exercises, though its author is not certain. Its petitions name the Body, the Blood and the Passion of Christ, and it closes by asking to praise Him with the saints for ever and ever.
How long should I stay in prayer after Communion?
Within Mass, use the period of silence that the General Instruction of the Roman Missal invites after Communion. That silence ends when the priest says the Prayer after Communion and the people respond "Amen." The Church teaches that Christ's Eucharistic presence endures as long as the Eucharistic species subsist (Catechism, no. 1377). Give that silence to quiet thanksgiving, speaking to Christ present within you.
What does Spiritual Communion mean?
A Spiritual Communion is a prayer expressing the desire to be united to Christ, made by a Catholic who cannot receive the Eucharist for any reason. It does not replace sacramental Communion. You can pray it in set words or speak to Christ in your own words of longing.
Is there a set prayer the priest says after Communion?
Yes, the priest says the Prayer after Communion at the end of the Communion rite. It follows the period of silence after Communion, and the people respond "Amen." The silence before it is the time to offer your personal prayer after Communion. You might pray the Anima Christi, a few words of thanks and surrender, or the psalmist's question: "What shall I render unto the LORD for all his benefits toward me?"
What if I cannot receive Communion?
You can still pray and stay close to Christ. A Catholic who cannot receive the Eucharist, for any reason, may make an act of Spiritual Communion, a prayer expressing desire to be united to Him. This prayer does not replace sacramental Communion, and whatever your reason, it is open to you. If you are unsure of your situation, speak with a priest.
Do I need to go to Confession before Communion?
Catholics who are conscious of grave sin are asked to be reconciled in the sacrament of Penance before receiving Communion. If that describes you, a priest can help you with the next step. A Spiritual Communion is a prayer of desire to be united to Christ, and it does not replace sacramental Communion. If you are unsure whether it applies to you, a priest can talk it through with you.