Prayer before the Blessed Sacrament of Saint Alphonsus Liguori

Prayer before the Blessed Sacrament

O my Jesus, I adore You present in the Most Blessed Sacrament. I love You above all things, and I long for You in my soul.

Since I cannot now receive You sacramentally, come at least spiritually into my heart.

I embrace You as if You were already there, and unite myself wholly to You.

Never permit me to be separated from You.

O my God, inflame me with Your love, and grant that I may always live in Your presence, praising, adoring, and serving You, until I am happy with You forever in heaven. Amen.

The "Prayer before the Blessed Sacrament" by Saint Alphonsus Liguori is a profound expression of faith and devotion, often recited during Eucharistic adoration. It reflects the saint's deep reverence for Jesus Christ present in the Blessed Sacrament and encompasses themes of adoration, thanksgiving, reparation, and supplication.

The prayer typically begins with an acknowledgment of Jesus's continuous presence in the Blessed Sacrament, motivated by His love for humanity, and His welcoming of all who visit Him. The individual expresses belief in Christ's presence on the altar and offers adoration from a state of humility. A key element is gratitude for the graces received, particularly for the gift of Himself in the Sacrament, the intercession of the Blessed Mother Mary, and the invitation to visit Him in the church.

The prayer then articulates three specific intentions for saluting Jesus's loving Heart:

1. In thanksgiving for the great gift of the Eucharist.

2. To make amends for all the outrages committed against Him in the Sacrament by His enemies.

3. To adore Him in all places on earth where He is present in the Blessed Sacrament but is least honored and most abandoned.

Following these intentions, the prayer moves to a personal declaration of love for Jesus and sorrow for past offenses against His infinite goodness. The individual resolves, with the help of grace, never to offend Him again and consecrates their entire being—will, affections, desires, and possessions—to Christ, asking Him to dispose of them as He pleases.

The supplications within the prayer focus on requesting God's holy love, final perseverance, and the perfect accomplishment of His will. It also includes intercessions for the souls in Purgatory, especially those devoted to the Blessed Sacrament and the Blessed Virgin Mary, and for all poor sinners. The prayer concludes by uniting all personal desires with those of Jesus's loving Heart and offering them to the Eternal Father, beseeching Him to accept and grant them for the love of Christ.

Saint Alphonsus Liguori, an 18th-century theologian and founder of the Redemptorists, was known for his prolific writings and deep devotion. This particular prayer originates from his first book, "Visits to the Blessed Sacrament," published in 1745, which remains in print today alongside other classics like "The Glories of Mary" The prayer encourages a spirit of contrition, humility, and joy, helping individuals draw closer to Christ and find solace in His presence.