The Door of Heaven: A Manual for Holy Communion

For Thou only art holy; Thou only art the Lord; Thou only, O Christ, with the Holy Ghost, art most high in the Glory of God the Father. Amen.

THE BLESSING

The peace of God, which passeth all understanding, keep your hearts and minds in the knowledge and love of God, and of his Son Jesus Christ our Lord; and the blessing of God Almighty, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost, be amongst you and remain with you always. Amen.

[Do not be in a hurry to rise from your knees. Thank God once more for all He has done for you. Pray again for help to persevere. Say one or more of the following thanksgivings and prayers: – ]

THANKSGIVING AFTER HOLY COMMUNION

I give Thee thanks, O Lord, holy Father, Almighty, everlasting God, who hast refreshed me with the most holy Body and Blood of Thy Son Jesus Christ our Lord; and I pray that this Sacrament which I have received may be to the strengthening of my body and soul unto life eternal, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

O God, who hast in Thy great mercy permitted me to draw near this day to the blessed Sacrament of the Body and Blood of Thy dear Son; I give Thee hearty thanks and praise for this Thy goodness. Lord, I thank Thee: help Thou my unthankfulness. Teach me more and more to feel and know the richness and freedom of Thy love. Teach me more and more to prize and to long for this holy feast of heavenly Food. Give me an ever-thankful heart, that so I may live ever a life of thankfulness, serving Thee, not as a slave, but as a loving child, in the spirit of adoption, and as sharing in the glorious liberty of Thy children. Oh, keep me from falling back; lead me onward by Thy grace; and bring me at last to the unveiled presence of my Saviour in heaven, through the same Thy Son Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Praise the Lord, O my soul, and all that is within me praise His holy Name.

Praise the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all His benefits; who forgiveth all thy sin, and healeth all thine infirmities; who saveth thy life from destruction, and crowneth thee with mercy and loving kindness.

"Thanks be unto God for His unspeakable gift!" Amen.

May God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Ghost, bless, preserve, and keep me, now and for evermore. Amen.

HYMNS

1. HOLY COMMUNION

1 Bread of heaven, on Thee we feed,
For Thy Flesh is meat indeed;
Ever may our souls be fed
With this true and living Bread;
Day by day with strength supplied
Through the life of Him who died.

2 Vine of heaven, Thy Blood supplies
This blest cup of sacrifice;
Lord, Thy wounds our healing give,
To Thy Cross we look and live:
Jesus, may we ever be
Grafted, rooted, built on Thee. Amen.

2

1 According to Thy gracious word,
In meek humility,
This will I do, my dying Lord,
I will remember Thee.

2 Thy Body, broken for my sake,
My Bread from heaven shall be:
Thy cup of blessing I will take,
And thus remember Thee.

3 Can I Gethsemane forget?
Or there Thy conflict see,
Thine agony and bloody sweat,
And not remember Thee?

4 When to the Cross I turn mine eyes,
And rest on Calvary,
O Lamb of God, my sacrifice,
I must remember Thee.

5 Remember Thee, and all Thy pains,
And all Thy love to me;
Yea, while a breath, a pulse remains,
Will I remember Thee.

6 And when these failing lips grow dumb,
And mind and memory flee,
When Thou shalt in Thy kingdom come,
Jesu, remember me. Amen.

3

1 O God, unseen, yet ever near,
Thy presence may we feel;
And thus, inspired with holy fear,
Before Thine altar kneel.

2 Here may Thy faithful people know
The blessings of Thy love;
The streams that through the desert flow,
The Manna from above.

3 We come, obedient to Thy word,
To feast on heavenly Food;
Our meat the Body of the Lord,
Our drink, His precious Blood.

4 Thus may we all Thy word obey,
For we, O God, are Thine;
And go rejoicing on our way,
Renewed with strength divine. Amen.

4

1 I am not worthy, Holy Lord,
That Thou shouldst come to me,
Speak but the word, one gracious word