Prayer of St. Ambrose
O Loving Lord Jesus Christ, I, a sinner, not presuming on my own merits but relying on Your mercy and goodness, approach with fear and trembling the table of Your most sweeet feast. Both my heart and body are stained with many sins; neither have I kept strict guard over my thoughts and my tongue. Wherefore, O gracious God, O dread Majesty, I, a wretched creature caught in difficulties, have recourse to You, the fount of mercy; to You do I hasten that I may be healed and take refuge under Your protection; and I ardently desire to have Him as my Savior, Whom I an unable to face as my Judge. To You, O Lord, I show my wounds, to You I lay bare my shame. I know that my sins are many and grievous, and hence I am afraid. I trust in Your countless mercies.
Look upon me, therefore, with the eyes of Your mercy, O Lord Jesus Christ, eternal King, God and Man, crucified for men. Hearken to me whose trust is in You. Have mercy upon me who am full of sin and misery, O Fount of mercy that will never cease to flow. Hail, saving Victim, offered for me and all mankind upon the gibbet of the Cross. Hail, noble and precious Blood, flowing from the wounds of my crucified Lord Jesus Christ, and washing away the sins of the whole world. Remember, O Lord, Your creatures whom You have redeemed with Your Blood. I am sorry because I have sinned; I desire to make amends for what I have done. Take away from me, therefore, O most merciful Father, all my iniquities and sins; that, being cleansed both in body and soul, I may worthily taste of the Holy of Holies.
Grant that this holy sacrifice of Your Body and Blood, of which I though unworthy, purpose to partake, may obtain the remission of my sins, the perfect cleansing of my offenses, the banishment of all evil thoughts, the renewal of all holy desires, the accomplishment of works pleasing to You, and the strongest protection of soul and body against the wiles of my enemies. Amen.