The Anima Christi Amplified

It’s been around since the 14^th century, this beautiful prayer that I say after I receive Jesus in the Eucharist. Before I knew the Anima Christi, my post-communion prayer was sometimes a fumbling for words to express the awesome experience of knowing I had Jesus in His Body, Soul, and Divinity within me. But now, praying the Anima Christi, with its beauty and simplicity, fills me with a deep and overwhelming knowledge of Jesus within me, and simultaneously, of being enveloped within His immense love. I am touched by His unique and personal love for me, and at the same time sense being in communion with the saints.

The prayer as I learned it, has a rhythm and pulse that has helped me memorize it easily.

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 your wounds, hide me

Separated from you, let me never be

From the evil one, protect me

At the hour of my death, call me

And close to you, bid me

That with your saints, I may be

Praising you, forever and ever. Amen

Some days I feel heavy with the burden and strain of the day, with the memory of a difficult conversation, the pain of being hurt, or the guilt of having said or done something that should not have been. I then expand the prayer, that the Lord would touch those areas with His healing and love. Then my prayer would be such.

Soul of Christ, sanctify my mind

Purify my every thought.

Sanctify my heart,

my every desire and intention.

Sanctify my body

May my every action be in accord

with your will.

Sanctify my soul

may I be pure and transparent,

a channel of your love.

Body of Christ, save me.

My Lord, save me

from the smallest of sins against you.

Help me to work out my salvation

with fear and trembling.

Blood of Christ, inebriate me.

May my every cell

be filled with your Spirit.

Water from the side of Christ, wash me.

Wash away every anxiety and fear,

all pride.

all guilt

all bitterness and anger.

Wash away unforgiveness.

Wash me, Lord,

that I may be clean

of every dark cloud within my being.

Cleanse me that I may be

a reflection

of your grace and mercy.

Passion of Christ, strengthen me.

Strengthen me

where I am weak.

Strengthen me

to overcome

slothfulness and laziness.

Strengthen me

to do your will

joyfully,

always.

O Good Jesus, hear me.

You always hear me

my loving Savior.

You hear my thoughts,

my longings

even when I don’t voice them.

You hear my cry

whenever I call.

You hear my silence

in the noise and clamor

of my daily toil.

Within your wounds, hide me:

your wounds

which you bore for love of me

by which I am healed.

Separated from you,

let me never be.

Never ever Lord, let me stray

away from you.

Never ever Lord, let me sin

against you.

Never ever Lord,

take your eyes off me.

Never ever Lord,

let me take my eyes off you.

From the evil one, protect me.

Protect me from his wiles

and temptations.

May I cling to you and your word

that I may never give the enemy

a foothold

in my life.

At the hour of my death,

call me.

Be by my side when it is time

for me to go home to You.

Surround me

with your Angels and Saints,

that I may never be alone.

And close to You, bid me.

Call to me, and may I hear Your voice

loud and clear.

May I hear Your voice

and follow you.

And with your saints,

may I lift my voice to praise your name,

forever and ever.

Amen.