First Communion Prayers: Prayers Before and After First Holy Communion, for Children and Parents

Jesus, today you come to me for the first time.
I believe you are really here. I love you.
Come into my heart and stay with me forever. Amen.

Act of Faith. Jesus Christ, my Sovereign Lord, I firmly believe that Thou art really present in the Holy Eucharist, and that it is Thy body, Thy blood, Thy soul, and Thy divinity that I shall receive in that Adorable Sacrament.

Act of Hope. Thou hast said, O my God, that those hoping in Thee shall never be confounded. I place all my confidence in Thy promises, and I hope that, having nourished myself with Thy body on earth, I shall have the happiness of seeing and possessing Thee eternally in heaven.

Act of Love. O my divine Jesus, Who hast so loved me as to nourish me with Thy adorable flesh, I love Thee with all my heart and above all things; I wish to live and die in Thy holy love.

Act of Humility. My Saviour and my God, Thou art all sanctity. I am not worthy that Thou shouldst enter my heart; yet, speak but the word and my soul shall be healed.

Act of Desire. My soul desires Thee, O my God! Thou art its joy and happiness. Come, O divine Jesus, come into my heart; it desires ardently to receive Thee.

Act of Adoration. I adore Thee, O Jesus, as the Lamb of God immolated for the salvation of mankind. I join in the profound adoration which the angels and saints pay to Thee in heaven.

Act of Thanksgiving. Lord, Thou hast looked on my unworthiness. I was sick, and Thou hast healed me. I was poor, and Thou hast bestowed upon me Thy numberless benefits. How shall I be able to thank Thee, O my Lord, for all Thy favors? I will invoke Thy holy name, and eternally sing Thy mercies.

Act of Offering. What can I offer Thee, O my God, for the grace of having given Thyself to me? I consecrate to Thy glory my body, my soul, and all that I possess! Dispose of me according to Thy holy will.

Act of Petition. My divine Redeemer, Thou hast taken possession of me. Do not let the enemy of my salvation ravish the precious treasure I bear in my heart. Preserve me from all sin, and defend me against temptation, that I may persevere until death in the practice of Thy holy law. Amen.

Jesus, I am ready. Make my heart clean and happy for you.

Thank you, Jesus, for coming to me. I love you. Help me to be good and kind today.

Jesus, you live in me. Let everyone see your love in me.

Lord Jesus, today our child receives you for the first time.
Thank you for this gift. Help us to be good examples of faith,
to bring our child to Mass every Sunday, and to keep this love for you alive through all the years ahead. Amen.

Lord, I promised to help (name) grow in faith.
Bless (name) on this First Communion day.
Keep (name) close to you in the Eucharist, and make me a faithful witness to your love. Amen.

May Jesus, whom you have received today, live in your heart always.
May Mary, his Mother, keep you close to him, and may your guardian angel protect you. Amen.

I am the living bread which came down from heaven.
If any man eat of this bread, he shall live for ever; and the bread that I will give, is my flesh, for the life of the world.

And taking bread, he gave thanks, and brake; and gave to them, saying: This is my body, which is given for you. Do this for a commemoration of me.
In like manner the chalice also, after he had supped, saying: This is the chalice, the new testament in my blood, which shall be shed for you.

Then were little children presented to him, that he should impose hands upon them and pray. And the disciples rebuked them.
But Jesus said to them: Suffer the little children, and forbid them not to come to me: for the kingdom of heaven is for such.
And when he had imposed hands upon them, he departed from thence.