There are 3 prayers you need to memorize if you don’t already know them before attending the Latin Mass for the first time! The Leonine Prayers- said after Low Mass by decree of Pope Leo XIII. These prayers are said together as a congregation.
First, the Hail Mary is said thrice.
Next is the Salve Regina:
Hail! holy Queen, Mother of mercy, our life, our sweetness and our hope! To thee do we cry, poor banished children of Eve; To thee do we send up our sighs, mourning and weeping in this valley of tears. Turn, then, most gracious advocate, thine eyes of mercy toward us, and after this our exile show unto us the blessed fruit of thy womb, Jesus. O clement, O loving, O sweet Virgin Mary!
V. Pray for us, O holy Mother of God.
R. That we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ.
Then there is the St. Michael the Archangel prayer:
St. Michael the Archangel, defend us in battle. Be our protection against the wickedness and snares of the Devil. May God rebuke him, we humbly pray, and do thou, O Prince of the heavenly hosts, by the power of God, Cast into hell Satan, and all the evil spirits, who prowl about the world seeking the ruin of souls. Amen.
Lastly is the repetition of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus three times. During the response, you strike your chest with a closed fist.
V: Most Sacred Heart of Jesus
R: (strike chest) Have mercy on us
V: Most Sacred Heart of Jesus
R: (strike chest) Have mercy on us
V: Most Sacred Heart of Jesus
R: (strike chest) Have mercy on us
A Bonus Prayer to say after Communion is the St Thomas Aquinas Prayer
I render thanks to Thee, O Lord, holy Father, everlasting God, Who hast vouchsafed, not for any merits of mine, but of Thy great mercy only, to feed me, a sinner, Thine unworthy servant, with the precious Body and Blood of Thy Son, Our Lord Jesus Christ; and I pray that this Holy Communion may not be for my judgment and condemnation, but for my pardon and salvation.
Let it be unto me an armor of faith and a shield of good purpose, a riddance of all vices, and a rooting out of all evil desires; an increase of love and patience, of humility and obedience, and of all virtues; a firm defense against the wiles of all my enemies, visible and invisible; a perfect quieting of all my impulses, fleshly and spiritual; a cleaving unto Thee, the one true God; and a blessed consummation of my end when Thou does call.
And I pray that Thou wouldst vouchsafe to bring me a sinner to that unspeakable feast, where Thou, with Thy Son and Thy Holy Spirit, art to Thy holy ones true light, fullness of blessedness, everlasting joy, and perfect happiness. Through the same Christ our Lord. Amen.
I had not memorized all of these prayers before as I could always reference them in rosary guides, prayer books, etc. and quite frankly I had not been exposed to the St. Michael prayer at all at the churches I attended growing up. As a shy person, I also had not become comfortable with striking my chest in front of others. At the Novus Ordo, I felt as though no one else did it when we got to the mea culpa in the Confiteor. Gratefully, basically everyone at the Latin Mass participates by striking their breast at the appropriate time during the Leonine prayers. The St Thomas Aquinas Prayer is a lovely prayer to add to your post Communion prayers!
I hope this helps give you some confidence when attending the Latin Mass!
For more reasons to attend a Latin Mass see my post about Falling In Love with the Latin Mass! Attending a Latin Mass is a great way to deepen your faith through beautiful hymns/chants, vivid language, traditional prayers, and peaceful prayer time! Find a Tridentine Mass near you and give it a try next Sunday!
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