Have you ever tried the contemporary version of Anima Christi?

The Anima Christi prayer (Soul of Christ sanctify me; Body of Christ, save me…) has for centuries been used by Catholics for private devotion after daily Mass. For those who have just received Communion, this is a beautiful prayer of thanksgiving. For those who cannot receive Communion (for whatever reason), it is a prayer of desire.

Historians used to think that the Anima Christi was composed by St. Ignatius of Loyola because he includes it in his famous work, "The Spiritual Exercises." But then they discovered that it was in use long before Ignatius’ time, as far back as the 12th century. Ignatius just picked it up from popular prayer books of his day.

Jesuit Father David Fleming did a contemporary translation of this famous prayer as part of his book, “Draw Me into Your Friendship” (which is a contemporary reading of “The Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius”). Below is Father Fleming’s version of Anima Christi. The footnotes (which are mine) direct you to passages in Scripture which are echoed in the prayer text.

Jesus, may all that is you flow into me. ⁽¹⁾
May your body and blood be my food and drink. ⁽²⁾
May your passion and death be my strength and life. ⁽³⁾
Jesus, with you at my side, enough has been given. ⁽⁴⁾
May the shelter I seek be the shadow of your Cross. ⁽⁵⁾
Let me not run from the love which you offer, ⁽⁶⁾
But hold me safe from the forces of evil. ⁽⁷⁾
On each of my dyings shed your light and your love. ⁽⁸⁾
Keep calling to me until the day comes when, with your saints, I will praise you forever. ⁽⁹⁾

1. This echoes the image of the vine and branches in Chapter 15 John’s Gospel: “As a branch cannot bear fruit all by itself, but must remain part of the vine, neither can you unless you remain in me.” Jn 15:4
2. See Chapter 6 of John’s Gospel: “Anyone who does eat my flesh and drink my blood has eternal life, and I shall raise him up on the last day.” Jn 6:54
3. An echo of Isaiah: “Yet it was our infirmities that he bore, our suffering that he endured … By his stripes we have been healed.” Is 52:4-5
4. Jesus walks with us and, during difficult patches, picks us up and carries us.
5. There is no way around the Cross. It is the iron law of Christianity.
6. Running away from the Cross is a natural instinct.
7. Satan is alive and well in the world today.
8. The trials of life are a gradual “letting go” in preparation for the final “letting go” which is death.
9. We all look forward to joining the multitude of angels and saints in heaven.

Msgr. James Murphy is former associate publisher of Catholic Herald and rector emeritus of the Cathedral of the Blessed Sacrament.