Pray One of These Acts of Faith in the Real Presence Before Holy Communion

This first one is from Aleteia, posted by Philip Kosloski.

Before receiving communion, renew your faith in Jesus truly present under the appearances of bread and wine.

Catholics believe that Jesus is truly and substantially present in the Eucharist, and when they approach the altar to receive the bread and wine, they do so to receive Jesus himself.

At times this belief can be difficult to comprehend and remains a mystery of the Catholic Church. This is why it is important to regularly affirm our faith in Jesus’ Real Presence, especially before receiving him in Holy Communion.

Here is a prayer from the early 20th century that can be said before receiving communion to assert your faith that Jesus is truly there under the appearances of bread and wine.

My good Jesus,
I believe with a firm and lively faith
that in this adorable sacrament are Thy body and blood,
soul and divinity.
I believe that in this consecrated Host
I shall receive that same body
which was born of the most pure Virgin Mary in Bethlehem,
which suffered so many pains and torments for love of me
on the Way of the Cross and on Calvary,
and which rose gloriously the third day from the dead.
I believe that I shall receive God Himself.

I adore Thee, O my God, as my Creator,
my Preserver, my Redeemer, and my Judge,
truly present in the Holy Eucharist.

Divine Host, I adore Thee
with the angels who fill the sanctuary
and hover over the tabernacle
as they hovered over the cave of Bethlehem in the Holy Night;
I adore Thee, my God,
with the Blessed Virgin,
and in union with all the saints.

Lord and Master of the universe,
Who hast fixed Thy dwelling amongst men,
I adore Thee with profound gratitude.
O my Jesus, bless this temple wherein Thou residest,
but still more the heart that I offer Thee
as a living abode and place of rest.
Deign ever to inhabit it by Thy grace and Thy love,
and may my sins never banish Thee from it! Lord,
I have a firm faith,
but do Thou strengthen my faith,
and animate it so that it may produce in my soul
deeper sentiments of adoration and love.

Good Lord, increase my faith that I may love Thee more, and be more generous in my sacrifices for love of Thee and for the love of my neighbours.
Amen.

Or you can pray this, from the Byzantine Tradition:

O Lord, I firmly believe and profess
that you are truly the Christ,
the Son of the living God,
who came into the world to save sinners,
of whom I am the first.

Accept me as a partaker of your mystical supper,
O Son of God,
for I will not reveal the mysteries to your enemies,
nor will I give you a kiss as did Judas,
but like the thief, I confess to you:

Remember me, O Lord, when you shall come into Your kingdom.
Remember me, O Master, when you shall come into Your kingdom.
Remember me, O Holy One, when you shall come into your kingdom.

May the partaking of your Holy Mysteries, O Lord,
be not for my judgment or condemnation,
but for the healing of soul and body.

O God, be merciful to me, a sinner.

God, cleanse me of my sins and have mercy on me.

O Lord, forgive me, for I have sinned without number.

I believe also, that this which I am about to receive
is truly your most pure Body and life-giving Blood;
Wherefore, I pray, have mercy on me
and forgive my transgressions,
both voluntary and involuntary, in word and deed,
committed in knowledge or in ignorance;

And grant that I may partake of your Holy Mysteries without condemnation for the forgiveness of all my sins and for life everlasting.