Paraphrase of the Anima Christi

Soul of Christ, adorned with all the greatest graces and gifts of the Holy Ghost, sanctify me by a lively faith, a steadfast hope, a perfect charity, which neither tribulations nor anguish, nor even death itself can shake or weaken. O Soul, which art the soul of Christ by natural indwelling in his sacred Body, be thou likewise mine by thy gracious aid and working within me, and sanctify me with pious thoughts and affections. Be thou the soul and the life of my soul; for without thee all our life is but death.

Body of Christ, given for us not only to most bitter death, but for the life-giving Food of our soul, and the remedy of immortality, and an ever-abiding Sacrifice, save me. O divine Head, wherein are all the treasures of the wisdom and knowledge of God, rule and direct me. O most mild and benignant Eyes, so often dimmed with tears for me, look down upon me. O Tongue of my Saviour, which hast the words of everlasting life, teach me. O most mighty Hands, at whose touch diseases fled, and the blind saw, and the dead were raised, take away all the languors and the diseases of my soul and my body, scatter my darkness, and restore to me the life of grace. O Feet of Jesus, so beautiful, bringing salvation to the whole world, would that with Magdalene I might embrace you and kiss you, and so find pardon of all my sins! O Breast most lovely, shrine of the Godhead, altar of love, unite my heart to thine, and enkindle it with thy love. So to me to live will be Christ, and to die will be gain.

Blood of Christ, poured out for love of me, inebriate me, that I may strive to give thee back love for love, to suffer death for death, and ever to resist all sin steadfastly and generously even unto blood.

Water out of the Side of Christ, flowing from his riven Heart, wash me. More and yet more wash me, and cleanse me from my sin, that through that pierced side I may be admitted to embrace his sacred Heart.

Passion of Christ, strong and mighty Passion, which bore the whole burden of our sins, strengthen me; fortify me against all adversities; impart to me courage to endure with strong and glad heart all contumely and insult for the sake of my Lord Jesus Christ.

O good Jesus, Fountain and Spring of all goodness, hear me, exceeding sinner though I be; for thy tenderness and thy mercy heareth even sinners. Open wide the bowels of thy loving mercy, and hide me within thy Wounds, which thou hast appointed to be the refuge and shelter of the wretched; let me not become a prey to my enemies, nor fall into the hands of my justly offended God. Here will I dwell securely hidden; and here, O good Jesus, will I sing of thy loving-kindnesses for ever.

Suffer me not, in anger at the multitude and the heinousness of my sins, to be separated from thee. This I implore of thee by thy most sacred Wounds, by thy most precious Blood, by thy most bitter Passion and Death. For were I separated from thee mine enemies would say: God hath forsaken him, follow after and take him, for there is none to deliver. Wherefore again and again I cry to thee, O my Jesus; suffer me not to be separated from thee for ever.

Defend and protect me from the malignant enemy, who ever goeth about as a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour; lest my enemy say: I have prevailed against him.

In the hour of my death, when I am forsaken by all creatures, when I must go forth trembling from this changing world into my eternal home and dwelling-place, call me, thy lost and strayed sheep, who have so often refused to hear thy voice. Call me, though unworthy to be called a sheep of thy fold, for all thy sheep know and hear thy voice. Yet call me still, not for my merits, but in thine own tender mercy; for what profit is there in my blood if I go down into destruction!

And bid me come to thee, my supreme and only Good, to enjoy whom I was created, bid me come to thee; who callest all to thee, and who alone dost suffice unto me. For what have I in heaven but thee, and besides thee what do I desire upon earth, since thou, O my God, art the God of my heart, and my portion for ever?

That with thy saints, all unworthy though I be to be received into their fellowship, yet admitted therein of thy bound.less goodness, I may praise thee, my God and my Saviour, for all eternity. Amen. Oh, when, my Jesus, shall I come and appear before thy face?