Anima Christi means “Soul of Christ” in Latin and is a prayer from the fourteenth century.

One may pray it:

• After receiving Holy Communion
• As an Act of Spiritual Communion
• Any time to draw closer to the Lord

Many believed that St. Ignatius of Loyola was the author since it appears at the beginning of his Spiritual Exercises and was one of his favorite prayers.

Manuscripts that existed before the sixteenth century — the time when the Spiritual Exercises were written — include the prayer, so it could not have been written by St. Ignatius.

Some credit it to Pope John XXII because of the indulgences he attached to it in 1330, but the true author is unknown.

In 1854, Pope Pius IX removed all previous indulgences attached to the prayer and granted instead:

• An indulgence of three hundred days every time it is recited, with at least contrite heart and devotion
• An indulgence of seven years, once a day, to priests who shall say it after saying Mass, and to the faithful, after receiving Holy Communion

The 1968 Enchiridion of Indulgences and the Manual of Indulgences both assign a partial indulgence to the Anima Christi.

The prayer was first written in Latin. Several English versions exist today.

I pray St. John Henry Newman’s translation each morning and after receiving Holy Communion.

St. John Henry Newman’s translation, a common English translation and the Latin are below.

As we prepare to celebrate Thanksgiving in the United States, let us give thanks to God for the gift of the Holy Eucharist — His Body, Blood, Soul, and Divinity.

And let us never take this gift for granted.

Anima Christi

St. John Henry Newman Translation

Soul of Christ, be my sanctification.
Body of Christ, be my salvation.
Blood of Christ, fill all my veins.
Water of Christ’s side, wash out my stains.
Passion of Christ, my comfort be.
O good Jesus, listen to me.
In Thy wounds I fain would hide.
Ne’er to be parted from Thy side.
Guard me, should the foe assail me.
Call me when my life shall fail me.
Bid me come to Thee above,
With Thy saints to sing Thy love.
World without end. Amen.

Common English Translation

Soul of Christ, sanctify me.
Body of Christ, save me.
Blood of Christ, inebriate me.
Water from the side of Christ, wash me.
Passion of Christ, strengthen me.
O good Jesus, hear me.
Within Your wounds, hide me.
Separated from You let me never be.
From the evil one, protect me.
At the hour of my death, call me.
And close to You bid me,
That with Your saints I may be
praising You forever and ever. Amen.

Latin

Anima Christi, sanctifica me.
Corpus Christi, salva me.
Sanguis Christi, inebria me.
Aqua lateris Christi, lava me.
Passio Christi, conforta me.
O bone Jesu, exaudi me.
Intra tua vulnera absconde me.
Ne permittas me separari a te.
Ab hoste maligno defende me.
In hora mortis meae voca me.
Et iube me venire ad te,
Ut cum Sanctis tuis laudem te.
In saecula saeculorum. Amen.