At the Communion of the Celebrant

The Rev. Fr. and Dr. Arthur Carl Piepkorn (of blessed memory), in a mimeographed, unpublished paper, gives the following more detailed description of the celebrant's self-communion:

In accordance with the best Lutheran precedent, the celebrant administers the Holy Communion to himself. In accordance with the Church's historic practice, he would do this even though there may be another clergyman present who might administer the Holy Communion to him.

By way of private preparation, the celebrant may say the following prayers:

O Lord Jesus Christ, Who saidest unto Thine Apostles, Peace I leave with you, My peace I give unto you: regard not my sins, but the faith of Thy Church, and grant unto me that peace and unity which is according to Thy will; Who livest and reignest one God, world without end. Amen.

O Lord Jesus Christ, Son of the Living God, Who according to the will of the Father, and by the cooperation of the Holy Spirit, hast by Thy death given life to the world: deliver my by this Thy most Holy Body and Blood from all mine iniquities, and from every evil, and make me ever to cleave unto Thy Commandments, and suffer me never to be separated from Thee; Who with the Father and the Holy Spirit, livest and reignest one God, world without end. Amen.

Let the partaking of Thy Body, O Lord Jesus Christ, which I, though unworthy, do presume to receive, according to Thy lovingkindness be profitable to me for the receiving of forgiveness of sins, life and salvation; Who with the Father and the Holy Spirit livest and reignest one God, world without end. Amen.

I will receive the Bread of Heaven and call upon the Name of the Lord.

Lord, I am not worthy that Thou shouldest come under my roof; but speak the word only, and my soul shall be healed.

(Anciently, this prayer, Domine non sum dignus, was said three times, the celebrant striking his breast each time with the extremities of the last three fingers of his right hand.)

If the celebrant is using a large host, the accepted procedure is this: He should break it reverently twice across. (It will be remembered that a rent had been made in the Host at the words of institution.) Then taking the parts, one upon another, in his right hand, and holding the paten in his left hand under the host as he conveys it to his lips, he says in a low voice:

The Body of our Lord Jesus Christ, which was shed for me, preserve my body and soul unto everlasting life. Amen.

Then bending forward moderately, he reverently places the Host upon his tongue. He replaces the paten on the corporal and rubs his thumb and forefinger over it to remove any fragments of the consecrated bread. Head erect, he joins both hands together before his face, and remains for a brief space in meditation on the Holy Eucharist.

Then he places the ends of the last three fingers of his left hand on the foot of the chalice and removes the pall with his right. He places both hands on the corporal, bows reverently from the waist, and says:

What reward shall I give unto the Lord for all His benefits toward me? I will take the cup of salvation and call upon the name of the Lord. I will call upon the Lord Who is worthy to be praised: so shall I be saved from all mine enemies.

Then, still standing, the celebrant reverently raises the chalice as high as his breast, and says:

The Blood of our Lord Jesus Christ, which was shed for me, preserve my body and soul unto everlasting life. Amen.

Thereupon he places the chalice up to his lips and receives the Precious Blood. He replaces the chalice on the corporal and bows profoundly. Thereafter he remains for a short space in meditation on the Gift which he has received.

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