Suscipe

The prayer ‘suscipe’ occurs at the conclusion of the Preparation of the Gifts of the Mass, in anticipation of the transformation to be sought in the Eucharist Prayer. This prayer, translated in the current ritual as “May the Lord accept,” first appeared in Charles the Bald’s (875-877) prayer book. This follows the priest's words: "Pray, brethren (brothers and sisters), that my sacrifice and yours may be acceptable to God, the almighty Father."[1]

The Latin word ‘suscipio’ is used instead of ‘accipio’ or ‘recipio,’ which in English means ‘receive.’ This is because ‘suscipe’ includes the idea of both receiving and taking up. Christ offered Himself to the Father on the cross and His offering was not only received by the Father, but was also ‘taken up’ by the Father, as indicated by Christ's resurrection.

The Venerable Mother Catherine McAuley, an Irish nun who founded the Sisters of Mercy in 1831, is also credited with a 'suscipe' prayer. This prayer, also known as the Act of Resignation, is one of many that she wrote but is perhaps her best known prayer.

My God, I am yours for time and eternity. Teach me to cast myself entirely into the arms of your loving Providence with a lively, unlimited confidence in your compassionate, tender pity. Grant, O most merciful Redeemer, that whatever you ordain or permit may be acceptable to me. Take from my heart all painful anxiety; let nothing sadden me but sin, nothing delight me but the hope of coming to the possession of You my God and my all, in your everlasting kingdom. Amen.

A version by composer John Foley, SJ,[3] was included in the Earthen Vessels collection in 1974, reissued in 2014.[4]

American liturgical music composer Dan Schutte wrote a setting in 2004, "These Alone Are Enough", now published by OCP Publications.,[5][6] Schutte's setting has since been translated into Spanish and Vietnamese, "These Alone Are Enough/Solo Eso Me Basta/Daang vao Xin" and is found in most Catholic hymnals and missals.,[7][8]

A setting of the Ignatian Suscipe by the British composer Howard Goodall was given its first performance in the Royal Concert Hall, Glasgow, in November 2009, by the choir, orchestra, and gamelan of St Aloysius' College, Glasgow, conducted by Liam Devlin, to whom the work is dedicated, as part of the Jesuit college's 150th anniversary celebrations.

In the Philippines, the Jesuit Music Ministry has produced several settings of the prayer, with those by Manoling Francisco, SJ, Eduardo Hontiveros, SJ, and Fruto Ramírez, SJ,[9] becoming popular hymns.

In Indonesia, the well-known settings of the prayer is "Ambillah, Tuhan", an Indonesian version of a setting by Louis Lambillotte, SJ, which could be found in Puji Syukur #382 and commonly sung in Catholic masses in Indonesia. The other one is "Ambillah dan Terimalah" by the Indonesian composer Onggo Lukito.

• Joseph A. Munitiz and Philip Endean, Saint Ignatius of Loyola Personal Writings. New York: Penguin Books, 2004.
• Creighton University: Collaborative Ministry.
• St. Ignatius Selected Prayers.
• Herbermann, Charles, ed. (1913). "Offertory" . Catholic Encyclopedia. New York: Robert Appleton Company.
• Journeysongs: Third Edition Hymnal, Breaking Bread, "These Alone Are Enough"
• Sisters of Mercy of the Americas: Catherine McAuley.
• Fr. Paul Hinnebusch, OP, STM. Meaning of Suscipe Fiat (PDF).

• St. Ignatius Selected Prayers
• The Spiritual Exercises Online
• Ignatian Spirituality
• Interlinear English Translation of Tridentine Mass
• Ignatian Wiki