Thanksgiving after Communion

Do many people in your parish stay after Mass to continue their Thanksgiving after Communion?

That used to be the Catholic practice. But it has faded in the "Spirit of Vatican II" era of Communion in the hand, swarming "extraordinary" ministers of the Eucharist, disappearing tabernacles, Mass as a meal instead of a Sacrifice, jackhammered altar rails and hostility toward Catholics who kneel for Communion.

Many people rush outside right after Mass and gab with each other, or do not even wait to get outside the church before they start gabbing. They don't know any better.

St. Padre Pio's Communions used to last from one Mass to the next. The Cure d'Ars used to spend the day spiritually preparing for his next day's Mass.

The Baltimore Catechism is right. So we could thank Jesus more than we do, talk with Him more than we do, love Him more than we do. The saints did so, and the popes tell us to.

Here is St. Thomas Aquinas's Thanksgiving after Communion prayer:

I give Thee thanks, O holy Lord, Father Almighty, Eternal God, that Thou hast vouchsafed, for no merit of my own, but of the mere condescension of Thy mercy, to satisfy me, a sinner and Thine unworthy servant, with the precious Body and Blood of Thy Son our Lord Jesus Christ. I implore Thee, let not this Holy Communion be to me an increase of guilt unto my punishment, but an availing plea unto pardon and forgiveness.

Let it be to me the armor of faith and the shield of good will. Grant that it may work the extinction of my vices, the rooting out of concupiscence and lust, and the increase within me of charity and patience, of humility and obedience. Let it be my strong defense against the snares of all my enemies, visible and invisible; the stilling and the calm of all my impulses, carnal and spiritual; my indissoluble union with Thee the one and true God, and a blessed consummation at my last end.

And I beseech thee that Thou wouldst vouchsafe to bring me, sinner as I am, to that ineffable banquet where Thou, with the Son and the Holy Ghost, art to Thy saints true and unfailing light, fullness and content, joy for evermore, gladness without alloy, consummate and everlasting bliss. Through the same Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Here is the Anima Christi:

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 Thy wounds hide me.

Permit me never to be separated from Thee.

From the malicious enemy defend me.

In the hour of my death call me

And bid me come unto Thee,

That with Thy angels and saints

I may praise Thee forever and ever. Amen.

And here is a hymn:

O Lord, I am not worthy
That Thou shouldst come to me.
But speak the words of comfort,
My spirit healed shall be.

And humbly I'll receive Thee,
The Bridegroom of my soul,
No more by sin to grieve Thee,
Or fly Thy sweet control.

O Sacrament most holy,
O Sacrament divine,
All praise and all thanksgiving
Be every moment Thine.