Suscipe

Suscipe is the Latin word for ‘receive.’ While the term was popularized by St. Ignatius of Loyola, founder of the Society of Jesus, who incorporated it into his Spiritual Exercises in the early sixteenth century, it goes back to monastic profession, in reciting Psalm 118. This article focuses rather on its popularization through the Exercises and through the Roman Missal, where it introduces the Canon of the Mass.

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."

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.

Ignatius wrote that ‘spiritual exercises’ is the name given to every way of preparing and disposing one’s soul to rid oneself of all disordered attachments, so that once rid of them one might seek and find the divine will in regard to the disposition of one’s life. The Exercises are a set of meditations and contemplations of the life of Christ to be carried out over a four-week time period, most appropriately on a secluded retreat.

The Suscipe is not found in any of the four weeks of the Spiritual Exercises, but rather was included by Ignatius as additional material in regards to the “contemplation for attaining love” at the end of the Exercises. In this section, Ignatius speaks of the immeasurable love of God that is bestowed upon all of creation, and then asks what he might offer to such a loving God:

(234) First Point

This is to recall to mind the blessings of creation and redemption, and the special favors I have received.

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