Mother Teresa prayed a short prayer called “Radiating Christ” every day after Holy Communion, and it is part of the daily devotions of the Missionaries of Charity. It is almost always credited to Cardinal Newman, and that credit is only partly true. This page gives you the part that is verifiably his, word for word, and says plainly what is adapted.
The prayer below is the paragraph from John Henry Newman’s Meditations and Devotions (Part III, “Jesus the Light of the Soul”) that the later words of “Radiating Christ” follow. It is Newman’s own text, in the public domain. The first part of the Missionaries of Charity prayer is not found in his works, and this page does not reproduce that adapted wording.
Stay with Me, Jesus - Newman
Stay with me, and then I shall begin to shine as Thou shinest: so to shine as to be a light to others. The light, O Jesus, will be all from Thee. None of it will be mine. No merit to me. It will be Thou who shinest through me upon others. O let me thus praise Thee, in the way which Thou dost love best, by shining on all those around me. Give light to them as well as to me; light them with me, through me. Teach me to show forth Thy praise, Thy truth, Thy will. Make me preach Thee without preaching - not by words, but by my example and by the catching force, the sympathetic influence, of what I do - by my visible resemblance to Thy saints, and the evident fulness of the love which my heart bears to Thee.
Purpose
Thanksgiving and surrender after Communion: it asks that Christ, not the one praying, be what others see.
How to pray
Quietly, after receiving Communion or in a moment of recollection. Stop at “None of it will be mine” and offer your own day.
When & how long
After Holy Communion, or at the start of the day. About one minute.
Source & tradition
John Henry Newman, Meditations and Devotions, Part III, meditation “Jesus the Light of the Soul,” section 3, published after his death in 1890; public domain. The Mother Teresa Center lists “Radiating Christ” among her favorite prayers, said daily after Communion, and describes that prayer as adapted from Newman’s writings.
Spiritual fruit
A habit of letting the love one has received show in how one treats others. It is a prayer for a way of living, not a promise of a feeling.
How to Pray with Saint Teresa
1. After Communion
This is the moment the Missionaries of Charity use it. Receive first, then pray.
2. Pair it with the Anima Christi
Mother Teresa also prayed the Anima Christi daily after Communion. The two prayers go together naturally.
3. Let it lead to work
The prayer asks that Christ be seen in us. Let it end in an ordinary act of mercy that day.
4. Keep the attribution honest
If you pray the well-known “Radiating Christ,” remember that its opening lines are not Newman’s. This page uses only what he wrote.
Frequently Asked Questions
What prayer did Mother Teresa pray every day?
According to the Mother Teresa Center she prayed “Radiating Christ” daily after Holy Communion, with the Anima Christi, and the prayer is part of her order’s daily devotions.
Did Cardinal Newman write “Radiating Christ”?
Only in part. The second half closely follows a paragraph of his meditation “Jesus the Light of the Soul.” The opening about fragrance has not been found in his works, and the full prayer’s origin is unclear.
Is this the exact prayer in her books?
No. The popular prayer is a modern adaptation. This page gives Newman’s original paragraph, which is verifiable and in the public domain.
