SPIRITUAL COMMUNION and PRAYING THE MASS Praying Holy Mass In 1903 Pope St.
Pius X inaugurated a century of emphasis on "actual participation"
at Mass -- the actuosa participatio
famously reiterated by Vatican II -- when he wrote:
With a missal or missalette in hand, of course. And even while
viewing a telecast of a Mass, you can pray the Mass in this same way—just as
you would if physically present. Spiritual Communion when Holy
Communion at Mass is not possible Sometimes it’s
not possible to receive Holy Communion sacramentally at Mass. For instance,
we may not be able to attend Mass because of illness. Or reception may be
impeded by avoidance of contagion in times of pestilence, or by some other
indisposition. Then we can make
what is known as a "spiritual
Communion"—an act expressing what was described by St. Thomas
Aquinas as "an ardent desire to receive Jesus in the Most Holy Sacrament
and in lovingly embracing Him." In a spiritual Communion, we, with
contrite, humble hearts, ask our Lord to come to us in the same way He would
if we were able to receive the Sacrament physically. Some Catholic
authorities (e.g., Saints and Popes below) suggest that the graces received by spiritual communion may
be comparable to those received from actual sacramental communion by someone
who is physically present. Though, of course, the Sacrament itself is inherently
greater, and our disposition toward the Sacrament can greatly affect the
extent to which we actually receive its fruits in our soul. How to Receive Spiritual Communion You can make an act of spiritual communion (as below) at the same time as those
present at the Mass are receiving holy communion sacramentally. Though you can
use your own words, many people say those recommended by St. Alphonus Liguori: Act of
Spiritual Communion
Click here
for an excellent new article by an FSSP priest on Spiritual Communion and the
Fruits of the Mass. Click here
for a Spiritual Communion and Confession Guide including Acts of Spiritual Communion and Perfect
Contrition. Just as many people say the Anima Christi immediately after sacramental Communion, so too can
you say it after spiritual communion. The Anima Christi
Or the following prayer of St. Thomas Aquinas
while the celebrant is completing the ablutions: Prayer of
Thanksgiving after Holy Communion
Spiritual Communion According to Saints and Popes St. Thomas Aquinas atated that a “complete spiritual Communion can even take
place when we are unable to receive sacramentally, because ‘the effect of a sacrament
can be secured if it is received by desire.’” St. Catherine of
Siena
“had begun to question whether her spiritual Communions had any real value
compared to sacramental Communion. Suddenly she saw Christ holding two
chalices. ‘In this golden chalice I put your sacramental communions. In this
silver chalice I put your spiritual communions. Both chalices are quite
pleasing to me.’” Saint John Paul II wrote in his 2003
encyclical Ecclesia de Eucharistia wrote that it is good to cultivate in our hearts
a constant desire for the sacrament of the Eucharist. This was the origin
of the practice of “spiritual communion,” which has happily been established
in the Church for centuries and recommended by saints who were masters of the
spiritual life. St. Teresa of Jesus wrote: “When you do not receive communion
and you do not attend Mass, you can make a spiritual communion, which is a
most beneficial practice; by it the love of God will be greatly impressed on
you”. St. Jean-Marie Vianney compared spiritual
communion to blowing on fire and embers that are starting to go out in order
to make them burn again: “There are some who make a spiritual communion every
day with blessed bread. If we are deprived of Sacramental Communion, let us
replace it, as far as we can, by spiritual communion, which we can make every
moment; for we ought to have always a burning desire to receive the good
God.” Pope Benedict XVI wrote in Sacramentum Caritatis
(2007) that “Clearly,
full participation in the Eucharist takes place when the faithful approach
the altar in person to receive communion. Yet true as this is, care must be
taken lest they conclude that the mere fact of their being present in church
during the liturgy gives them a right or even an obligation to approach the table
of the Eucharist. Even in cases where it is not possible to receive
sacramental communion, participation at Mass remains necessary, important,
meaningful and fruitful. In such circumstances, it is beneficial to cultivate a desire for full union
with Christ through the practice of spiritual communion,
praised by Pope John Paul II and recommended by saints who were masters of
the spiritual life.” "Spiritual
Communion, as St. Thomas Aquinas
and St. Alphonsus
Liguori teach, produces effects similar to Sacramental
Communion, according to the dispositions with which it is made, the greater
or less earnestness with which Jesus is desired, and the greater or less love
with which Jesus is welcomed and given due attention," stated Father
Stefano Manelli, O.F.M. Conv., S.T.D., in his book Jesus
our Eucharistic Love. And in a
March 21, 2020 message on combat against the current corona virus (here),
Cardinal Raymond Burke wrote For those who cannot have access to the
Holy Mass and Holy Communion, I commend the devout practice of Spiritual
Communion. When we are rightly disposed to receive Holy Communion, that is,
when we are in the state of grace, not conscious of any mortal sin which we
have committed and for which we have not yet been forgiven in the Sacrament
of Penance, and desire to receive Our Lord in Holy Communion but are unable
to do so, we unite ourselves spiritually with the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass,
praying to Our Eucharistic Lord in the words of Saint Alphonsus
Liguori: “Since I am unable now to receive Thee
sacramentally, come at least spiritually into my heart.” Spiritual Communion
is a beautiful expression of love for Our Lord in the Blessed Sacrament. It
will not fail to bring to us abundant grace. At the same time, when we are conscious of
having committed a mortal sin and are unable to have access to the Sacrament
of Penance or Confession, the Church invites us to make an act of perfect
contrition, that is, of sorrow for sin, which “arises from a love by which
God is loved above all else.”. An act of perfect contrition “obtains
forgiveness of mortal sins if it includes the firm resolution to have
recourse to sacramental confession as soon as possible” (Catechism of the
Catholic Church, no. 1452). An act of perfect contrition disposes our
soul for Spiritual Communion. Finally, according to the Church’s official book of indulgences, "an Act of Spiritual Communion, according to any pious formula, is enriched with a partial indulgence." It specifically mentions St. Alphonsus Ligouri’s Act of Spiritual Communion included above. The following beautiful Spiritual Communion was composed by Cardinal Rafael Merry del Val (1865-1930): At Thy
feet, O my Jesus, I prostrate myself and I offer Thee repentance of my
contrite heart, which is humbled in its nothingness and in Thy holy presence.
I adore Thee in the Sacrament of Thy love, the ineffable Eucharist. I desire
to receive Thee into the poor dwelling that my heart offers Thee. While
waiting for the happiness of sacramental communion, I wish to possess Thee in
spirit. Come to me, O my Jesus, since I, for my part, am coming to Thee! May
Thy love embrace my whole being in life and in death.
I believe in Thee, I hope in Thee, I love Thee. Amen. |
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