What Is Spiritual Communion

Even in the midst of a pandemic, Sunday remains the Lord's Day. Those who wish to participate in the sacrifice Mass but are unable to attend in person can nonetheless connect their hearts and minds with Jesus and the Universal Church. Spiritual Communion is the name for it.

Spiritual Communion, according to Fr. Dan McBride, pastor of St. Mary Parish in Chandler, who also broadcasts the Spanish Mass on ESNE 41.3 from his parish, is a yearning to link one's heart to Jesus.

“A Spiritual Communion is when you acknowledge that you are hungry for Jesus Christ but are unable to physically attend church and experience the Real Presence in the Body and Blood.”

It is possible for the homebound and imprisoned to see a live televised Mass, a prerecorded Mass, or a Mass on other social media platforms such as YouTube or Instagram, or to listen to a Mass on the radio.

“It's not the same as receiving Holy Communion from an amazing minister of Holy Communion in a church or in a hospital, but it's definitely a time of grace because you're hungry for God, and He'll send you grace when you're sensitive to that.”

Although some Catholics are unfamiliar with it while watching Mass on TV, a computer, or the radio, Mary Gibson, a parishioner of St. Thomas the Apostle and manager of the gift and book shop, said “they are still having Spiritual Communion in their own way.” Because the Mass is on, Jesus will realize that they are performing a Spiritual Communion.”

“United to Christ, we are never alone, but instead form one body, of which He is the head,” Pope Francis remarked in an essay published by Catholic News Service. It is a relationship that is sustained by prayer as well as Spiritual Communion in the Eucharist, which is advised when receiving the sacrament is not possible.”

Every church's pastors hold a daily Mass, which is attended by the communion of saints. The sacraments, according to Fr. McBride, do what they say they do because of God's power.

Spiritual Communion has an influence, he remarked, “when we talk about a word like effective.” “Someone watching Mass 10 hours later will receive grace based on the movement through the homily, Scriptures, and watching the sacrifice of the Mass,” he said, adding, “Someone watching Mass five years later will receive grace based on the movement through the homily, Scriptures, and watching the sacrifice of the Mass.” God speaks to His people through all means available, thus social media is a powerful instrument for individuals to connect with God when they are unable to physically attend Mass.”

Work and Prayer

Casey Whitehead, a parishioner of Mater Misericordiae Parish in Phoenix — a personal parish for those who want to attend Mass in the Extraordinary Form, or traditional Latin Mass — is making the most of her personal prayer time while also reaching out to local nonprofits in need of supplies during this time of quarantine. When she places an order on Amazon, the items are sent straight to the organizations.

Whitehead remarked, “He holds the poor so dear to His heart, and His suffering isn't going to waste.” “If people have the ability to aid others, they should do it.” Every day is an invitation to put your faith in God. At the very least, we should pray. “Prayer is completely free.”

“A great awareness of the freedom we have that we often take for granted in being able to walk into Mass and receive Holy Communion,” Fr. McBride remarked.

Tori Miller, a parishioner of St. Thomas the Apostle, said having more time for prayer, family time, and outward acts of kindness and love is a benefit.

“When you live a life of generosity, selflessness, and humility, you are growing virtue, which allows you to absorb God's grace more fully.”

“Never permit me to be apart from you,” one sentence of St. Alphonsus' prayer struck Miller particularly hard, she recalled. – this is the agony that many individuals are experiencing. “They are experiencing heartache and separation, but when you pray — ask and you shall get — He will completely connect Himself to you.” He's continuously trying to take up residence in us.”

“He will bring good out of this, for certainly,” Miller said, even though it's difficult for the faithful to comprehend world events and their consequences. “We will experience a greater hunger for the Eucharist.”

What is the prayer of spiritual communion?

I believe You are present in the Most Holy Sacrament, My Jesus. I adore You above all else, and I long to welcome You into my heart. Since I am unable to receive You sacramentally at this time, please enter my heart spiritually. I embrace You and attach myself completely to You, as if You were already here.

What is the spiritual meaning of holy Communion?

Simply put, communion is an act or a period of time spent in close fellowship. Although we may not automatically identify these phrases with communion, proximity and unity are true synonyms for communion. When viewed in its biblical context, this makes more sense. Communion is a holy time of connection with God during which believers commemorate Jesus' death on the cross.

Believers commemorate the Lord's death through prayer and meditation during this special time of devotion. A little slice of bread and a taste of wine are served alongside it (or grape juice).

While it may appear basic, it contains a lot of information. God has made a lot of things available to believers in communion. While it is a celebration, it is not a frivolous or amusing experiment. It has a particular gravitas about it.

The goal of communion is to bring people together “Receive sustenance, strength, hope, and joy from Christ,” remarked pastor and theologian John Piper.

1 They're “come from feasting our spirits on everything He bought for us on the cross, particularly His own fellowship.”

Is spiritual communion for everyone?

I received a valuable lesson many years ago “St. Josemara Escrivá learned the prayer “spiritual communion” from his mother's confessor when he was a child. This is how it goes: “I wish to accept you, my Lord, with the same purity, humility, and devotion with which your most Holy Mother received you, and with the zeal and fervor with which the saints received you.” That prayer is now prayed by millions of people all around the world.

A spiritual communion is a personal devotional that anybody can pray at any time to indicate their desire to receive holy Communion at that particular time, but in which circumstances prevent them from doing so. There could be a variety of impeding circumstances: the person could already be “The person may be “maxed out” because they have already received holy Communion twice that day; or the person may be in prison and unable to attend Mass; or the person may be elderly and at home watching or listening to Mass on television or radio; or the person may be hiking a mountain and wishes to be more deeply united to Jesus Christ at that time.

There is no such thing as a perfect solution “spiritual communion is “formal.” Everyone can write their own or borrow a prayer written by someone else.

Your soul gets grace to the extent that you have authentic hunger for the holy Eucharist when you pray a spiritual communion.

Do you have to fast before making a spiritual communion?

In the aftermath of the novel coronavirus COVID-19, Catholics around the world are suffering an unanticipated and unpleasant fast from the Eucharist. Many people's inability to receive holy Communion has become an unthinkable Lenten penance in many ways.

In recent days, archbishops and bishops in the United States, as well as in other countries around the world, have suspended public celebrations of holy Mass or granted dispensations from the obligation to attend Sunday Mass, all in the hopes of preventing the spread of the virus through “social distancing.”

How are Catholics supposed to make sense of the lack of public worship or acceptance of our Lord's body, blood, soul, and divinity? It might be most beneficial to take a quick glance at other people's situations, as well as ordinary Catholic practice, and then decide how to make the best of the circumstance while continuing to grow in our connection with the Lord in the face of the current challenges.

Mass and Communion Obligations

First and foremost, it is important to distinguish between the responsibility to attend Sunday Mass and the reception of holy Communion. Not all Catholics, in reality, receive Holy Communion during Mass. Catholics, for example, are required to abstain from receiving holy Communion if they are in a state of grave sin. Failure to observe the eucharistic fast — that is, abstaining from eating or drinking anything other than water for an hour before receiving the sacrament — might also prevent Catholics from receiving Communion. Homebound Catholics should also be considered, as they are unable to receive the Eucharist as regularly as they would like. Other Catholics may live in remote areas, similar to Catholic pioneers in America or modern-day Amazon residents, where receiving the Eucharist is a prized rarity. There are also immigrant and imprisoned Catholics, as well as those suffering from the repercussions of war, and so on.

How often can you make a spiritual communion?

Second, it's worth noting that frequent Holy Communion reception is a relatively new phenomenon, owing to Pope St. Pius X's support of the practice (pope from 1903-1914). For many centuries, regular Holy Communion receiving was anything but regular. Take, for example, St. Louis IX (1214-1270), the French monarch known for his holiness, who only received holy Communion six times a year — which was thought to be common at the time. In truth, Catholics are only required to receive holy Communion once a year, and that is during the Easter season, which is sometimes referred to as our “Easter season.” “I'm on Easter duty.”

The fact that the Church requires Catholics to attend Mass on Sundays and holy days of obligation (roughly 60 days per year, give or take) while only requiring Catholics to receive holy Communion once a year, according to universal law, demonstrates that our obligation to attend Mass is not conditional on receiving holy Communion. At the same time, the Catholic Church's Catechism warns us not to minimize the importance of this “The faithful should receive Holy Communion every time they join in the Eucharistic celebration, according to the Church” (No. 1417).

An Act of the Whole Church

Because all those who have been baptized have been incorporated into Christ's body, every time Christ is offered to the Father in the Eucharist, the entire Church is mystically present and offered to the Father, “complete and entire,” as the Catechism puts it (No. 1368). This signifies that, despite the current lack of public meetings, the Mass is still being celebrated. Our priests will celebrate Mass in our absence, but will offer the eucharistic sacrifice for our benefit.

In every Mass, all members of the Church — members of Christ's own body — are united with him. As a result, as the Catechism explains, we are all offered to the Father as a sacrifice as a whole:

“In the Eucharist, Christ's sacrifice likewise becomes the sacrifice of his Body's members.” The faithful's lives, their praise, sufferings, prayer, and work, are connected with Christ's and his whole giving, and therefore take on new significance. The presence of Christ's sacrifice on the altar allows all generations of Christians to be linked with his gift” (No. 1368).

We can also take advantage of technology these days and attend Mass “virtually.” Many bishops and priests, including the Pope, are streaming their daily Masses live for the benefit of the faithful. This is a 21st-century version of what St. Charles Borromeo (1538-1584) did when, during his time as archbishop of Milan, he ordered the celebration of the Mass to be held outside so that people may observe from their homes during a plague outbreak.

Practicing Spiritual Communion

It's crucial to remember that, while we may be excused from attending Mass, we are never excused from obeying the Third Commandment to “keep holy the Sabbath.” Sunday will continue to be a day set apart for growing in communion with the Lord. When we are physically unable to attend Mass, we may consider “spiritual communion,” an act to which the saints have consistently testified.

Spiritual Communion is a traditional way of expressing our desire for the Lord to enter our hearts and our longing for him. “When you do not receive communion and do not attend Mass, you can make a spiritual communion, which is a really helpful practice; by it, the love of God will be deeply impressed on you,” said St. Teresa of Avila (1515-1582).

“When we sense God's love growing chilly, let us immediately form a spiritual Communion,” stated St. Jean-Marie Vianney (1786-1859), a great country priest from Ars, France. Let us turn to the tabernacle when we can't get to the church; no wall can keep us from the good God.”

What is the best way for us to form a spiritual Communion? The French “apostle of the Eucharist,” St. Peter Julian Eymard (1811-1868), proposed the following format:

“If you do not receive (holy Communion) sacramentally, receive spiritually by conceiving a real desire to be united to Jesus Christ by acknowledging the need you have to love His life; arouse yourself to perfect contrition for all your sins, past and present, by considering God's infinite goodness and sanctity; receive Jesus Christ in spirit in your inmost soul, entreating Him to give you the grace to live entirely for Him, since you can live entirely for Him

While the Church does not prescribe a formula for performing an act of spiritual communion, the Church's vast library of devotions includes prayers penned by many saints. St. Alphonsus Liguori (1696-1787) wrote one of the most popular acts of spiritual communion:

“I believe you are present in the Most Blessed Sacrament, My Jesus.” I adore You above all else and long to welcome You into my heart. If I can't receive You sacramentally right now, please come into my heart spiritually. I embrace You as if You were already present, and I completely surrender myself to You. Allow me to never be apart from You. Amen.”

Other Forms of Communion

Despite our desire for greater unity and communion with the Lord, we must be comforted by his words: “For where two or three are gathered in my name, there am I in the midst of them” (Mt 18: 20).

The Church is one body, unified in Christ, the Word come to life (see Jn 1:14). Reading the Scriptures helps us grow closer to the Lord; in fact, Christ nourishes us with his word, which the Second Vatican Council's Constitution on the Word of God (“Dei Verbum”) refers to as “food for the soul” (No. 21). “The Church has always honored the divine Scriptures in the same way that she venerates the Lord's body, because she always receives and offers to the faithful the bread of life from the table both of God's word and of Christ's body,” (“Dei Verbum,” No. 21).

We can strengthen our bonds by reading, studying, praying with, and debating the Scriptures when we are unable to attend Mass or receive holy Communion. Take a look at the Lectionary's daily readings. Pray with the word of God using the meditative, introspective “lectio divina” approach. Encounter the Lord through the Liturgy of the Hours, which, according to the Catechism, “is like an extension of the Eucharistic celebration, does not exclude but rather brings forth the many devotions of the People of God, especially adoration and worship of the Blessed Sacrament” (No. 1178). There's also the holy rosary, which, according to Pope St. John Paul II (“Rosarium Virginis Mariae,” No. 2), places us “in live relationship with Jesus.”

Living Communion

Finally, keep in mind that going to Mass and receiving Holy Communion are also acts of worship. We are conformed to Christ more and more via our baptism and the reception of holy Communion. St. Augustine (354-430) penned the following: “It is your own mystery that is laid on the Lord's table if you are Christ's body and members! It's your own personal mystery that you're getting! You're responding with a ‘Amen' to what you're saying: your reaction is a personal signature, confirming your faith. ‘Amen,' you say when you hear ‘The body of Christ.' Become a member of Christ's body, then, so that your faith will be strengthened “Amen” could be said to be true!” (Sermon No. 272)

Our moral life, when properly structured, is also an act of worship, according to St. Paul. Indeed, we can worship and live in connection with Jesus via our lives. He declares, “By God's grace, I implore you, brothers, to give your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, as your spiritual worship” (Rom 12:1). St. Paul, as taught by Pope Benedict XVI, is buried here “The liturgy is described as “life.” We, our bodies; we, in our bodies and as a whole, must be liturgy. This is the New Testament's novelty, and we'll see it again later: Christ gives himself as a substitute for all other offerings. And he wants to ‘pull' us into his Body's communion. The true liturgy is that of our body, of our being in the Body of Christ, just as Christ himself made the liturgy of the world, the cosmic liturgy, which strives to draw all people to itself… the true liturgy is that of our body, of our being in the Body of Christ, just as Christ himself made the liturgy of the world, the cosmic liturgy, which strives to draw all people to itself.”

What do pastors say before Communion?

“I am the living bread that came down from heaven,” Jesus declared. Anyone who eats this bread will live indefinitely. This is my body, which I shall give for the sake of the world's survival.”

What do you mean by spirituality?

Spirituality is defined as the awareness of a feeling, sense, or belief that there is something more to being human than sensory experience, and that the greater total of which we are a part is cosmic or divine in nature.

What is the spiritual benefit of Holy Communion?

Holy Communion is God's authorized conduit of healing and wholeness, in addition to being born again in Christ. He understood exactly what He was going to achieve by sacrificing Himself on the cross. Jesus wanted us to be aware of how His body was broken in order for us to be made whole, and how His blood was poured for our sins to be forgiven. We “proclaim the Lord's death until He arrives” as we partake in Communion. The bread represents His body, as well as Jesus' divine health and life, which flows through our mortal bodies. We declare that we have been forgiven and become righteous when we drink from the cup. We have proper standing before God because of Jesus' blood shed on the cross, and we can enter God's presence with confidence.

Why is communion so important?

Christians partake of Holy Communion in remembrance of Jesus' broken and spilled body and blood on the cross, according to the Bible.

Taking Holy Communion not only reminds us of Jesus' suffering, but it also demonstrates the depth of his love for us.

To share the blood and body of Jesus Christ, however, one must be born again. In other words, self-examination, repentance, and confession must have taken place.

Jesus gave his life for us in order for us to enjoy eternal life. As a result, when Christians receive Holy Communion, they proclaim the eternal life in heaven that Jesus Christ prepared for us by his death and resurrection for us to enjoy in the afterlife.

Believers also rejoice when they are reminded of Jesus' triumphant life and glory after his resurrection, as well as the depths to which he sank on earth to suffer as a sinner for our sins.

The Holy Communion also reminds us of the breadth of his arms as they spread out on the cross to embrace all of humanity.

We have no life until we eat his body and drink his blood, Jesus says in John 6:53-54.

“You have no life in you unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink His blood,” I guarantee you.

In John 6:54-56, he adds that his body is food and that his blood is a drink. Whoever ate his flesh and drank his blood is bound to him, and he will be bound to us as well.

“Whoever eats and drinks my flesh and blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up at the end of time. For my flesh is actually food, and my blood is indeed drink. He who eats my flesh and drinks my blood becomes a part of me, and I become a part of him.”

Christ lives in us and we in him as a result of receiving the spiritual body and blood. We also learn that we must receive Holy Communion because we can only have eternal life and will be resurrected on the last day if we have Christ's life in us.

According to Scripture, we unite with Jesus Christ during Holy Communion not just in commemoration of his death, but also in the spiritual life he provides us.

The bible also teaches us that Christ is present in the experience of receiving Holy Communion to greet and strengthen his people.