Spiritual Communion

Still Image from The Passion of the Christ

Not Able to Receive
Most of us can't make it to Mass everyday. On those days, even though we may not be able to receive the Eucharist, we can make a prayer of Spiritual Communion. The concept of spiritual communion has long been a part of Catholic tradition and it consists of "inviting Jesus into one's heart and soul when receiving the actual sacrament isn't possible" (CNS, 2011). Perhaps you have heard a version of the prayer while watching the Mass on EWTN. Many saints, including St. Alphonsus Ligouri, St. Tereas of Avila and St. Josemaria have made prayers of spiritual communion. According to Pope Pius XII, we should make our spiritual communion with a desire for "renewed faith, reverence, humility and complete trust in the goodness of the divine Redeemer" so that we "may be united to Him in the spirit of the most ardent charity" (Mediator Dei, 117).

Anytime, Anywhere
What's great about spiritual communion is that you can make the prayer anytime or anywhere. I say a version of the prayer every time I pass a Catholic Church to acknowledge Christ's true presence in the Eucharist contained in the tabernacle. I get to start every work morning driving by St. Rita's on the Toll Road into downtown Dallas. It's not only a great way for me to start my day, but it insures I don't suffer from road rage when traffic is terrible. You can make the prayer as many times as you like and some of the saints have even recommended making the prayer after receiving sacramental communion.

Origin of the Devotion
In his encyclical Ecclessia de Eucharistia Pope John Paul II wrote about the origin and purpose of spiritual communion.

[I]n the Eucharist “unlike any other sacrament, the mystery [of communion] is so perfect that it brings us to the heights of every good thing: here is the ultimate goal of every human desire, because here we attain God and God joins himself to us in the most perfect union”. Precisely for this reason 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. Saint 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”. (EdE, 35)

Prayer of the Saints:
Act of Spiritual Communion, St. Alphonsus Liguori

My Jesus,

I believe that You

are present in the Most Holy Sacrament.

I love You above all things,

and I desire to receive You into my soul.

Since I cannot at this moment

receive You sacramentally,

come at least spiritually into my heart. I embrace You as if You were already there and unite myself wholly to You. Never permit me to be separated from You.

Amen.

Spiritual Communion Prayer, St. Josemaria

I wish, Lord, to receive You with the purity, humility and devotion with which Your most holy Mother received You, with the spirit and fervor of the saints. Amen.

Spiritually Benefits

Pope Benedict recommended spiritual communion "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 (Sacramentum Caritatis, 55).

Receiving the Eucharist in an Unworthy Manner

Image from LifeTeen

Whoever, therefore, eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty of profaning the body and blood of the Lord. Let a man examine himself, and so eat of the bread and drink of the cup. For any one who eats and drinks without discerning the body eats and drinks judgment upon himself. (1 Cor 11:27-29, RSV-CE)

Overview
St. Paul instructs the Church in Corinth to discern the body of Christ with respect when they received the body and blood of Our Lord in the Eucharist (1 Cor. 11:29). This passage can rightly be interpreted to mean that we need to be mindful of being properly disposed to receive the Eucharist, but it contains additional meanings. [Note: All of these scenarios, assume the person is a Catholic who has received the sacraments.]

Spiritual Disposition
Prior to receiving the Eucharist, one should be properly disposed. This happens in a couples of ways. First, we should approach the Eucharist in a prayerful and reflective manner. Additionally, we should examine our consciences to insure that we are in a state of grace – that we are free from mortal sin. If we are in a state of mortal sin, we should not receive Communion and immediately seek the sacrament of Reconciliation.  See Can. 916 and Can. 988 for a more extensive discussion of the elements.

The Eucharistic Fast
We are now required to abstain from food and drink one hour before the reception of Communion (Can. 919).  Note that the requirement is one hour before COMMUNION, not the start of Mass. We shouldn't make a habit of this minimalistic approach, but it is good to know if you are in a pinch. The fast does not include water or medication. Chewing gum prior to mass is NOT a violation of the fast (EWTN), but chewing gum during Mass is disrespectful. If you wouldn't (and you can't) chew gum in a court room, why would you do it in the Lord's house?

Discerning the Body of Christ
St. Paul is also teaching us (in 1 Cor. 11:29) to discern Christ in all those who make up his body and to treat them with the dignity they should be accorded. In other words, respect for Christ in the Eucharist has to be coupled with a respect for all mankind. The commentary from The Ignatius Catholic Study Bible New Testament supports this claim: 

Probably a word play on the term "body", which refers to the Eucharistic Body of Christ and to the ecclesial Body of Christ made up of believers united to him (10:16-17; 12:12). Recognizing Jesus in the Sacrament is thus coupled with recognizing him in our spiritual brothers and sisters (Mt 25:34-40). (The Ignatius Catholic Study Bible New Testament, 302). 

This lesson is supported by the teaching of the Second Vatican Council that asserted “by His incarnation the Son of God has united Himself in some fashion with every man” (Gaudim et spes, 22). Christ further teaches us that we are to follow in His footsteps of humility. We too are called to live lives of humility. Christ not only humbled Himself to become human and dying on the cross, but he also humbled Himself by taking on the form of bread. We must open ourselves to union with Christ in the Eucharist, allowing Him to transform us. “Sharing in the body and blood of Christ has no other effect than to accomplish our transformation into that which we receive” (Lumen Gentium, 26). As my mother used to say, “you are what you eat.” 

Eucharistic Prayer
I recall reading the following prayer. It sums up how we should be disposed to receiving our Lord in the Eucharist.

Lord, May I receive you like this is the first time, the last time and the only time I will receive you.

What is Corpus Christi Sunday?

From The Passion of the Christ

Origin of Solemnity

Today we celebrate the Solemnity of the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ also known as the Corpus Christi Sunday. The Solemnity originated in the 13th century and began in the diocese of Liege. It was instituted for the whole Church in 1264 by Pope Urban IV . "The meaning of this feast is the consideration of and devotion to the real presence of Christ in the Eucharist. The centre of the feast was to be, as Pope Urban IV described it, a popular devotion reflected in hymns and joy" (In Conversation with God, Vol. 6, p. 262). This celebration has traditionally included Eucharistic Procession and Benediction and Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament. Today, Pope Francis included one other component – a worldwide Holy Hour of prayer before the Blessed Sacrament.

The Real Presence

The Solemnity presupposes a knowledge and understanding of the real presence of Christ in the Blessed Sacrament. The Church teaches that Christ is really, truly, wholly and substantially present in the Eucharist (CCC, 1374). For more on the real presence watch Father Robert Barron's explanation below.

Anima Christi

The Incredulity of St. Thomas, Caravaggio

At yesterday's gathering I mentioned the Anima Christi prayer as a perfect post-Communion prayer. This prayer dates back to some time in the 14th Century and its origin is unknown. I mistakingly attributed it to St. Thomas Aquinas in the talk and some used to believe it was written by St. Ignatius of Loyola. Still others, like the authors of the Catholic Encyclopedia, claim that it was probably written by Pope John XXII.

Here is a copy of the prayer and a video of the prayer (in Latin) in song. You should also check out Anima Christi: Soul of Christ by Mother Mary Francis. This book meditates on the meaning of each of the lines of the prayer. I promise it will breathe life into the prayer for you. Finally, I would like to add that you can often find a copy of this prayer in the front or back cover of most church misslettes.

ANIMA Christi, sanctifica me.

Corpus Christi, salva me.

Sanguis Christi, inebria me.

Aqua lateris Christi, lava me.

Passio Christi, conforta me.

O bone Iesu, exaudi me.

Intra tua vulnera absconde me.

Ne permittas me separari a te.

Ab hoste maligno defende me.

In hora mortis meae voca me.

Et iube me venire ad te,

Ut cum Sanctis tuis laudem te

in saecula saeculorum.

Amen

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.

Separated from Thee let me never be.

From the malignant enemy, defend me.

At the hour of death, call me.

To come to Thee, bid me,

That I may praise Thee in the company

Of Thy Saints, for all eternity.

Amen.

/

FAQ of the Faith: Pre-Mass Fast

Every once in a while I'll look up from praying before (or even during) Communion and I see someone chewing gum.  I'm not talking about kids; I'm talking about adults, even Extraordinary Ministers of the Eucharist!

According to Canon 919, the Church generally expects people to fast from all food and drink (except water) one hour prior to receiving communion.

Now, I am not saying that we should commission a posse of "liturgical police," but  I believe we have an obligation to gently and pastorally correct our fellow Catholics.  I suspect that most of them simply do not know better because someone did not care enough to let them know.

I like what St. Josemaria said about correcting our fellow Christians:

It happens, however, that some people (who are good, or should we rather say 'goodish') pay lip service to the beautiful ideal of spreading our faith, but in practice they make do with a superficial and careless professional output. They seem scatterbrained. If we happen to come across such Christians, we should do our best to help them, affectionately but uncompromisingly, having recourse where necessary to the gospel remedy of fraternal correction: 'Brethren, if a man is found guilty of some fault, you who are spiritually minded ought to show a spirit of gentleness in correcting him. Have an eye upon thyself, lest thou too be tempted. Bear one another's burdens and so you will be fulfilling the law of Christ.' If besides the fact that they claim to be Catholics there are other factors involved, because, for instance, those at fault are older, or have more experience or responsibility, then there is all the more reason to talk to them. We should try to get them to react, helping them take their work more seriously, trying to guide them, like a good parent does or a teacher, but without humiliating them. (Friends of God, #69)