Spiritual Communion- receiving Graces when we are otherwise deprived

AM+DG

 

During these times, it is more important that we receive all the Graces we can, especially when we are being deprived of the Mass and the Sacraments.

An article (written for today) speaks about Saints down through the ages have recommended this simple practice.:

https://www.lifesitenews.com/news/how-to-make-a-spiritual-communion-when-mass-is-banned-because-of-coronavirus

What is a Spiritual Communion?

Spiritual Communion according to Str Thomas Aquinas, consists in “an ardent desire to receive our Lord Jesus Christ in the Most Holy Sacrament”.

It is performed by making an act of faith in the presence of Jesus Christ in the Blesed Sacrament, and then an act of love, and an act of contrition for having offended Him. The souls then invite Him to come and unite Himself to her and make her entirely His own; and lastly, she thanks Him as if she had really received Him sacramentally.

One day Our Lord Himself told St Jane of the Cross that as often as she communicated spiritually, she received a grace similar to that which she received from her Sacramental Communions. He also appeared to Sr Paula Maresca, foundress of the Convent of St Catherine of Siena at Naples, with two vessels, one of gold and the other of silver, and told her that in the golden vessel He preserves her Sacramental Communions and in the silver vessel her spiritual Communions. The Fathers of the Church go so far as to say that one who has a very great desire for Communion, accompanied  with great reverence and humility, may sometimes receive even more graces than another who, without these dispositions, should actually receive Our Lord in the Sacramental species, for as the  Psalmist says: “The Lord hears the desire of the poor, and fills their hearts with good things.”(From “The Blessed Sacrament” by Fr. Michael Muler, C.S.S.R.()

An Act of Spiritual Communion

by St Alphonsus Liguori)

My Jesus,
I believe that Thou art truly present  in the Most Blessed Sacrament of the Altar
I love Thee above all things,
and I desire to receive Thee into my soul.
Since I cannot now receive thee sacramentally,
come at least spiritually into my heart.
I embrace thee as if Thou wert already there
and unite myself wholly to Thee.
Never permit me to be separated from Thee.
Amen.
 

Prayer for making a Spiritual Communion:

“At Thy feet, O my Jesus, I prostrate myself, and I offer Thee the 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”

Prayers of the Angel of Fatima:

“My God, I believe, I adore, I hope, and I love Thee! I ask pardon for those who do not believe, do not adore, do not hope and do not love Thee. Most Holy Trinity, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, I adore Thee profoundly. I offer Thee the Most Precious Body, Blood, Soul, and Divinity of Jesus Christ, present in all the tabernacles of the world, in reparation for the outrages, sacrileges, and indifference by which He is offended. And through the infinite merit of His Most Sacred Heart, and the Immaculate Heart of Mary, I beg of Thee the conversion of poor sinners. Amen.”

The Universal Prayer (attributed to Pope Clement XI)

Lord, I believe in you: increase my faith. I trust in you: strengthen my trust. I love you: let me love you more and more. I am sorry for my sins: deepen my sorrow. I worship you as my first beginning, I long for you as my last end, I praise you as my constant helper, and call on you as my loving protector.

Guide me by your wisdom, correct me with your justice, comfort me with your mercy, protect me with your power. I offer you, Lord, my thoughts: to be fixed on you; my words: to have you for their theme; my actions: to reflect my love for you; my sufferings: to be endured for your greater glory. I want to do what you ask of me: In the way you ask, for as long as you ask, because you ask it. Lord, enlighten my understanding, strengthen my will, purify my heart, and make me holy. Help me to repent of my past sins and to resist temptation in the future. Help me to rise above my human weaknesses and to grow stronger as a Christian.

Let me love you, my Lord and my God, and see myself as I really am: a pilgrim in this world, a Christian called to respect and love all whose lives I touch, those under my authority, my friends and my enemies. Help me to conquer anger with gentleness, greed by generosity, apathy by fervor. Help me to forget myself and reach out toward others. Make me prudent in planning, courageous in taking risks. Make me patient in suffering, unassuming in prosperity.

Keep me, Lord, attentive at prayer, temperate in food and drink, diligent in my work, firm in my good intentions. Let my conscience be clear, my conduct without fault, my speech blameless, my life well-ordered. Put me on guard against my human weaknesses. Let me cherish your love for me,

Keep your law, and come at last to your salvation. Teach me to realize that this world is passing, that my true future is the happiness of heaven, that life on earth is short, and the life to come eternal. Help me to prepare for death with a proper fear of judgment, but a greater trust in your goodness. Lead me safely through death to the endless joy of heaven. Grant this through Christ our Lord. Amen.