The Catholic Defender: The Value of a Spiritual Communion

With the recent world wide Pandemic taking place as over 199 nations and territories have been affected by the coronavirus, many lands have closed the Church to prevent the spread of this disease that have at this setting, infected 722,664 people. 33,983 have died as a result of this virus.

Pope Francis offered a Plenary indulgence for those joining him as he offered Eucharistic Adoration and prayer to stop this horrible virus.

Before this latest crisis, many Catholics are familiar with making a Spiritual Communion if they are in a marriage not yet blessed by the Catholic Church. Also, many in the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults (RCIA) in their preparation to joining the Church, will wait for the Easter Vigil to receive their First Holy Communion. It is common to see people in line to receive a blessing by crossing their arms informing the priest they can't receive the Eucharist at this time.

Making a Spiritual Communion helps enormously in accepting the Lord in your heart. This spiritual exercise helps builds the importance of recognizing the real presence of Christ in the Eucharist.

St. Thomas Aquinas defined a Spiritual Communion as “an ardent desire to receive Jesus in the Most Holy Sacrament at Mass and in lovingly embracing Him as if we had actually received Him.”

The heart should strive to receive the Eucharist at the appointed time with due preparation, or when a marriage can be blessed by the Church or if a person living in Mortal sin is free from it.

The bible gives an interesting take on this subject:

Matthew 5:23-24 states, 'Therefore, if you bring your gift to the altar, and there recall that your brother has anything against you, leave your gift there at the altar, go first and be reconciled with your brother, and then come and offer your gift."

When dealing with a divorce and remarriage, the Church requires an annulment before they can bless any valid marriage. The Civil Law must be resolved before you can enter the consideration of Canon Law.

Matthew 18:15-18 states, “If your brother* sins [against you], go and tell him his fault between you and him alone. If he listens to you, you have won over your brother. If he does not listen, take one or two others along with you, so that ‘every fact may be established on the testimony of two or three witnesses. If he refuses to listen to them, tell the church. If he refuses to listen even to the church, then treat him as you would a Gentile or a tax collector. Amen, I say to you, whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven."

Jesus loves each person and is pleased when a loving, searching heart comes to Him. We can offer our Spiritual Communions to the Sacred Heart of Jesus who loves mankind beyond measure and the Immaculate Heart of Mary who prays for you.

Anyone can make a Spiritual Communion at Mass or if you are participating in Eucharistic Adoration. Everyone can make such a Spiritual Communion in such a setting. You can make such a dedication anywhere.

St. Padre Pio would make his day full of Spiritual Communion when he was not offering Mass, the intention clearly is from His desire to be always united with Jesus Christ in everything he did.

The Baltimore Catechism notes that a Spiritual Communion “is an act of devotion, and one very pleasing to God.”

St. Josemaria Escriva encouraged spiritual communion stating, “What a source of grace there is in spiritual communion! Practice it frequently and you’ll have greater presence of God and closer union with him in all your actions.”

St. Jean-Marie Vianney, a French priest famous for converting countless souls to Christ in his parish of Ars in the 19th century, said “when we feel the love of God growing cold, let us instantly make a Spiritual Communion. When we cannot go to the church, let us turn towards the tabernacle; no wall can shut us out from the good God.”

An act of Spiritual Communion, a special prayer:

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.