“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.” ~ St John Vianney
When unable to receive Holy Communion for whatever reason, the practice of making what is known as a "Spiritual Communion," is encouraged. St. Thomas Aquinas describes this as "an ardent desire to receive Jesus in the Most Holy Sacrament and in lovingly embracing Him as if we had actually received Him."
In a Spiritual Communion, with contrite, humble hearts, we ask our Lord to come to us in the same way He would if we were able to receive the Sacrament. One can “turn toward the holy tabernacle” and receive Jesus in one's heart from anywhere - at any time, day or night! A Spiritual Communion is made using one's own words or through one of the traditional prayers (examples below).
St. Alphonsus Liguori (prayer above)
Oh Jesus, I turn toward the holy tabernacle where You live hidden for love of me. I love you, O my God. I cannot receive you in Holy Communion. Come, nevertheless, and visit me with Your grace. Come spiritually into my heart. Purify it. Sanctify it. Render it like unto Your own. Amen.
Lord, I am not worthy that Thou shouldst enter under my roof, but only say the word and my soul shall be healed.
The basis of this practice was explained by Pope Bl John Paul II in his encyclical, Ecclesia de Eucharistia:
In 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. 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" [The Way of Perfection, Ch. 35.].1 .
What is the value of this practice? The Baltimore Catechism notes that a Spiritual Communion “is an act of devotion, and one very pleasing to God.”The graces received may be as great as -- or greater than -- those received by some people in the actual Sacrament. Though, of course, the Sacrament itself is inherently greater, our disposition toward the Sacrament affect whether and how we receive its fruits.
"If you practice the holy exercise of Spiritual Communion a good many times each day, within a month you will see yourself completely changed." ~ St. Leonard
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