Yesterday I mentioned that I've been trying to get through the book "Jesus Our Eucharistic Love" by Fr. Stefano Manelli. Since I haven't been able to get through it, one of my daughters has picked it up and started reading it. Last week she brought the book to me and asked me to read a section entitled Spiritual Communion.
To quote the book: "Spiritual Communion is the reserve of eucharistic Life and Love always available for lovers of the Eucharistic Jesus. By means of spiritual Communion, the loving desires of the soul that wants to be united with Jesus, its dear Bridegroom, are satisfied. Spiritual Communion is a union of love between the soul and Jesus in the Host. This union is spiritual but nonetheless real, more real than the union between the soul and the body, 'because the soul lives more where it loves than where it lives,' says St. John of the Cross."
What a beautiful treasure we have in spiritual Communion. Of course this Communion assumes that we believe that Jesus is truly present in the Eucharist and it implies that we would like to receive Jesus in sacramental Communion but we can't for whatever reason.
What is really neat about spiritual Communion is that we can make one as often as we would like, even "hundreds of times a day", or night for that matter. As I read on, I realized that many saints utilized this special treasure. Jesus himself told St. Catherine of Siena in a vision just how precious a spiritual communion is. St. Francis de Sales resolved to make a spiritual Communion at least every quarter of an hour!!!!!!!!! That one blew me away. I can't remember to do things I have to do, let alone remember every 15 minutes to stop, recollect myself and ask Jesus to dwell in my heart. That , I guess, is why they are saints and I am not (well, and also because I'm not dead yet).
Anyhow, since I've read this, I've been trying to remember to do this at least a few times a day. Asking my Guardian Angel to help me remember would also be a good thing to do. You can come up with your own words, but here is the spiritual Communion prayer from St. Alphonsus:
My Jesus, I believe that You are really present in the most Holy Sacrament. I love You above all things and I desire to poseess You within my soul. Since I cannot now receive You sacramentally, come at least spiritually into my heart. (Pause) I embrace You as being already there and unite myself wholly to You. Never, never permit me to be separated from You. Amen
God Bless!
Beautiful Book! I had to read it for my Confirmation Class a few years ago. Fr. Stefano is the founder of the Order of Franciscans we are involved with.
ReplyDeleteLaura and daughter, Thank you, thank you, thank you for this beautiful reminder about spiritual communions. I will share it with my family. Fr. Parker says that we should be making many of these a day. Holy Communion is the gold crown and Spiritual Communions are the silver crown. Do you know I recently learned that we are not "required" make a Holy Communion at Mass...only the Priest is required to receive on behalf of us. This makes me appreciate the gift of receiving Holy Communion (when we are able to) all the more! In the meantime, I'll do good to remember Fr. Manelli and your invaluable advice. God bless you! Now take the day off....
ReplyDeleteThanks for the reminder Laura. I forget all too often the Presence of our Lord. I don't make it to Mass as often as I would like to during the week, so this would be a good practice. I am all about asking my Guardian Angel to remind me constantly!...Theresa
ReplyDeleteWow! Thanks for the reminder! In these challenging days the spiritual battles seem to be raging in every corner of our lives. What a source of strength and peace it is to be frequently united to Jesus, our Lord. I have been using the hourly chime on my watch to remind me to pray throughout the day...now I will also make a spiritual communion in addition to a quick examination of conscience on 2 virtues/vices I am focusing on for my New Year's resolution. All three things will only take a minute, but what a grace filled minute! God bless............Laura B
ReplyDeletePaul Xavier - How are you involved with that part. Franciscan order? I'd like to help them, too. Thank you! Dolores H
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