Spiritual Resources

Act of Spiritual Communion

For those who are participating in Mass via television or livestreaming video, we encourage you to make a spiritual communion.

What is spiritual communion? St. Thomas Aquinas described it as “an ardent desire to receive Jesus in the most holy sacrament and lovingly embrace him” at a time or in circumstances when we cannot receive him in sacramental.

We pray fervently for the day when we celebrate the Holy Eucharist together.

 

The tradition of making a Spiritual Communion can be traced at least to St. Thomas Aquinas who defined it as “an ardent desire to receive Jesus in the Holy Sacrament and a loving embrace as though we had already received him.”

In 1983 the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith declared that the effects of Holy Communion can be received through spiritual communion for persons in the following situations:

  • Those at priestless parishes;
  • Those who are prevented from attending Eucharistic celebrations;
  • The divorced and remarried;
  • Those at the Protestant Lord’s Supper.

In making an Act of Spiritual Communion, we express our faith to the Lord: in his merciful love and in his real presence in the Eucharist. 

Some traditional versions are listed  below:

My Jesus, I believe You are truly present in the most Blessed Sacrament. I love You above all things and I desire to possess You within my soul. Since I am unable now to receive You Sacramentally, come at least spiritually into my heart. I embrace You as being already there, and I unite myself wholly to You; never permit me to be separated from You.
(Prayer of St. Alphonsus Liguori)

My Jesus,
I believe that you are truly present
in the Most Blessed Sacrament.
I love You above all things
and I desire to possess You within my soul.
Since I am unable at this moment
to receive You sacramentally,
come at least spiritually into my heart.
I embrace You as being already there,
and unite myself wholly to You.
Never permit me to be separated from You. (St. Pio of Pietrelcina)

I wish, Lord, to receive you with the purity, humility and devotion with which your most holy Mother received you, with the spirit and fervour of the saints. (St. Josemaria Escriva)

At Thy feet, O my Jesus, I prostrate myself and I offer Thee 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.  (Cardinal Rafael Merry del Val)

As I cannot this day enjoy the happiness of assisting at the holy Mysteries, O my God! I transport myself in spirit at the foot of Thine altar; I unite with the Church, which by the hands of the priest, offers Thee Thine adorable Son in the Holy Sacrifice; I offer myself with Him, by Him, and in His Name. I adore, I praise, and thank Thee, imploring Thy mercy, invoking Thine assistance, and presenting Thee the homage I owe Thee as my Creator, the love due to Thee as my Savior. Apply to my soul, I beseech Thee, O merciful Jesus, Thine infinite merits; apply them also to those for whom I particularly wish to pray. I desire to communicate spiritually, that Thy Blood may purify, Thy Flesh strengthen, and Thy Spirit sanctify me. May I never forget that Thou, my divine Redeemer, hast died for me; may I die to all that is not Thee, that hereafter I may live eternally with Thee. Amen. (Anonymous)