Is there any short-cut way to receive the Eucharist?

[iaskquestions]

Sometimes I feel that I have to wait so long in order to receive the Eucharist. After doing my personal prayer in the morning, I go to Mass. But there I have to wait for atleast 20 mins before I receive the Eucharist. Is there any way in which I can receive the Eucharist directly?

 

[Joannm]

Sometimes I feel that I have to wait so long in order to receive the Eucharist. After doing my personal prayer in the morning, I go to Mass. But there I have to wait for atleast 20 mins before I receive the Eucharist. Is there any way in which I can receive the Eucharist directly?

We don’t go to Mass to receive the Eucharist, we go to offer praise and thanksgiving to God in the company of other members of the Body of Christ. Every moment of the Mass is important and aids in our salvation. Even if you could not receive the Eucharist at all at Mass you would still receive graces for simply being there and participating in the liturgy.

What you are asking is like going to a fine restuarant and just ordering the dessert and skipping all the other courses of the meal.

 

[benedictgal]

Sometimes I feel that I have to wait so long in order to receive the Eucharist. After doing my personal prayer in the morning, I go to Mass. But there I have to wait for atleast 20 mins before I receive the Eucharist. Is there any way in which I can receive the Eucharist directly?

Assisting at the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass is part and parcel of being able to receive Holy Communion. While it is laudable that you engage in personal prayer in the morning prior going to Mass, the Holy Sacrifice is the supreme prayer of the Church. In it, you are entering into God’s sacred time. You are entering into His Divine Majesty.

The veil between heaven and earth, and time and space, is lifted. You join the angels, the saints and the suffering souls (as well as the faithful gathered with you) in offering God the praise, worship and adoration that is due Him. The Mass isn’t about you or me. It is about God. It is about offering the Father a pleasing, acceptable, Holy and Living Sacrifice, mainly His Eterrnal Son.

Furthermore, God speaks to us through the Sacred Scriptures and through the prayers we speak in dialogue with the celebrant, we address the Father, through the Son in union with the Holy Spirit.

The high point of the Mass is not receiving Holy Communion. The high point of the Mass is the offering of the Body and Blood of Jesus Christ to the Father.

I hope this helps you.

 

[bpbasilphx]

At one time, Communion outside of Mass was frequently done in parishes. Thomas Merton mentioned this in his autobiography SEVEN STORY MOUNTAIN.

But why are YOU in such a hurry?

As one college student told her parents, “Hello. Feed me. Good bye.”

Is THIS your spirituality?

The proper time to receive Communion (outside of sickness) is during the Eucharistic Sacrifice.

 

[thistle]

Sometimes I feel that I have to wait so long in order to receive the Eucharist. After doing my personal prayer in the morning, I go to Mass. But there I have to wait for atleast 20 mins before I receive the Eucharist. Is there any way in which I can receive the Eucharist directly?

Why is 20 minutes too long? Being in a rush implies disrespect.

 

[fellowChristian]

So let me ask you a question…do you eat and run? Or do you stay for the final blessing? I like to ask questions too

 

[Kielbasi]

You’re in much too much of a hurry.

But it is proper-provided you are otherwise properly prepared- to receive the Eucharist at a mass that you’ve just arrived at.

 

[thistle]

You’re in much too much of a hurry.

But it is proper-provided you are otherwise properly prepared- to receive the Eucharist at a mass that you’ve just arrived at.

While it is correct that someone in a state of grace may arrive at Church just in time to walk into the Communion line and be allowed to receive Communion, this would, however, not fulfill their Sunday Mass obligation.

 

[PhilotheaZ]

What you can do while you wait is to make an act of spiritual communion: telling God how much you long to receive Him in the Eucharist. You can do this many times during the day. Some saints did it several times every waking hour of the day. It increases our desire for Jesus and prepares our hearts to receive Him well. Some examples (or you can use your own words):

Act of Spiritual Communion
(Saint Francis of Assisi)

I believe that You are present in the Blessed Sacrament, O Jesus. I love You and desire You. Come into my heart.

I embrace You; O never leave me. I beg You, O Lord Jesus, that the burning and most sweet power of Your love absorb my mind, that I may die through love of Your love, since You graciously died for love of my love.

Act of Spiritual Communion
(Saint Alphonsus Maria de’ Liguori)

My Jesus, I believe that You are present in the Blessed Sacrament. I love You above all things and I desire You in my soul. Since I cannot now receive You sacramentally, come at least spiritually into my heart. As though You were already there, I embrace You and unite myself to You; permit not that I should ever be separated from You.

A Spiritual Communion with Mary

O Immaculate Queen of Heaven and Earth, Mother of God and Mediatrix of every grace: I believe that Thy dearly beloved Son, Our Lord Jesus Christ, is truly, really, and substantially contained in the Most Blessed Sacrament. I love Him above all things and I long to receive Him into my heart. Since I cannot now receive Him sacramentally, be so good as to place Him spiritually in my soul.

O my Jesus, I embrace Thee as One who has already come, and I unite myself entirely to Thee. Never permit me to be separated from Thee. Amen.

An Act of Spiritual Communion
(Franciscan)

My Dear Lord and Savior! Though I am but a sinful servant, I approach Thee with confidence, for Thou hast said in Thy goodness and mercy: “Come to Me, all you that labor and are heavy laden, and I will refresh you.” Thou wilt not despise a contrite and humble heart. I am truly sorry for having offended Thee by my sins, because Thou art infinitely good. I have wounded Thy Sacred Heart by foolishly resisting Thy holy will and transgressing Thy Commandments; but I love Thee now with my whole heart and above all things. I adore Thee truly present on the Altar. I have a great desire, dear Jesus, to receive Thee in Holy Communion, and since I cannot now approach the Holy Table to be united to Thee in the Blessed Sacrament, I beseech Thee most earnestly to come to me at least spiritually and to refresh my soul with the sweetness of Thy grace.

Come, my Lord, my God, and my All! Come to me, and let me never again be separated from Thee by sin. I wish to become like to Thee. Teach me Thy blessed ways; help me with Thy grace to practice meekness, humility, purity, charity, and all the virtues of Thy Sacred Heart.

O Thou Lamb of God! Who takest away the sins of the world, take away from me whatever may hurt me and displease Thee. With Saint Francis of Assisi I pray: May the fire of Thy love consume my soul, so that I may die to self and the world for love of Thee, Who hast vouchsafed to die on the Cross for the love of me!

Jesus, I consecrate to Thee my heart with all its affections, my soul with all its powers, and my body with all its senses. In union with Thee I will labor and suffer to do the Heavenly Father’s will. I will ever be mindful of the presence of my God and strive to be perfect. Bless me in life and in death that I may praise Thee forever in Heaven. Amen.

Spiritual Communion

O 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.

An Act of Spiritual Communion
(from a Rosary Novena)

Oh Jesus, since I cannot now receive Thee under the sacramental veil, I beseech Thee with a heart full of love and longing, to come spiritually into my soul, through the Immaculate Heart of Thy Most Holy Mother, and abide with me forever; Thou in me, and I in Thee, in time and in eternity, in Mary. Amen.

 

[PhilotheaZ]

Another thought: since Advent begins in a few days, this may be a good time of the liturgical year to unite yourself spiritually with the saints in a spirit of waiting.

Mary and Joseph had to wait nine months to hold Jesus in their arms.

The Old Testament patriarchs, prophets, and saints had to wait (as a people) hundreds or thousands of years for the coming of Christ.

It makes twenty minutes seem a little less difficult to bear.

I understand your longing for the Eucharist, though. It is a good thing to long for Him!

Happy Advent!

Come, Lord Jesus!

 

[Parce_Domine]

I noticed you used a “wink” for this question. Is this perhaps more for inciting a discussion rather than a real issue with you? Either way, twenty minutes is a short time, and it’s all well worth the wait.

While I understand the hunger and thirst, and the desire for Holy Communion, the full Mass (the whole communion) is important. The others before me said it better about the whole Mass and what it’s about.

If there’s a way for you to spend time in Adoration, to see how Christ waits for us, then maybe it will help you be more patient.

 

[Parce_Domine]

Another prayer for Spiritual Communion

PRAYER TO GUARDIAN ANGEL
(For a Spiritual Communion)
Oh, holy angel at my side, go to the church for me.
Kneel in my place at Holy Mass, where I desire to be.
At offertory in my stead, take all I am and own,
And place it as a sacrifice upon the altar throne.
At holy consecration bells, adore with seraph’s love
My Jesus hidden in the host come down from heaven above.
And when the priest, communion takes, please bring my Lord to me;
That His great heart may rest in mine and I his temple be.

 

[lizaanne]

Twenty minutes??!!! Are you kidding me? There are persecuted Catholics in this world who may have to wait MONTHS or YEARS, practicing their Faith in secret, before they have an opportunity to receive Christ in the Eucharist - and you can’t wait TWENTY MINUTES!!???

Sit down. Take a deep breath. And start putting your priorities in order.

Christ is worth waiting for. And it is in the waiting that we find grace. Don’t be in such a rush that you miss out on it.

~Liza

 

[dconklin]

Get yourself admitted to a hospital. I am guessing there is not all that praying stuff before they give you the Eucharist. However, the wait to get released is usually very long.

 

[iaskquestions]

Parce, this is a real issue with me. 20 mins is a minimum. So I guess I gotta wait and have patience. FellowChristian, I don’t eat and run but wait for the final blessing. Joannm, I don’t think the Eucharist can be possibly compared to a dessert. For me the Eucharist is like making love to my husband, Christ. And if I have to wait for that moment of intimacy, especially after a long time of personal prayer, I feel sad. Also, another problem is that the worship in the mass is not on par with the way I am able to worship God in the solitude of my room. Yes, the angels and the saints are present, but still.

Benedictgal, you said that the high point of the Mass is not receiving Holy Communion. The high point of the Mass is the offering of the Body and Blood of Jesus Christ to the Father. Has the church taught that? Let me know.

Thistle, (being in a rush implies disrespect), if you are in a hurry to kiss your wife (or husband), does that mean disrespect?

Lizaanne (Christ is worth waiting for). I can’t wait.
“I adjure you, O daughters of Jerusalem, if you find my beloved, that you tell him I am sick with love.” (Song of Solomon 5:8)

 

[LilyM]

Parce, this is a real issue with me. 20 mins is a minimum. So I guess I gotta wait and have patience. FellowChristian, I don’t eat and run but wait for the final blessing. Joannm, I don’t think the Eucharist can be possibly compared to a dessert. For me the Eucharist is like making love to my husband, Christ. And if I have to wait for that moment of intimacy, especially after a long time of personal prayer, I feel sad. Also, another problem is that the worship in the mass is not on par with the way I am able to worship God in the solitude of my room. Yes, the angels and the saints are present, but still.

Benedictgal, you said that the high point of the Mass is not receiving Holy Communion. The high point of the Mass is the offering of the Body and Blood of Jesus Christ to the Father. Has the church taught that? Let me know.

Thistle, (being in a rush implies disrespect), if you are in a hurry to kiss your wife (or husband), does that mean disrespect?

Lizaanne (Christ is worth waiting for). I can’t wait.
“I adjure you, O daughters of Jerusalem, if you find my beloved, that you tell him I am sick with love.” (Song of Solomon 5:8)

If you can’t wait 20 minutes for ANYTHING - in a situation that isn’t a medical or other emergency - then you’re way impatient. ‘Sick with love’ doesn’t mean ‘it’s been a whole 20 minutes since I’ve been with him’.

Part of growing in maturity as a human being is developing the patience to be able to wait at least a little while for things, it’s only children who have to have things right now. It’s called delayed gratification, and it is of huge value both spiritually and in other areas of your life to learn to be able to delay gratification.

Haven’t you ever been in a situation where, say, you want to go out with friends but have to study, or do something else important, and so you put off what is immediately gratifying (going out) in order to do what is really important? Or where you have a bit of money that you could spend on shoes or something, but instead go without, and save up for something you really need and that will in the long run be better for you than having the shoes now?

And are you seriously telling me that a kiss or making love with your husband - or even tasting a piece of chocolate - isn’t actually much better the longer you’ve had to wait for it? Try it sometime.

At the least, recognise that if you immediately get what you want all the time, then that thing you want loses its value a bit - you take it a bit for granted.

 

[iaskquestions]

I heard that the Eucharist is given directly to sick people. I think I should try it, after all, I am love sick.

 

[LilyM]

I heard that the Eucharist is given directly to sick people. I think I should try it, after all, I am love sick.

yup, Jesus (who is Truth, remember) must be loving the idea that you would lie to get the Eucharist quicker. That’s sick for sure, but not love sick. Would you be happy if your husband or wife called your workplace and told them he or she was sick just so that you’d rush home?

Remember what St Paul said about love - real love, that is.

“Love is patient, kind, forebearing … never seeks its own way”.

 

[Eucharisted]

Sometimes I feel that I have to wait so long in order to receive the Eucharist. After doing my personal prayer in the morning, I go to Mass. But there I have to wait for atleast 20 mins before I receive the Eucharist. Is there any way in which I can receive the Eucharist directly?

I undetstand your desire to be with Jesus Christ, but you must learn to bear this cross with patience and charity. Jesus had to descend into hell, Mary had to wait until Sunday to see her Son, and many saints have had to walk miles and wait hours just to be with the Lord; surly you can imitate God’s holiness, by the grace of God?

 

[iaskquestions]

Lily, you are right when you say, “Love is patient, kind, forebearing … never seeks its own way”.

I think I’ll have to learn patience.