Rules for Spiritual Communion?

[fakename]

I’m not sure if one must fast for 1 hour if one is going to do a spiritual communion?

 

[EmeraldWings]

no, you can do a spiritual communion as often as you like, there are no “rules”, it is simply the desire to have Jesus in your soul, or the desire to actually receive the Eucharist, by which, if done with a contrite and a pure and loving heart, you receive part of the great benefits you would receive from actual communion,
the church recommends highly that we make spiritual communions every day, although there are no recommendation to how often(atleast not that i’m aware of) but just as many times as you want, perhaps at the beginning of every hour, or just whenever you have the desire to do so.

 

[fakename]

I wonder if these rules count (since I got them from anglicanhistory.org -which purports to show the connections b/t Anglicanism and Catholicism).

It will be noted that the Church safeguards this privilege of Spiritual Communion from abuse by requiring the Communicant to consider:–

1. The need for repentance, as in the case of Sacramental Communion.
2. The need of a real faith that Christ died to save mankind, and that certain benefits are received by the soul as the result.

Do you have anything from the Vatican about this issue of “Rules for Spiritual Communion” or any authoritative arguments?

 

[fred_conty]

I’m not sure if one must fast for 1 hour if one is going to do a spiritual communion?

If you live in a large city, there is a good chance that Holy Eucharist is exposed on an altar in a small chapel. When a person talks to Jesus in the the quiet of the chapel, that is a lot like a spiritual communion. By the way, anyone of any faith may visit these chapels and sit there for a while in silence to experience peace, and Jesus’ warm heart. Call any catholic parish to find where these chapels are. They are open 24/7 and are free to everyone.​

“…love everyone,especially the brethern.” Saul the murderer, Paul the convert.

 

[fakename]

Also, isn’t it necessary to have perfect contrition before having communion (either kind). Wouldn’t this imply that you’ll be promising to go to confession too since perfect contrition is the sorrow for offending God’s goodness with the will to confess your offenses ASAP?

 

[PilgrimToChrist]

Even if you are impeded for some reason from receiving Holy Communion Sacramentally, you should still receive Spiritually – that is to unite your mind and contemplate, adore and love Our Eucharistic Lord and declare your strong desire to receive Him Sacramentally. Although you do not get as many graces as receiving Him Sacramentally, you do merit grace by this act if you are in the state of grace. If you are in a state of sin, God will gift you that grace that you would have merited when you are reconciled to Him.

You do not have to fast prior to making a Spiritual Communion. However, it is of course still a good thing to do, particularly if you are going to Mass but not receiving (you can make Spiritual Communions from home and everyone should do this daily).

 

[fakename]

“If you are in a state of sin, God will gift you that grace that you would have merited when you are reconciled to Him.”

what does this mean -I’m thrown off by the wording.

 

[PilgrimToChrist]

“If you are in a state of sin, God will gift you that grace that you would have merited when you are reconciled to Him.”

what does this mean -I’m thrown off by the wording.

When you are in a state of sin, you cannot merit anything. The only prayers which are effective are those which are to beg forgiveness and to reconcile yourself to God.

However, it is generally held that after you are reconciled to God (i.e. go to Confession and do penance), God will give you those graces that you would have merited for those acts you did while you were in a state of sin.

Clear as mud?

 

[ProVobis]

from the Catechism of Trent:

Recipient of the Eucharist

Threefold Manner Of Communicating

That the faithful may learn to be zealous for the better gifts, they must be shown who can obtain these abundant fruits from the Holy Eucharist, must be reminded that there is not only one way of communicating. Wisely and rightly, then, did our predecessors in the faith, as we read in the Council of Trent, distinguish three ways of receiving this Sacrament.

Some receive it sacramentally only. Such are those sinners who do not fear to approach the holy mysteries with polluted lips and heart, who, as the Apostle says, eat and drink the Lord’s body unworthily. Of this class of communicants St. Augustine says: He who dwells not in Christ, and in whom Christ dwells not, most certainly does not eat spiritually His flesh, although carnally and visibly he press with his teeth the Sacrament of His flesh and blood. Those, therefore, who receive the sacred mysteries with such a disposition, not only obtain no fruit therefrom, but, as the Apostle himself testifies, eat and drink judgment to themselves.

Others are said to receive the Eucharist in spirit only. They are those who, inflamed with a lively faith which worketh by charity,’ partake in wish and desire of that celestial bread offered to them, from which they receive, if not the entire, at least very great fruits.

Lastly, there are some who receive the Holy Eucharist both sacramentally and spiritually, those who, according to the teaching of the Apostle, having first proved themselves and having approached this divine banquet adorned with the nuptial garment, derive from the Eucharist those most abundant fruits which we have already described. Hence it is clear that those who, having it in their power to receive with fitting preparation the Sacrament of the body of the Lord, are yet satisfied with a spiritual Communion only, deprive themselves of the greatest and most heavenly advantages.

An example of the spiritual communion 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.