Spiritual Communion

[SaintEmily24]

What exactly is ‘Spiritual Communion’? What is it used for? How does it work?
Please tell me any facts you know about it here… Because I honestly have no clue.

 

[Tantum_ergo]

Sometimes we cannot physically partake of communion; whether because we are in a state of mortal sin, or we are celiacs and there is no option to receive the Blood, or are homebound with no possibility of an EMHC due to a disaster or some such. . . For any person who cannot physically partake, there is the option to partake in spiritual communion, whereby we say a prayer like, “Oh dear Jesus. I cannot receive you in your Sacred Body and Blood at this time. I deeply desire to unite myself to you in the holy sacrament of the Eucharist and the Sacrifice of Mass but I cannot at this time. Dear Jesus, please grant me the grace to be with you and grant that I may soon be able to partake in your communion, free from sin, and be united to you forever.”

It is not the same as receiving communion but since we are not ‘obligated’ to receive communion at every Mass we attend (though if we are in a state of grace as baptized Catholics we certainly may), to partake in spiritual communion is a praiseworthy way to join in the prayers and sacrifices of other Catholics at the time when they partake in the Eucharist.

 

[Matt_CL]

That is a great prayer to use when one is unable to receive the Body and Blood of Our Lord. I say a very similar prayer on days when I know I will not be able to attend mass and receive communuion. I first became acquainted with this prayer in Br MIchael Gaitley’s wonderful book CONSOLING THE HEART OF JESUS:

**“Lord Jesus, I long to receive you in Holy Communion, but because I can not do so now, I ask to come into my heart through spiritual communion.” **

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Do not be discouraged by setbacks, for God brings good even out of failure. :harp:

 

[ProVobis]

Here is how the Catechism of Trent “defines” it:

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.

catholicapologetics.info/thechurch/catechism/Holy7Sacraments-Eucharist.shtml