Spiritual Communion
1. Anyone who sincerely loves Jesus Christ will not be satisfied with
receiving Him daily in the Blessed Eucharist. Often during the day he
will feel the need of uniting himself again to the divine Spouse in an
act of love. This is what is known as spiritual Communion. It is a
natural and spontaneous act for a true lover of Jesus.
“I am the vine, you are the branches,”
Jesus has told us. “He who abides in me, and I in him, he bears much
fruit ... as the branch cannot bear fruit of itself unless it remains on
the vine, so neither can you unless you abide in me.” (Cf. John 15:4)
Since the supernatural life flows into our souls from Jesus, we must
maintain our union with Him even when He is not sacramentally present.
It is true that the divine grace remains in us as long as we do not fall
into mortal sin, but it grows weaker under the influence of worldly
attractions and temptations. It is necessary to revive the grace that is
in us when we feel that it is waning. For this purpose Spiritual
Communion is very useful, for it is an ardent desire to receive Jesus in
the Blessed Sacrament (Summa Theologiae, III, q. 8, a.1 ad 3) and an
outpouring of live (sic) in which we beseech Jesus to come and take
complete possession of our hearts. This practice was recommended by the
Council of Trent (Session XIII, c. 8) and was frequently used by the
Saints in order to keep alive the fire of divine charity in their souls
and to guard themselves against the onslaughts of the world, the flesh,
and the devil. If we act in the same manner, Jesus will always be within
us and we shall always be in Jesus. If God lives in us, who can harm
us? If God is for us, who is against us? (Rom. 8:31)
2. Jesus
not only desires to come to us, but He desires to remain continually
present in us with His love and grace. ”If anyone love me, he will keep
my word,” He tells us, “and my Father will love him, and we will come to
him and make our abode with him.” (John 14:23) It is enough for us to
love Him and to be ready to keep His commandments. Such an act of
sincere and effective love for Jesus will cause Him to enter and to
remain in our hearts even after the sacramental species has been
consumed. This is Spiritual Communion, which consists mainly in the
yearning for Jesus. “I have come to cast fire upon the earth, and what
will I but that it be kindled?” (Luke 12:49)
3. St. Thomas
calls the Eucharist "the Sacrament of love." (Opusc. 38:25) When love is
ardent and sincere it longs for constant contact with the beloved.
Spiritual Communion can be made in a single instant, for it requires
only an act of faith and an act of love. Jesus, come into my heart, for I
have need of You. I love You, my Jesus; keep me close to You always.
Ejaculation: O Jesus, I cling to You with all my heart.
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