Q. Can one make a spiritual Communion more than once a day?
A. You ask a good and relevant question, especially during current circumstances.
We live in strange and unprecedented times where for several weeks public liturgies were suspended in the Diocese of Lincoln, throughout the United States and the entire world in order to slow the spread of the coronavirus. Thus, receiving the Eucharist, Jesus’ very body, blood, souls and divinity, has not been possible for most people in recent weeks.
A reminder that Apostolic Administrator Archbishop George Lucas has granted a dispensation from the obligation to attend Sunday Mass and holy days of obligation for Catholics in the Diocese of Lincoln. That dispensation remains even as liturgies are now open to the public throughout the diocese.
This dispensation applies to any Catholic in the Diocese of Lincoln, but there are people who should definitely remain at home due to the pandemic including: the sick, the elderly, people with underlying medical conditions, family members who live with elderly people or those who are at risk, people who have upper respiratory or flu-like symptoms, and people who have been exposed to someone with COVID-19.
Because so many Catholics have been physically unable to receive the Eucharist as of late, the traditional practice of making a spiritual communion has received greater attention. When we actively participate in the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass, the Lord offers us many graces. The Mass is the greatest prayer: it is the prayer of Christ’s obedient love to his Heavenly Father. And Jesus allows us to enter into that prayer.
We fully participate in the celebration of the Eucharist when we receive Holy Communion. We should receive Communion devoutly and frequently. In order to be properly disposed to receive Communion, participants should not be conscious of grave sin and normally should have fasted for one hour.
A person who is conscious of grave sin is not to receive the Eucharist without prior sacramental confession except for a grave reason where there is no opportunity for confession. In this case, the person is to be mindful of the obligation to make an act of perfect contrition, including the intention of confessing as soon as possible.
Those who are unable to receive Communion for whatever reason are encouraged to make a spiritual communion. St. Thomas Aquinas defined a spiritual communion as “an ardent desire to receive Jesus in the Most Holy Sacrament and in lovingly embracing Him as if we had actually received Him.”
A spiritual communion is an acknowledgement that Jesus is present in the Eucharist and a personal desire to be united to him. While a spiritual communion is often made within the context of Mass, it is a noble act of devotion to make a spiritual communion at other times, as it is always good to desire to be united with Jesus.
One of the most popular spiritual communion prayers was composed by St. Alphonsus Liguori:
“My Jesus, I believe that you are present in the Blessed Sacrament. I love you above all things and I desire you with all my heart. Since I cannot now receive you sacramentally, I ask you to come spiritually into my heart. I embrace you as if you were already in my heart and unite myself to you completely. Please do not let me ever by separated from you.”
This question was answered by a priest of the Diocese of Lincoln. Write to Ask the Register using our online form, or write to 3700 Sheridan Blvd., Suite 10, Lincoln NE 68506-6100. All questions are subject to editing. Editors decide which questions to publish. Personal questions cannot be answered. People with such questions are urged to take them to their nearest Catholic priest.
