An Act of Spiritual Communion
by Saint Alphonsus Liguori
 As in all visits to the Most Blessed Sacrament, a
Spiritual Communion is recommended; it will be well to explain
what it is, and the
great advantages which result from its practice. A
spiritual communion, according to Saint Thomas,
consists in an ardent desire to receive Jesus in the
Most Holy Sacrament, and in lovingly embracing Him as if we had actually received
Him.
How pleasing these
spiritual communions are to God, and the many
graces which He bestows through
their means,
was manifested by Our Lord Himself to Sister Paula Maresca, the foundress of the convent of
Saint
Catherine of Sienna in Naples, when (as it is related in her life)
He showed her two
precious
vessels, the one of gold, the
other of silver.
He then told her that in the gold vessel
He preserved her sacramental communions, and
in the silver one her spiritual communions.
He also told Blessed Jane of the Cross that
each time that she communicated
spiritually, she received a grace of the
same kind as the one that she received when she really
communicated.
Above all, it will suffice for us to know that the holy Council of Trent (Session 13, C. 8) greatly praises
spiritual communions, and
encourages the faithful to practice
them.
All those who desire to advance in the love of
Jesus Christ are exhorted to make a
spiritual communion
at least once in every visit that they pay to the Most Blessed Sacrament, and at every
Mass that they hear; and it would even be better on
these occasions to repeat the communions
three times, that is to say, at the
beginning, in the middle,
and at the end. This
devotion is far more profitable than some suppose, and at the same time nothing
can be easier to practice. The above-named Blessed Jane of the Cross used to say, that a
spiritual
communion can be made without anyone remarking on
it, without fasting, without the permission of
our director, and that we can make it at
any time we please; an
act of love does all.
Act of Spiritual Communion
My Jesus, I believe that Thou art present in
the Blessed Sacrament.
I love Thee above all things and I desire Thee in my soul.
Since I cannot now receive Thee sacramentally, come at least spiritually into my heart.
As though Thou wert already there, I embrace Thee and unite myself wholly to Thee;
permit not that I should ever be separated from Thee.
Amen
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