Spiritual Communion
By St. Alphonsus Liguori
1. "My Jesus, I believe that Thou art truly present in the most blessed sacrament. I love Thee above all things and I desire to possess Thee within my soul. Since I am unable now to receive Thee sacramentally, come at least spiritually into my heart. I embrace Thee as being already there, and unite myself wholly to Thee ; never, never permit me to be separated from Thee."
2. St. Teresa was wont to say to her spiritual daughters: "As often as you hear Holy Mass, although you be unable to communicate sacramentally, you can make a spiritual communion, which is of great value." The Council of Trent requires for a spiritual communion an ardent desire, lively faith, and fervent charity. How often shall we communicate spiritually? As often as God inspires the holy desire, at any time, but especially at Mass, at Benediction, and at Visits. No particular form is required. With a contrite and loving heart, we may simply say: "Come, dearest Jesus, come into my heart; come and satiate my longing; come and sanctify my soul ; come, my sweetest Jesus, come."
3. We read in the lives of some of the saints how Our Lord, to satisfy their burning desire to receive the Holy Eucharist, communicated Himself to them in miraculous ways, as by going from the priest's hand to St. Catharine of Sienna, and to blessed Imelda, or piercing through the breast of St. Juliana Falconieri, or as by the hands of angels or of His blessed Mother to St. Bonaventure and St. Stanislaus. In various ways and by signal miracles, Jesus has manifested His approbation of spiritual communion.
