Spiritual Communion
“If we are deprived of sacramental communion, let us replace it, as far as we can, by spiritual communion, which we can make every moment; for we ought to have always a burning desire to receive the good God.
Communion is to the soul like blowing a fire that is beginning to go out, but that has still plenty of hot embers; we blow, and the fire burns again. After the reception of the sacraments, when we feel ourselves slacken in the love of God, let us have recourse at once to spiritual communion. When we cannot go to the church, let us turn towards the tabernacle;
no wall can shut us out from the good God.”
St John Vianney, from the book, The Spirit of the Curé of Ars
How to Pray a Spiritual Communion
Begin and end with making the Sign of the Cross, saying: In the Name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Ghost. Amen.
1. Make an Act of Contrition
Oh my God, I am humbly sorry for having offended Thee. I detest all of my sins. Because of them, I dread the loss of Heaven and the fires of Hell, but most of all, because they offend Thee, My God, Who art all good and worthy of all my love. I firmly resolve, with the help of Thy Grace, to confess my sins, to do penance, avoid the occasions of sin, and to amend my life. Amen.
(The matter, form and intention of this rendition of the act of contrition prayer incorporates all the elements of the act of perfect contrition.)
2. Pray the Confiteor
I confess to Almighty God,
to blessed Mary ever Virgin,
to blessed Michæl the Archangel,
to blessed John the Baptist,
to the holy Apostles Peter and Paul,
to all the Saints, and to you, brethren,
that I have sinned exceedingly,
in thought, word, and deed;
through my fault, through my fault,
through my most grievous fault.
Therefore I beseech
blessed Mary ever Virgin,
blessed Michæl the Archangel,
blessed John the Baptist,
the holy Apostles Peter and Paul,
all the Saints, and you, brethren,
to pray for me
to the Lord our God.
Amen.
(Even when you pray this by yourself, the souls in Purgatory and the saints in heaven are with you.)
3. Pray The Apostle’s Creed
I believe in God, the Father almighty,
Creator of heaven and earth,
and in Jesus Christ,
His only Son, our Lord,
who was conceived by the Holy Ghost,
born of the Virgin Mary,
suffered under Pontius Pilate,
was crucified, died and was buried;
He descended into hell;
on the third day He rose again from the dead;
He ascended into heaven,
and is seated at the right hand of God the Father almighty;
from there He will come again to judge the living and the dead.
I believe in the Holy Ghost,
the Holy Catholic Church,
the communion of saints,
the forgiveness of sins,
the resurrection of the body,
and life everlasting.
Amen.
4. Pray The Our Father
Our Father, who art in heaven,
Hallowed be Thy Name;
Thy kingdom come;
Thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread,
and forgive us our trespasses
as we forgive those who trespass against us;
and lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from evil. Amen.
5. Pray an Act of Spiritual Communion
O my Jesus, I turn toward the Holy Tabernacle where You live hidden for love of me. I cannot receive You in Holy Communion. Come nevertheless and visit me with Thy Grace. Come spiritually into my heart. Purify it. Sanctify it. Render it like unto Thine Own. Amen.
6. Pray the Centurion’s Prayer
Say it 3 times:
Lord, I am not worthy that Thou should enter under my roof, but only say the word, and my soul shall be healed.
7. Recite the Gospel of John Chapter1:1 – 14
In the Beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God. All things were made by Him: and without Him was made nothing that was made. In Him was life, and the life was the light of men: and the light shineth in the darkness, and the darkness comprehended it not.
There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. This man came for a witness, to bear witness of the light, that all men might believe through him. He was not the light, but was to bear witness of the light. That was the true light, which enlightens every man that comes into this world.
He was in the world, and the world was made by Him, and the world knew Him not. He came unto His own, and His own received Him not. But as many as received Him, to them He gave power to be made sons of God, to them that believe in His Name. Who are born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.
AND THE WORD WAS MADE FLESH, and dwelt among us (and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten son of the Father), full of grace and truth.
In the Name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Ghost. Amen.
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If you are in need of haste for any very good reason: the Act of Contrition and the Spiritual Communion Prayer can be said alone, omitting the other prayers.
It is customary throughout the West at the end of the Spiritual Communion to pray the St Michael prayer after reciting the Gospel.
Say all prayers reverently. Reverently is a word which here means: say them as if you’re speaking to living people standing right in front of you.
Good luck in battle.
God be with you.