art reflections
we are launching a new section where, together with our young adults, we will post selections of poetry, music and art. we hope to do this a couple of times a month. dostoevsky said, "the world will be saved by beauty" so this section hopes to enrich us through beautiful and thoughtful selections.
The Basic Elements of an Act of Spiritual Communion
1. Make an act of faith. The key here is to express to the Lord your faith in his merciful love and his real presence in the Eucharist.
2. Make an act of love. O Lord God, I love you above all things... Express your desire to receive him. Invite Jesus to come into your heart spiritually.
No particular prayer or formula is required, though there are acts of spiritual communion in Catholic prayer books to help focus a proper intention. Below is a traditional prayer of spiritual communion attributed to 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 BE SEPARATED FROM YOU.
AMEN.
FROM ARCHBISHOP GOMEZ - PRAYER IN THE TIME OF CORONA VIRUS.
