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We are obliged to attend Mass each Sunday and every other Holy Day of Obligation.
Sometimes, though, we just can't be there. One's own sickness or the obligations
to care for a sick person 1, having
given birth within the past 6 weeks, dangerous weather (and other safety
hazards), not being able to find a way there -- life happens. There is no
guilt in missing Mass if the circumstances are out of one's control (mortal
sin always requires not only grave matter and knowledge, but consent of the
will).
The rule of thumb concerning Mass availability is that if one is required
to travel more than an hour to reach a Mass, one is not guilty of sin by
not attending. Nor is one obliged to attend if the only Masses available
are offered by formal schismatics or those who mix heresy into the liturgy.
If a liturgy is scandalous, heretical, or simply not Catholic, one is obligated
to not attend even if it goes by the label "Catholic." We must be
especially wary of taking our children to liturgies that pose a danger to
their eternal souls by the priest's watering down the Faith, making the Sacrifice
seem unimportant, engaging in behaviors that confuse or are Protestantized,
etc. (for this reason, many traditional Catholics are "home-aloners" -- unable
to attend Mass in their area and having to make do with the spiritual Communion
this page describes).
...Sometimes, too, we just crave Communion with our Eucharistic Lord but
have already received Him sacramentally that day.
In all these instances, we are encouraged to make what is known as a "spiritual
Communion," an act expressing what was described by St. Thomas Aquinas as
"an ardent desire to receive Jesus in the Most Holy Sacrament and in lovingly
embracing Him." In a spiritual Communion, we, with contrite, humble hearts,
ask our Lord to come to us in the same way He would if we were able to receive
the Sacrament. This can be done as often as one likes, informally in one's
own words or through one of the traditional prayers which appear below.
What is the value of this practice? The graces received may be as
great as -- or greater than -- those received by some people in the actual
Sacrament. Though, of course, the Sacrament itself is inherently
greater, our disposition toward the Sacrament affect whether and how
we receive its fruits. For example, imagine a woman who is unable to be with
her husband but who desires him as contrasted with a woman who has her husband's
presence but doesn't care for him. Which husband would be more apt to pour
out his love for his wife?
How to Receive Spiritual Communion
St. Leonard of
Port-Maurice offers this advice for receiving Spiritual Communion:
In order to facilitate
a practice of such great excellence, ponder what I have to say. When the
priest is about to give himself Communion in holy Mass, do you, keeping composed
externally and internally, excite in your heart an act of true contrition,
and humbly striking your breast, in token that you acknowledge yourself unworthy
of so great a grace, make all those acts of love, of self-surrender, of humility,
and the rest, which you are accustomed to make when you communicate
sacramentally, and then desire with a lively longing to receive your good
Jesus, veiled in the sacrament for your benefit. And to kindle your devotion,
imagine that most holy Mary, or some saint, your holy advocate, is holding
forth to you the sacred particle; figure yourself receiving it, and then,
embracing Jesus in your heart, reply to Him, over and over again, with interior
words prompted by love: “Come, Jesus, my Beloved, come within this my
poor heart; come and satiate my desires; come and sanctify my soul; come,
most sweet Jesus, come!” This said, be still; contemplate your good
God within you, and, as if you really had communicated, adore Him, thank
Him, and perform all those interior acts to which you are accustomed after
sacramental Communion.
Here is a choice
of a few different formal prayers to pray while following St. Leonard's advice,
though you can pray in your own words, if you prefer:
Act of Spiritual Communion
by St. Alphonsus Liguori (A.D. 1696-1787)
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.
Act of Spiritual
Communion
O Immaculate Queen
of Heaven and Earth, Mother of God and Mediatrix of every grace: I believe
that Thy dearly beloved Son, Our Lord Jesus Christ, is truly, really, and
substantially contained in the Most Blessed Sacrament. I love Him above all
things and I long to receive Him into my heart. Since I cannot now receive
Him sacramentally, be so good as to place Him spiritually in my soul.
O my Jesus, I embrace Thee as One who has already come, and I unite myself
entirely to Thee. Never permit me to be separated from Thee. Amen.
Act of Spiritual
Communion
As I cannot this
day enjoy the happiness of assisting at the holy Mysteries, O my God! I transport
myself in spirit at the foot of Thine altar; I unite with the Church, which
by the hands of the priest, offers Thee Thine adorable Son in the Holy Sacrifice;
I offer myself with Him, by Him, and in His Name. I adore, I praise, and
thank Thee, imploring Thy mercy, invoking Thine assistance, and presenting
Thee the homage I owe Thee as my Creator, the love due to Thee as my Savior.
Apply to my soul, I beseech Thee, O merciful Jesus, Thine infinite merits;
apply them also to those for whom I particularly wish to pray. I desire to
communicate spiritually, that Thy Blood may purify, Thy Flesh strengthen,
and Thy Spirit sanctify me. May I never forget that Thou, my divine Redeemer,
hast died for me; may I die to all that is not Thee, that hereafter I may
live eternally with Thee. Amen.
Footnote:
1 If someone is bedridden and unable to get to
Church to receive the Eucharist over a long period of time -- especially
during Eastertide -- but this person is also not in need of
Unction, ask your priest to pay him a
sick call.
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