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Spiritual Communion
Making a spiritual Communion is not intended to take the place of sacramental Communion Rather it increases our hunger for sacramental Communion and strengthens our relationship with Christ.
In 2003, Pope Saint John Paul II wrote in his encyclical Ecclesia de Eucharistia:
In the Eucharist, “unlike any other sacrament, the mystery is so perfect that it brings us to the heights of every good thing: Here is the ultimate goal of every human desire, because here we attain God and God joins himself to us in the most perfect union.” Precisely for this reason it is good to cultivate in our hearts a constant desire for the sacrament of the Eucharist. This was the origin of the practice of “spiritual communion,” which has happily been established in the Church for centuries and recommended by saints who were masters of the spiritual life.
ENCYCLICAL LETTER, ECCLESIA DE EUCHARISTIA OF HIS HOLINESS POPE JOHN PAUL II
Act of Spiritual Communion
St. Alphonsus de Liguori
My Jesus, I believe that You are present in the Blessed Sacrament.
I love You above all things and I desire You in my soul.
Since I cannot now receive You sacramentally, come at least spiritually into my heart.
As though You were already there, I embrace You and unite myself to You;
permit not that I should ever be separated from You.