An act of Spiritual Communion

When our churches are closed for public worship, we will not be able to receive Holy Communion physically, which will be a painful thing for many of us. The tradition of the Church has been for people to make a Spiritual Communion when they are prevented from receiving Holy Communion. St Thomas Aquinas says in this we should have “an ardent desire to receive Jesus in the Holy Sacrament and a loving embrace as though we had already received Him”.  You can pray this prayer as often as you like, but most specifically at the time when you would normally be present at Mass.

My Jesus, I believe that you are in the Blessed Sacrament.   I love you above all things, and I long for you in my soul.   Since I cannot now receive you sacramentally, come at least spiritually into my heart.   As though you have already come, I embrace you and unite myself entirely to you; never permit me to be separated from you. Amen.

(Confraternity of the Blessed Sacrament)

Or

Lord Jesus Christ, you are the bread of life and the one true vine.   I believe that you are truly present in the Most Holy Sacrament of the Eucharist.   I seek you. I worship and adore you.   Since I cannot receive you in the eucharistic bread and wine, I pray that you will come into my heart and soul, that I may be united to you, by your all-powerful and ever-present Holy Spirit. Let me receive you, and be nourished by you. Become for me the manna in my wilderness, the bread of angels for my very human journey through time, a foretaste of the heavenly banquet, and solace in the hour of my death.   I pray all this, trusting that you yourself are our Life, our Peace, and our everlasting Joy. Amen