Spiritual Communion?

After 33 years of becoming Roman Catholic, I am still learning things. Yeah, I know, go figure! Anyway, I came to an epiphany today with help from a book I am now reading. It is called: "Spiritual Combat, by Lorenzo Scupoli, a priest who lived 1530-1610. The first edition came out in 1589 in Venice. It was translated into English in 1899, and is available from SOPHIA INSTITUTE in New Hampshire. St. Francis de Sales called this book 'golden', and his favorite, and carried a copy with him at all times. Well worth the reading if you should decide to obtain a copy.

Anyway, I am reading a chapter where he speaks of receiving 'Spiritual Communion'. I have used this on Sundays when I am unable to go to Mass for whatever reason. However, Mr. Scupoli suggests that we ask for It every hour of the day. I never even thought of doing this, and I can't think of why I didn't. Can you imagine of going to the Eucharist unworthily? Well, I'm thinking; if we do a Spiritual Communion during the day, wouldn't it help us not to do the things we do during the course of the day? Whatever we think, whatever we say, and whatever we do would be impacted if we thought of receiving Him spiritually. Would we be worthy to receive Him at any moment of the day?

Mr. Scupoli remarks: '...we may receive our Lord spiritually at every hour and at every moment. And nothing but negligence or some other fault on our part can deprive us of this privilege. Spiritual Communion may even be more advantageous to us and acceptable to God than many sacramental Communions, when the latter are received with imperfect dispositions. As often, then, as you shall dispose yourself and prepare for spiritual Communion, you will find the Son of God ready to give Himself with His own hands to you for your spiritual food.

By the way of preparation, turn your thoughts to Him for this end. And, after a short examination of your failings, mourn with Him over your offenses, and, with all humility and Faith, beseech Him that He would voushsafe to enter into your poor soul with some fresh gift of grace, to heal it and fortify it against the enemy.

When about to do violence to yourself and to mortify some appetite, or to do some act of virtue, do all with the motive of preparing your heart for your Lord, who is continually demanding this of you. Then turn to Him and invite Him with earnestness to come with His grace to heal you and deliver you from your enemies, to the end that He alone may possess your heart. Or else, calling to mind your last sacramental Confession, say with enkindled heart, "When, my Lord, shall I again receive Thee?"

But if you desire to prepare yourself, and spiritually communicate in a more orderly manner, on the evening before, address all mortifications, acts of virtue, and every other good work to this end, that you may spiritually receive your Lord. And in the morning, consider what great happiness and benefit the soul gains by worthily receiving the Most Holy Sacrament of the Altar (for in it lost virtue is regained, the soul is brought back to its first beauty and receives the fruits and merits of the Passion of the Son of God). And consider how pleasing it is to God that you receive it and possess these blessings, so that you may inflame your heart with a great desire to receive it to give Him pleasure.

When this desire is enkindled within you, turning to Him, say, "Inasmuch as it is not granted to me, Lord, today to receive Thee sacramentally, grant, O uncreated Goodness and Power, that I---every fault having been pardoned and healed---may now worthily receive Thee spiritually, every hour and every day, and provide me with fresh grace and strength against all my enemies, particularly against that one upon which, for Thy pleasure, I am making war."'


The above is just a part of this chapter, but it made me stop and think, about for the numerous times I could have been doing this and didn't. Let us together start receiving Him spiritually, and thanking Him for everything He has given, and beg Him to help us not to offend Him anymore. After all, He died for each one of us individually.

Mr. Scupoli ends with this: 'then, in a strain of thankfulness for the gifts and favors that the Lord has bestowed on you during that day, acknowledge Him as the Doer of all good, and return thanks to Him for having rescued you from so many open enemies and from so many more hidden ones, for having given you good thoughts and occasions of virtue, and for all other benefits that you may not have known, even though you received them.'

"CatholicTradition.org" has this online in its entirety, if you don't wish to purchase a copy.