Spiritual Communion

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Churches are temporarily closing in some parts of the world as a result of the Coronavirus outbreak. While that has not happened here yet, It is good to be prepared for times when we are prevented from being at Mass, and Christians would not wish to feel isolated from their Christian community's worship or indeed cut off from Holy Communion.

Within the practice of the Christian church is the sometimes overlooked ‘Spiritual Communion.’ Of course presence at Mass is a priority, for ourselves and in order for us to encourage others and to worship God together.

Spiritual Communion is a straightforward devotional practice for anyone. If you cannot physically be present at Mass you can pause, be still, and in imagination and prayer focus on the Mass and express ‘ardent desire’ to receive communion.

St Teresa of Avila wrote that when you cannot be present at Mass “you can make a spiritual communion, which is a most beneficial practice; by it the love of God will be greatly impressed on you”