The desire for Christ is a means by which to come to real communion with Christ. Another example of such effective desire is “Baptism by desire.” This has been a traditional teaching that even one who does not receive the actual Sacrament before death, but wanted it, who desired it, is in fact believed to have received the grace of Baptism. This is what we pray for when we pray for “spiritual communion.” While we may be thinking of those who are unable to be present at the church for Eucharist, but who are watching on the live-stream video, there may also be others present who for various reasons are unable to receive Eucharist. Communion by desire is the grace requested in the “spiritual communion” prayer which we pray together or individually. This prayer and desire may be expressed at any time, including after the pandemic restrictions are lifted. Many people prayed for spiritual communion long before COVID-19 restrictions.

SPIRITUAL COMMUNION
My Jesus, I believe that You are present
in the Most Blessed Sacrament.
I love You above all things,
and I desire to receive You into my soul.
Since I cannot now receive you sacramentally,
come at least spiritually into my heart.
I embrace You as if you were already there,
and I unite myself wholly to You. Never permit
me to be separated from You. Amen.

We must positively look for communion with God and with one another. We must avoid the temptation to limit God’s mercy and ability to grant salvation to those whom God loves, even if those whom God loves do not know how to love others, or whom to love in their own way. We hear in Scripture: “Who can know the mind of God?” Limiting God’s mercy by our rigid stance about God’s justice is antithetical to what it means to be a follower of Christ. Remember Jesus’s own appeals to his Father for forgiveness for those who crucified him.

Peace, Fr. Andy