Spiritual Communion
Painting: St. Teresa receiving Holy Communion from St. Peter of Alcantara.
An aid to recollection.
Active recollection is a part of mental prayer. In the begining it may involve great effort in quieting the senses, collecting them together, so to speak, in order to focus upon the Blessed Trinity dwelling within our souls. Teresa of Avila speaks of this prayer in “The Way of Perfection”:
“May the Lord teach this recollection to those of you who don’t know about it…whoever wishes to acquire it - since, as I say, it lies within our power to do so - should not tire of it. It involves a gradual increase of self control and an end to vain wandering” (of the mind); “it means conquering, which is making use of one’s senses for the sake of the interior life. If you speak, strive to remember that the One with whom you are speaking is present within you. If you listen, remember that you are going to hear the One who is very close to you when He speaks…If you can, practice this recollection often during the day; if not, do so a few times. As you become accustomed to it you will experience the benefit, either sooner or later.” - Way of Perfection, Chapter 29:7
There is of course a supernatural prayer of recollection that the soul may only prepare itself for. However, this active recollection not only prepares the soul for this gift, it also prepares us for our set periods of prayer, Mass, etc., and extends these graces throughout our day, helping us to pray without ceasing, as it were.
I’m convinced, our lingering after Communion, in thanksgiving, is one of the easiest means to acquiring this habit, since even though we may not have a sensible appreciation of Christ being within us, we know by faith he most certainly is there, body, blood, soul, and divinity. Throughout the day we can renew this communion spiritually, making conscious acts of spiritual communion, which becomes for us an easy way to practice the prayer of recollection.
In and through this devotion we find ourselves continually in the presence of God. If we acquire the habit, we can find that when we approach the time for prayer, or enter the Church for Mass or adoration, we are immediately recollected and quieted.
Spiritual Communion - it is such a good thing. In and through it we remain in Christ, and He in us, “in time and in eternity, in Mary, in the very bosom of the Holy Trinity” as I like to pray.
