Archbishop Tartaglia will celebrate Mass for the New School Year at 4.00pm on Wednesday 2 September from St Andrew’s Cathedral, Glasgow. The Mass will be streamed live and all pupils, staff, parents and those interested in Catholic Education are invited to participate online.
A link for the live streaming will be published soon.
It is great that we are allowed Masses again but with limits on the number attending.
This means that many people who are used to receiving Holy Communion regularly at Mass will not be able to do so for the time being.
During this “Eucharistic Fast” one way to keep close to the Lord is to make a “Spiritual Communion.” This is an ancient spiritual tradition of the Church which consists in making a simple act of “spiritual communion,” whereby we unite ourselves to God through prayer. It is a beautiful way to express to God our desire to be united with him when we are unable to receive Holy Communion.
St. Thomas Aquinas defined a Spiritual Communion as “an ardent desire to receive Jesus in the Most Holy Sacrament [in Communion at Mass] and in lovingly embracing Him as if we had actually received Him.” You can make a Spiritual Communion whenever and wherever you like, using the prayer given below, or others like it, or your own heartfelt thoughts.
An Act of Spiritual Communion
My Jesus,
I believe that You are present in the Most Holy Sacrament.
I love You above all things,
and I desire to receive You into my soul.
Since I cannot at this moment receive You sacramentally,
come at least spiritually into my heart.
I embrace You as if You were already there and unite myself wholly to You.
Never permit me to be separated from You.
Amen.
Remember, you can receive Jesus in your heart from anywhere you might happen to be, at any time, day or night! You just need to approach Him with sincerity, humility and a desire to follow in His footsteps in acts of faith and charity. And He’s delighted when we do so! The Catechism teaches that a Spiritual Communion “is an act of devotion, and one very pleasing to God.”
Here is a link to an excellent free e-book: Summaries of Catholic Teaching.
http://www.opusdei.org.uk/en-uk/article/ebook-summaries-of-catholic-teaching/
Archbishop Tartaglia has issued a Letter to Head Teachers concerning current issues in Catholic Schools.
The Letter can be accessed with this link.
