Spiritual Communion Prayer: Traditional Acts of Spiritual Communion

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A spiritual communion is an act of faith and love by which you ask Jesus to come into your heart when you cannot receive him in Holy Communion. Catholics make one when they watch Mass online, when they are sick or traveling, when they are not yet able to receive the sacrament, or simply many times a day out of love. Here is a short traditional act:

I believe that Thou, O Jesus, art in the Most Holy Sacrament! I love Thee and desire Thee! Come into my heart. I embrace Thee; oh, never leave me!

That act, and the others on this page, come from Father F. X. Lasance’s prayer book With God (1911). Below you will find longer acts, what the Church teaches about spiritual communion, and when to make one.

A longer act of spiritual communion

This act brings together sorrow for sin, faith and the desire to receive Jesus:

Jesus, my Saviour and my God! I am not worthy to appear before Thee, for I am a poor sinner; yet I approach Thee with confidence, for Thou hast said, “Come to Me, all you that labor and are burdened, and I will refresh you.” Thou wilt not despise a contrite and humble heart. I am truly sorry for my sins, because by them I have offended Thee, Who art infinitely good. Whatever may have been my foolish transgressions in the past, I love Thee now above all things, and with all my heart. I desire, good Jesus, to receive Thee in holy communion, and since I can not now receive Thee in the Blessed Sacrament, I beseech Thee to come to me spiritually and to refresh my soul with Thy sweetness.

Come, my Lord, my God, and my All! Come to me, and let me never again be separated from Thee by sin. Teach me Thy blessed ways; help me with Thy grace to imitate Thy example; to practise meekness, humility, charity, and all the virtues of Thy sacred Heart. My divine Master, my one desire is to do Thy will and to love Thee more and more; help me that I may be faithful to the end in Thy service. Bless me in life and in death, that I may praise Thee forever in heaven. Amen.

Two more short acts

These are especially good to repeat during the day or when you visit a church:

My Jesus, I love Thee with my whole heart, and I wish to live always united to Thee. As I can not now receive Thee sacramentally, I receive Thee in spirit. Come, then, into my soul; I embrace Thee, and I unite my entire self to Thee; and I beseech Thee never more to allow me to be separated from Thee.

My Jesus, living in the blessed Eucharist, come and live in my heart in the might of Thy love, by which all within me may become transformed. Reign in me over all my faculties, so that I may no longer live or act but by Thy life and movement. Be Thou, O my Love, the Life of my life, that so each day my heart may become more and more like Thine.

The best-known modern act of spiritual communion, often credited to St. Alphonsus Liguori, says very much what the second act above says: I believe you are present in the Most Holy Sacrament, I love you and desire you, and since I cannot receive you sacramentally, come at least spiritually into my heart, and never let me be separated from you.

What is a spiritual communion?

In Holy Communion, Jesus comes to us sacramentally, Body, Blood, soul and divinity. In a spiritual communion we cannot receive the sacrament, so we make an act of faith in his Real Presence, express our love and our desire to receive him, and ask him to unite himself to us spiritually.

The Council of Trent distinguished those who receive the Eucharist only sacramentally, only spiritually, or both, and described spiritual communion as eating “in desire” the heavenly Bread with a living faith (Session XIII, chapter 8). St. John Paul II wrote that a constant desire for the Eucharist “was the origin of the practice of ‘spiritual communion,’ which has happily been established in the Church for centuries and recommended by saints who were masters of the spiritual life.” He quoted St. Teresa of Ávila: when you cannot receive communion, “you can make a spiritual communion, which is a most beneficial practice” (Ecclesia de Eucharistia, 34).

A spiritual communion is not a sacrament and does not replace the obligation to attend Mass on Sundays and holy days when you are able. It is a prayer of desire that keeps the heart turned toward the Eucharist.

How to make a spiritual communion

  1. Recall that Jesus is truly present in the Blessed Sacrament, in every tabernacle in the world.
  2. Make an act of sorrow for your sins, briefly.
  3. Tell Jesus you love him and desire to receive him.
  4. Ask him to come into your heart spiritually, using one of the acts above or your own words.
  5. Spend a minute in thanksgiving, as you would after Holy Communion. The Anima Christi is a perfect prayer for this moment.

When to make a spiritual communion

  • When watching Mass online or on television, at the time of Communion.
  • When you are sick, homebound or caring for someone and cannot get to Mass.
  • When you cannot receive Communion, for example if you are aware of a serious sin and have not yet been to Confession. Make an act of contrition and go to Confession as soon as you can (CCC 1385). See mortal and venial sin.
  • When you are preparing to become Catholic or for First Communion.
  • When you visit a church or pass one and greet Jesus in the tabernacle.
  • At any moment of the day. Many saints made spiritual communions dozens of times a day.

Frequently asked questions

Can I make a spiritual communion if I am in mortal sin?

You can and should tell Jesus you are sorry and long to be reconciled. A spiritual communion made with sincere sorrow and the intention to go to Confession is a good prayer, and perfect contrition with that intention obtains forgiveness (CCC 1452). Then go to Confession.

Does a spiritual communion fulfill the Sunday obligation?

No. The Sunday obligation is fulfilled by attending Mass. If you are excused, for example by illness, a spiritual communion during a broadcast Mass is a beautiful way to unite yourself with the Church.

Can non-Catholics make a spiritual communion?

Anyone who believes in Jesus and desires to be united with him may pray these words. Making a spiritual communion is often part of the journey of those preparing to enter the Church.

How often can I make a spiritual communion?

As often as you like. There is no limit.

More Eucharistic prayers

Texts and sources