Love to be at church more often

by Fred Schaeffer, OFS

Due to the Coronavirus (Covid19) many of us do not attend Sunday Mass as a precaution, all Catholics of the Diocese of Palm Beach are dispensed from the obligation to attend Sunday Mass and that this dispensation remains in effect until further notification. (as of May 11, 2020). So many of us have a strong desire to be at church again.

There is a way to be present even if you can't, and that is spiritually. No, this is not virtual reality, this IS reality. St. Thomas Aquinas, that great Doctor of the Church, teaches us, even today, that a "Spiritual Communion consists of an ardent desire to receive Jesus in the Most Holy Sacrament and in lovingly embracing Him."

St. Alphonsus Liguori gave us a short Act of Spiritual Communion: “My Jesus, I believe that you are truly present in the Most Blessed Sacrament. I love you above all things and desire you in my soul. Since I cannot receive you sacramentally now, come at least spiritually into my heart. As you have already come, I embrace you and with all my being unite myself with you; never let me be separated from you.” St. Alphonsus Liguori is the founder of the Redemptorists, the source of this Act of Spiritual Communion, see: www.cssr.com

Acts of Spiritual Communion are perfect ways of uniting ourselves with Jesus and Mary when, for example, we cannot be at daily Mass (that is, Monday through Saturday). On Sundays and Holidays of Obligation we must attend Holy Mass, except when dispensed as is the case now. Catholics do this with great joy. Even if you cannot be present in Church, in front of the Tabernacle to pray to Jesus present therein, we can ask the Blessed Virgin Mary to help us realize the great presence of Jesus in our lives and to help us be open to Him at all times, to refrain from sin.

The most important consideration we must tackle, if we want to form a special inner relationship with Jesus, is to sin no more. It was Saint Bonaventure, I believe, who said, If you love God, you do not sin. If you still sin, you do not love Him enough. People tell me it is so difficult not to sin. No it's not so difficult. You've got to be strong and say NO, I will sin no more because I love God. Given it will take some time to accomplish that but you can do it. Once you come to the point where you are able to deflect the temptations that are being thrown at you, it'll get easier. (from: From the Heart: Ascent to Interior Prayer (Rev.) by Fred Schaeffer, OFS. Part 2 of 5. https://www.reflections-dmf-ofs.org/ascent-to-interior-prayer ) See also: https://www.reflections-dmf-ofs.org/a-flame-within

Allow Mary to help us break down the barriers that keep us from Her Son, so that the Act of Spiritual Communion which we often say really comes from our heart and soul. May God continue to bless you and keep you healthy!

Fred Schaeffer, OFS 7/18/2020 

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