An Act of Spiritual Communion

During the pandemic, you may choose to stay home from church and participate in our Sunday service by viewing the livestream. Please be assured that you are a full participant through your prayers and by the power of the Holy Spirit who binds all of us together in love.

While those gathered in-person receive Holy Communion, you can share in ‘Spiritual Communion.’ Here are some suggestions for how you can do so:

As you watch our livestreamed service of Holy Communion, you may wish to find a space for prayer in front of a cross, a candle, or a special place in your home. Participate in the liturgy by following the Order of Service, which is available as a PDF on the event page for the Main Service on our website. Say aloud the spoken parts of the service said by the congregation. After the Eucharistic Prayer, while those gathered in-person are receiving Communion, you may wish to do the following:

Reflect on the past week and on your relationships.

What good things have I received from God?
Where have I fallen short?
What might I do tomorrow and this upcoming week?

You may wish to say or pray: Lord, have mercy. Christ, have mercy. Lord, have mercy.

You may wish to read and meditate on the Scripture lessons read earlier in the service.

To make your Spiritual Communion, say the following prayer:

Thanks be to you, Lord Jesus Christ, for all the benefits you have given me, for all the pains and insults you have borne for me. Since I cannot now receive you sacramentally, I ask you to come spiritually into my heart. O most merciful redeemer, friend and brother, may I know you more clearly, love you more dearly, and follow you more nearly, day by day. Amen. (Prayer of St Richard of Chichester)

You might then add one or more of the following prayers:

Lord Jesus Christ, you said to your disciples, ‘I am with you always’. Be with me today, as I offer myself to you. Hear my prayers for others and for myself, and keep me in your care. Amen.

O God, help me to trust you, help me to know that you are with me, help me to believe that nothing can separate me from your love revealed in Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Lord, in these days of mercy, make us quiet and prayerful; in these days of challenge, make us stronger in you; in these days of emptiness, take possession of us; in these days of waiting, open our hearts to the mystery of your cross; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Almighty God, Father of all mercies, we your unworthy servants give you most humble and hearty thanks for all your goodness and loving kindness. We bless you for our creation, preservation, and all the blessings of this life; but above all for your immeasurable love in the redemption of the world by our Lord Jesus Christ, for the means of grace, and for the hope of glory. And give us, we pray, such a sense of all your mercies that our hearts may be unfeignedly thankful, and that we show forth your praise, not only with our lips but in our lives, by giving up ourselves to your service, and by walking before you in holiness and righteousness all our days; through Jesus Christ our Lord, to whom, with you and the Holy Spirit, be all honour and glory, for ever and ever. Amen.

Conclude with the following:

The Lord bless us, and preserve us from all evil, and keep us in eternal life. Amen.

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Adapted from the Church of England document, Guidance on Spiritual Communion and Coronavirus.

The same instructions written above are available below for downloading and printing.

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