Mass at Home

How to get the most out of Mass online

• Set up a space in your home for prayer/worship. Consider covering a table with a tablecloth or another cloth of the seasonal liturgical color. Place a Bible, a candle and a cross or crucifix on the table. 
• Straighten the space and arrange enough furniture for all.
• Have everyone go to the bathroom, get drinks, wash faces, and come prepared to attend to the Mass.
• Turn off and remove all devices that can distract from the space.
• Remind everyone that we do not need to kneel and perform the ritual gestures of Mass while we are watching it, since this does not take the place of attending Mass. But everyone should attend to it prayerfully and make a spiritual communion. 
• Before the Mass begins, light the candle.

Catholics Encouraged to practice “Spiritual Communion” during COVID-19 Epidemic

After the Angelus prayer on March 3, Pope Francis invited the faithful “to rediscover and deepen the value of the communion that unites all the members of the Church. United to Christ we are never alone, but we form one single Body, of which He is the Head.”
Pope Francis encouraged those unable to attend Church to pray for spiritual communion, “a practice that is highly recommended when it is not possible to receive the Sacrament.” Archbishops and bishops in the U.S. join the pope in inviting the faithful to this practice.
In his encyclical, Ecclesia de Eucharistia, Pope John Paul II explained how the essential role of the Eucharist in uniting us to Christ led to the practice of “spiritual communion”:

In the Eucharist, "unlike any other sacrament, the mystery [of communion] is so perfect that it brings us to the heights of every good thing: Here is the ultimate goal of every human desire, because here we attain God and God joins himself to us in the most perfect union."
Precisely for this reason it is good to cultivate in our hearts a constant desire for the sacrament of the Eucharist. This 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. St. Teresa of Jesus wrote: "When you do not receive communion and you do not attend Mass, you can make a spiritual communion, which is a most beneficial practice; by it the love of God will be greatly impressed on you" [The Way of Perfection, Ch. 35.].1. 

What is spiritual communion?

Spiritual Communion is the practice of desiring union with Jesus Christ in the Holy Eucharist. It is used primarily by individuals who cannot receive Holy Communion, such as the ill, the divorced and remarried, and those who have not yet been received into full communion with the Church. St. Thomas Aquinas described it as “an ardent desire to receive Jesus in the most holy sacrament and lovingly embrace him” at a time or in circumstances when we cannot receive him in sacramental Communion. 

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.
Amen.
 
In addition to St. Teresa of Jesus, other saints have encouraged spiritual communion:

“Communion is to the soul like blowing a fire that is beginning to go out, but that has still plenty of hot embers; we blow, and the fire burns again.”

 “After the reception of the Sacraments, when we feel ourselves slacken in the love of God, let us have recourse at once to spiritual communion. When we cannot go to the church, let us turn towards the tabernacle; no wall cannot separate us from the good God.” St. John Vianney 

Spiritual Communion is “an ardent desire to receive Jesus in the Holy Sacrament and a loving embrace as though we had already received Him.” St. Thomas Aquinas 

 “What a source of grace there is in spiritual Communion! Practice it frequently and you'll have more presence of God and closer union with him in your life.” St. Josemaría Escrivá.

1) Open a live video from your Parish of choice.
2) Look for the little alarm bell icon on the upper right side of the screen. (Circled in red.)


3) Click on a the option labeled all. 


4) Now you should be able to receive notifications when your Parish goes live on Facebook. 
 

On March 20th, Pope Francis live-streamed a message regarding the issue of people who cannot get to confession because of the COVID-19 lockdown.  The Holy Father reminded us of the traditional Catholic teaching on the power of making a perfect act of contrition.  He remarked, "This is the right time, the opportune moment. An act of contrition done well, and our souls will become white like the snow." 

What is a perfect act of contrition?  The Catechism of the Catholic Church states that perfect contrition is present when our sadness for sin results from our love for God above all else.  In short, perfect contrition is hatred for sin because we love God.  On the other hand, imperfect contrition is the result of fear, which is to say, I am sad for my sins because I am afraid of Hell. One type of contrition results from love.  The other results from fear.

When we go to sacramental confession, imperfect contrition is sufficient to receive the pardon of our sins.  However, in extraordinary circumstances when we cannot get to confession, we can make an act of perfect contrition which is sufficient to have our sins forgiven.  It is important to note that a perfect act of contrition includes the intention to receive sacramental confession at the very first opportunity.  All mortal sins, forgiven through the act of perfect contrition, must be mentioned to the priest in confession as soon as possible.

The fact that we can always make an act of perfect contrition in a situation like the COVID-19 pandemic is very consoling.  At this time of plague and being unable to go to the Sacrament of Penance, Pope Francis instructs us to make a perfect act of contrition and promise God, “I will go to confession afterward, but forgive me now. And immediately you will return to a state of grace with God."

This generosity on the part of God has been needed at various times throughout history.  In the plagues of Middle Ages, in the midst of various wars, and in places where priests were scarce, the ability to make a perfect act of contrition was a healing salve for sinners in love with God. 

That same healing salve is available to all of us at this difficult time of pandemic.

How to Make a Perfect Act of Contrition

1. Call to mind your sins.
2. Reflect on God’s tremendous and unconditional love for you and how your sin offends that love.  Express your sorrow for disappointing God.
3. Make the intention to go to sacramental confession as soon as it is possible for you with the intention of mentioning any mortal sins forgiven through your perfect act of contrition.
4. Pray an Act of Contrition.

Act of Contrition

O my God, I am heartily sorry for having offended Thee, and I detest all my sins, because I dread the loss of heaven, and the pains of hell; but most of all because they offend Thee, my God, Who are all good and deserving of all my love. I firmly resolve, with the help of Thy grace, to confess my sins, to do penance, and to amend my life.  Amen.