Holy Communion

Holy Communion is a Sacrament given to us by our Lord Jesus Christ and is available to us in a physical form when we attend Mass. Our part in this Sacrament is to receive fully the Living Christ in our hearts, to be changed and become more Christ like in our thoughts words and deeds. A full partaking of this Sacrament will occur, as our hearts are open, and faith is as much as it can be. Ultimately it is God who is giving, not the priest nor the form of liturgy. 

It is God who sees our true self and loves us unconditionally.

God exists as three persons united in love, one in existence with each other. The church on earth is the community of God and we must share in that community. We remember on that night when Christ first took bread and wine, he broke the bread and said this is my body similarly with the wine he gave it and said this is my blood, do this in remembrance of me. This offering of himself (fully God and fully man) was the foretelling of the sacrifice he would offer that very next day. These words were spoken to his Apostles, a community gathered round a table.

Jesus, before he ascended to Heaven imparted to us the Holy Spirit, the third person of the Blessed Trinity – to be our encourager, teacher and healer. That through the Holy Spirit working in us, others may be drawn to Christ. Jesus said, “By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another” (Jn 13:35). “Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another (Jn 13:34). that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me.” (Jn 17-21)

The Eucharist is thanksgiving for God's love for us that we may share with others. It is right and proper that we attend mass the place where community comes together in a special way; to say sorry, to profess our faith, to offer worship and receive Holy Communion. God of course is not bound by our liturgy or physical boundaries. Through the Holy Spirit we can receive forgiveness, love and grace at any time. Our part is to be open to receive, believe in God's presence in our lives and allow ourselves to be changed, for without change we are not growing in God's love and become just a clanging cymbal (1 Corinthians 13:1).

We talk about spiritual Communion. I believe this is a moment, which could be part of a service. A time we set aside, to listen with our heart and soul, to invite God into our very being, to dwell within us, to heal us and enable us to love as he loved, to be one with him as only we can.

This can only be termed as a mystical moment, there is no need for set liturgical words (though it may help within the context of a service). I find it hard to be at Mass and not participate in the physical receiving of Jesus my lord, under the form of bread and wine. I find it hard to watch a Mass online, TV or radio - knowing the ultimate climax is missing. I spend time drawing close to God and receiving him spiritually, looking then for the changes I know he wants to make in me.

Other sources regarding Spiritual Communion

Spiritual Communion is a traditional practice of expressing to the Lord our longing for him and our desire for him to enter our hearts. St. Teresa of Avila (1515-1582) said:

“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.”

St. Jean-Marie Vianney (1786-1859), the famous country priest from Ars, France, once said “when we feel the love of God growing cold, let us instantly make a spiritual Communion. When we cannot go to the church, let us turn towards the tabernacle; no wall can shut us out from the good God.”

How might we go about making a spiritual Communion? St. Peter Julian Eymard (1811-1868), the French “apostle of the Eucharist,” suggested the following format:

“If you do not receive (holy Communion) sacramentally, receive spiritually by making the following acts: conceive a real desire to be united to Jesus Christ by acknowledging the need you have to love His life; arouse yourself to perfect contrition for all your sins, past and present, by considering the infinite goodness and sanctity of God; receive Jesus Christ in spirit in your inmost soul, entreating Him to give you the grace to live entirely for Him, since you can live only by him; imitate Zacheus in his good resolutions and thank our Lord that you have been able to hear Holy Mass, and make a spiritual Communion; offer in thanksgiving a special act of homage, a sacrifice, an act of virtue, and beg the blessing of Jesus Christ upon yourself and all your relatives and friends.”

While there is no formula prescribed by the Church to make an act of spiritual communion, prayers composed by various saints are part of the Church’s rich treasury of devotions. One of the more popular acts of spiritual communion comes from St. Alphonsus Liguori (1696-1787):

My Jesus, I believe that you are present in the most Blessed Sacrament.

I love You above all things and I desire to receive You into my soul.

Since I cannot now 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

Unwrapping

I am perhaps prompted by our current lock-down situation since March 2020 and our reactions to a different way to communicate. Digital technology brings family and friends into our living space. Many are fascinated with the wonder of it all and maybe miss the words that are heard and said. We keep our conversations at a basic level, treading carefully as we go.

There are things we know about ourselves and yet, there is much more inside to be opened. Others will see things that we do not see – and between us we can often imagine things that are not there.

Awareness of who we are and how we relate to others is central to our growing into who we are created to be. Pip Wilson talks about us being a valuable and precious gift and the worst thing we can do, is to remain unwrapped.

To begin to unwrap who we are within our community is a risky business. We feel vulnerable and worry that we will not be accepted. If a flower never opens, it denies its own purpose and that of the creator – such beauty withheld...

A seed in fertile ground, will germinate and break into the daylight. It pushes its roots deep into the soil while drawing energy from the sun, a process of growing that we can identify with. 

We are born out of relationship and into relationships. Though we might find solitude a safe place, our growing is in relation to others. So, how does this all work as a process. Pip describes this well as Levels One to Five and is sketched here through his Blob characters.

Level One – Cliché

We pass the time of day in cliché –

“Alright” – “Nice weather” we would say to most people, not looking for or expecting an answer. Not something we would start with when relating to close friends, or those we would like to know better.

Level Two – Facts

We tend to communicate with facts only.

Reciting a story of the things we have done or seen. 

Which can be interesting at first, but you get the feeling it has been rehearsed.

Level Three – Opinions

This is where we begin to unwrap a little, we share opinions, our thoughts on situations.

Letting go of little bit of Me. Carefully though, as others might not agree.

Level Four – Feelings

Now for some real communication – unwrapping how we feel.

When we share honestly how we are feeling, it is accepted for what it is and without judgement. “This is Me” my emotional stuff. Risk taking yes but so fulfilling.

People begin to see the real you, and you do too. You are beginning to see how life can be.

Level Five – Total Openness

This is the goal, not often reached.

To be totally open, sharing emotions (just how it is), with honesty and trust – becoming fully unwrapped and fully alive. 

Finding a level five is like a treasure, we want to hold on to it. Though not in a possessive way, for love is about setting the other free to be who they are too.

Thoughts that come to mind from Scripture:

from John 15:
   Remain in me, as I also remain in you.
   No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine.
   As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you.
   Now remain in my love.
   Love each other as I have loved you.
   I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father - 
   I have made known to you.

Philippians 2: 5
  In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus.

Matthew 22: 37-40
  Jesus replied: "Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and 
  with all your mind." This is the first and greatest commandment. 
  And the second is like it: "Love your neighbour as yourself." 
  All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments."

THE KEY

A tin round and deep, three-quarters full of buttons and curious things. It was not what I found that I was looking for - but still, it made me think. I found a key, small and tarnished plain and simple and of quite some age. However, this was a key of some importance, for without it, access would be prohibited.

My immediate thought was to bin it! For where would I find the lock, and would it be closed or open? In practical terms it’s most unlikely I will ever come across its partner, and then if I did and it were locked some destructive method would need to be found.

In our journey through life we pick up just about everything. We have an urge to pick up, inspect and collect all manner of things. Simple things like stones; bigger stones we just want to turn-over to see what's hiding underneath. We have a need to touch and feel things, to explore and learn, like a sponge we soak-up much more than we know.

But it's not just about possessions and a collection of shiny things, we pick up words and phrases to use again and again. There are mannerisms and attitudes, moods and parts we will play out on this enormous stage.

The more we collect the heavier the load, then we never quite know which part is the real me!  Life increases tenfold or more, if we are discerning as to what we pick up and what we keep. Understand the value of awareness, notice and respond to the things around you. To only walk in a way that brings life, to recognise and lay down that which we are carrying - that we know will only hinder. Then your road will be lighter, and your steps will have a spring. Listen to the Voice, it is the essential key.

Pearl

Mike English. New Hampshire.

There's a voice that is sweet and it's carried on the breeze,

and it whispers to me as it flows through the trees,

and it tells me of love that is greater than the world, a precious pearl.

All men have I am told in the bottom of their soul,

an empty room filled with Darkness that is very very cold,

and a lock that is steadfast and resists all man-made keys,

but was opened by the blood that our lord shed on Calvary.

Well he's waiting to come and fill that empty void within,

to give you healing and joy and release you from your sin,

well it's yours to make the choice and if you listen to that voice,

He has Conquered the world and he offers you life, a precious pearl.

Lenten Footsteps

A Journey towards life:

This is an invitation to walk with Christ through the eyes of many witnesses, the people spoken about in the bible. What was it that they saw or felt about what was happening? What was their experience of God's love, their acceptance and forgiveness.

These are short readings, concluding with a prayer of encouragement. Lent has a total of 47 days if we take Ash Wednesday to Easter Sunday.

Many of these readings are about forgiveness, as when we recognise the extent of our forgiveness, we are transformed. Christ's words are life giving and when we see this in others, we realise it is possible in us.

The preparation of these notes has brought me great joy and learning and I pray that your footsteps through this period of Lent, will enable and increase your faith and empower you to witness to others. Remember, each footstep leaves a mark.

Link to readings. HERE

ADVENT CALENDAR

It's a waiting game for sleepy Shepherds, Angels and Wise Men; all are travelling to Bethlehem. Some are already there, some are searching, others are told to, “Go and see.”

What’s all the fuss about?

https://innershell01.wixsite.com/advent

You probably know the story so far but how much more is there for you to discover. 

What part are you called to play? 

The calendar is called, “Conversations with Dad.”

So, journey with us to Bethlehem through this advent calendar. David and his Dad uncover some interesting questions and thoughts. However, conversations are two way and we would love to hear your thoughts too. 

Let’s hurry towards Christmas in a positive way.

You’re invited to try this digital alternative at the site marked above

Time to Think

Many years ago now, I was given a wristwatch, it was a gift from a friend. My friend had owned the watch several years and then acquired a new one. I had to admit at that time, my own watch was looking tired. I said thank you, and each year visited our local jeweller to have a battery fitted. It’s a fine watch and very comfortable on my wrist.

Recently I was on an errand for an old gentleman, which required a visit to the jewellery shop. When all was done, I spoke to the watchmaker. “Oh by the way” I said, “I seem to have difficulty in changing day and date on my watch, when at the end of the month it doesn't carry on correctly.” The watchmaker looked at me and said, “Well it's quite simple really, pull out the winder halfway, turn clockwise to change the day and anticlockwise to change the date.” Was it really that simple? I didn’t even know there was a half-way point. I was so convinced that it was necessary to wind the pointer back and forth past the 12 O’clock marker, and as a result never bothered with the day date indicators.

If I had the watch from new, I would have received a set of instructions. If someone had told me sooner, I could have enjoyed the full functionality of the watch – perhaps I should have asked, rather than presume it was just a cumbersome process. Why did I not think, there must be an easier way, surely a designer would not create something that was awkward?

I'm a little embarrassed to admit that this story is true. Though as I reflect upon it, I can clearly see parallels in social, emotional and many other parts of my life's journey. Handbooks (instructions) are available, questions can be asked.

We should take time to focus in – so we can be more effective on the outside.

A Virtual Retreat

This post will enable you to access the Audio files.
The theme is Holiness & Path.
Relax and enjoy - and see where it leads you.

Audio files can be found here Soundcloud
Overview can be seen here: VR overview

A Personal Retreat

(Half day)

A time out to consider a theme at a deeper level. Allowing ourselves to become more aware of our soul and spirit within the context of our Christian faith.

Jesus himself often went away on his own to begin to know the will of His father.

Your retreat may well be on your own. You may be at home or have chosen to go away for the day (whatever works for you). You may have chosen to spend the day with others, sharing the experience and listening to how each person feels about the retreat.

The files may be listened to directly from Soundcloud, or you may download them. You will need access to a device that can play MP3 files. If this is a personal retreat, a tablet or even smartphone will suffice with head phones.

In a group, you will need audio output to speakers, and you will find it useful to print this document – one for each attendee.

It’s good to have a few things around you (though not too much that you are overly distracted).

Most important is a notepad, pencil and rubber to capture a thought.

A bible is not essential, but you may feel you would like one to hand.

Setting the scene: Some people like to create a space with a candle or icon. If this is you, you might like to prepare something such as a tea tray with a few items.

There are three points during the retreat time when you are asked for an activity. This is often a walk, which enables reflection (thoughts on what you have just heard). A physical activity is important, it helps the body move and invigorates our mind and soul. However, this will depend upon your mobility and your surroundings. Think of something that would work for you, a change from sitting, notice how you are responding to the theme, write down your thoughts and if you are with others today – share your thoughts and feelings if you can.

The length of the retreat is very much down to the individual (or group members). Each audio file is not long, and we suggest around forty minutes for each activity – though this is your time, use it well.

 

Just follow the itinerary and let it guide you through your retreat.

Your feedback to us is always welcome, questions and thoughts.

Please email: innershell01@gmail.com

Itinerary

Make yourself comfortable

Audio file one:

Holiness (introduction, music “Purify my heart” and teaching) time 23 mins

            Activity one – Walk / reflection

Audio file two:

Path (welcome back, music “The power of your love” and teaching) time 13 mins

            Activity two – walk / reflection

Audio file three:

The onward journey (welcome back, teaching and music “Draw me close to you”) time 10 mins

            Activity three – walk / reflection

Audio file four:

Close (welcome back, close and music “No longer I”) time 5 mins