My dear people and friends of the Newman Fellowship,

A major challenge for us (as I have previously commented) is that we are without a place for weekday Mass and the Daily Office.  We pray that in God’s time we will be led to place and situation where “normal” worship and Fellowship gatherings can occur.

In the meantime, I urge you to maintain your own spiritual discipline of daily prayer, the reading of scripture, and meditation.  And do use the prayer on the back of the Newman Holy Card that you’ve received.  Without weekday celebrations of the Mass, wherein we are nourished with the Body and Blood of Christ, I suggest that you engage in what is known as “Spiritual Communion.”

In the St. Augustine’s Prayer Book (which many of you have), there is an Order of Service for this.  For those of you who do not have this devotional book, I here provide the content for this Service:

+In the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. Amen.

Collect:  Let the power of the Holy Spirit come upon me, O Lord, I beseech thee: that he may both mercifully cleanse my heart and defend me from all adversities. Through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

The Epistle (Revelation 3:20):  Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.

The Gospel (St. John 15:5):  I am the vine, ye are the branches. He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.

Act of Contrition:  O God, I am very sorry that I have sinned against thee who art so good. Forgive me for Jesus’ sake, and I will try to sin no more.

Act of Reception:  In union, dear Lord, with the faithful at every altar of thy Church where thy blessed Body and Blood are being offered to the Father, I desire to offer thee praise and thanksgiving.  I believe that thou are truly present in the Holy Sacrament.  And since I cannot now receive thee sacramentally, I beseech thee to come spiritually into my heart.  I unite myself unto thee, and embrace thee with all the affections of my soul.  Let me never be separated from thee.

Let me live and die in thy love.  Amen.

Come Lord Jesus, dwell in thy servant in the fullness of thy strength, in the perfection of thy ways, and in the holiness of thy spirit, and rule over every hostile power in the might of thy Spirit, and to the glory of the Father.  Amen.

May the Body and Blood of our Lord Jesus Christ preserve my body and soul unto everlasting life.  Amen.

Act of Praise and Thanksgiving:  Blessed, praised, hallowed, and adored be Jesus Christ on his throne of glory in Heaven, in the most Holy Sacrament of the Altar, and in the hearts of his faithful people.  Amen.

Anima Christi:  Soul of Christ, sanctify me; Body of Christ, save me; Blood of Christ, inebriate me; Water from the side of Christ, wash me; Passion of Christ, strengthen me; O good Jesu, hear me; Within thy wounds hide me; Suffer me not to be separated from thee; From the malicious enemy defend me; In the hour of my death call me, And bid me come to thee.  That with thy saints I may praise thee for ever and ever.  Amen.

In addition to “Spiritual Communion,” I might also suggest that you seek out a Catholic Church in your neighborhood to attend Mass without receiving; and there to spend time in prayer and devotion before the tabernacle wherein the Blessed Sacrament is reserved.

Again, this is a time of transition on many fronts, presenting unique challenges that call us to adjust and be stretched.  Such a time is good for our souls and prepares us for the future.

+David L. Moyer

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