← [[session-09-f1a|Unitive Life — Contemplation]] | [[formation-I-a-handbook|Table of Contents]] | [[session-11-f1a|God's Merciful Love — Effects of Prayer]] → # Eucharist — Sacramental and Spiritual Communion The recollection which should be practiced after Communion “To forget oneself, to be delivered from all one’s own desires and pretensions, to open one’s own heart to all the pressing needs of others, this is possible only through daily intimacy with Our Lord in the tabernacle.” — St Teresa Benedicta of the Cross (Edith Stein) “Give us this day our daily bread.” Required Reading: The Way of Perfection chapters 33, 34, 35. Additional Reading: WP Study Edition Glossary: Sacrament (Blessed), pg. 513. Explanatory note: Teresa devoted three entire chapters (33, 34, 35) to this petition. For her, our daily bread is the Eucharist. The first of these three chapters treats of the gift of Jesus’ real presence. The two following chapters treat of sacramental communion and spiritual communion. Essential Points to Discuss: • The Eucharist is a manifestation, not only of Jesus’ love, but also of the heavenly Father’s love (see 33:2, 5). • “As for ourselves, let us ask the Eternal Father that we might merit to receive our heavenly bread in such a way that the Lord may reveal Himself to the eyes of our soul and make Himself thereby known since our bodily eyes cannot delight in beholding Him, because He is so hidden. Such knowledge is another kind of satisfying and delightful sustenance that maintains life” (34:5). • “... after having received the Lord, since you have the Person Himself present, strive to close the eyes of the body and open those of the soul and look into your own heart” (34:12). This is the beginning of interior recollection. • Those who are not his true friends will hurry on as soon as possible to other business affairs and occupations (see 34:13). • It is called “spiritual communion” to distinguish it from sacramental communion, for the Eucharist is not physically received. It is a great act of desire by which one invites Jesus into one’s heart through recollection (see 35:1). Assigned Meditative Reading: (choose one per week): • Matthew 26:26-29 – the Last Supper • Mark 14:22-31 – the Last Supper • Luke 22:14-23 – the Last Supper • The Gospel of St John chapter 6 – Bread of Life discourse • 1 Cor 11:23-32 – the institution of the Eucharist and proper dispositions 23 • The Imitation of Christ part 4 (choose any chapter) • “O Sisters, if we would only comprehend the fact that while the Eucharistic Species remain within us, Jesus is there and working in us inseparably with the Father and the Holy Spirit and therefore the whole Holy Trinity is there.” St Mary Magdalene de Pazzi --- **Source:** Secular Order of Discalced Carmelites, *Formation I Year A: The Way of Perfection* (US National Formation Program, 2024).