Ah! I cannot receive Holy Communion as often as I desire; but, Lord, are you not all-powerful?
Remain in me as in a tabernacle and never separate yourself from your little victim (St. Thérèse, Oblation to Merciful Love).
During the time of St. Thérèse (1873-1897) the approval and encouragement of the practice of frequent Holy Communion was not yet promulgated (Pope St. Pius X, 1905). St. Thérèse understood well, because of her closeness to God through prayer and sacred reading, the holy and divine indwelling.
The truth of the divine indwelling was promoted by another Carmelite saint, St. Elisabeth of the Trinity. Here I have linked to an article by Dr. Anthony Lilles, who is an expert in Carmelite spirituality. I encourage all to read the links associated with these saints.
What is the truth we can know and believe through these examples? Jesus is as close to us as our minds are willing to turn to Him, despite our current inability to receive Him in the Eucharist. I say this as encouragement, not only to you, the reader, but to myself.
Finally, another Carmelite saint, St. Teresa Benedicta of the Cross (1891-1942), was without the Eucharist for another reason: she was held captive by the Nazis and died at Auchwitz. Here is her opinion on the matter: “We are very calm and cheerful. Of course, so far there has been no Mass and Communion; maybe that will come later. Now we have a chance to experience a little how to live purely from within” (Written from Westerbork transit camp, August 1942). She was gassed on 9 August, 1942.
The greater our longing, the greater our opportunity to begin to understand how God has placed Himself in our hearts. Let us live in the longing, pray into it, with the hope of once again receiving our Lord in Holy Communion. Soon.
Scriptures to pray with:
“And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth” (John 1:14).
‘Being asked by the Pharisees when the kingdom of God would come, he answered them, “The kingdom of God is not coming in ways that can be observed, nor will they say, ‘Look, here it is!’ or ‘There!’ for behold, the kingdom of God is in the midst of you”‘ (Lk 17:20-21).
“But he who is joined to the Lord becomes one spirit with him…do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God?” (1 Cor 6:17, 19).
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