Frequent Communion

Receive Holy Communion as often as the conditions of your life and the state of your soul allow.

Why this practice

Of all the practices Croiset urges, frequent Communion stands at the center. He devotes whole chapters of his book to defending it — for in his time, frequent Communion was controversial, opposed by the Jansenists who held the Eucharist at arm's length.

The Sacred Heart devotion answers Jansenism with its opposite. The Heart of Jesus is not far. It is close, given in the Eucharist, available to the soul who comes humbly. To receive often, with reverence, is to live with His Heart inside one's own.

How to begin

1Attend Mass on Sundays without fail, and add a weekday Mass when possible.

2Examine your conscience daily; receive the Sacrament of Confession regularly so that frequent Communion remains worthy.

3Approach the altar with deliberate attention — never out of routine. Croiset says: "Receive each Communion as if it were your first, your last, your only."

4Make a brief preparation before, and a longer thanksgiving after.

Jesus Christ instituted the Holy Eucharist not only to be the food of strong souls, but to be the medicine of weak ones. We must not therefore shrink from frequent Communion because of our weakness — but go to it because of our weakness.

— Fr. John Croiset, S.J.

A prayer for this practice

Sacred Heart of Jesus, present to me in the Blessed Sacrament, make me hunger always for Thee. Let me never grow used to Thy nearness, nor weary of approaching.

Amen.

When you're ready

Thanksgiving after Communion →