A Prayer for Assurance of Christ’s Presence (“An Act of
Spiritual Communion”).
Begin with the Collect for Purity , and then read the Gospel for
Sunday, or another appropriate passage of Scripture (e.g. John 14: 1-7).
Examine your heart and confess your sins to God, using your own words
or the prayer of confession, and then say
The Almighty and merciful Lord, grant me pardon and absolution of all my sins. Amen.
Then say
In union, O Lord with the faithful at every altar of your Church, where the Holy Eucharist is celebrated, I desire to offer you praise and thanksgiving. I present to you my soul and body with the earnest wish that I may always be united to you. And since I cannot now receive you sacramentally, I ask you to come spiritually into my heart. I unite myself to you, and embrace you with all the affections of my soul. Let nothing ever separate you from me. May I live and die in your love. Amen.
You might like to sit in silence for a while. Finish your time of prayer by
saying the Lord’s Prayer.
(“The Armed Forces Prayerbook” (The Episcopal Church USA), 1951, adapted).