This little devotion may be used on Holy Thursday in the present circumstances when it is not possible to go to the Mass of the Lord’s Supper. Ideally it is led by the father as the head of the family—if it is prayed in a family—but otherwise of course it may be led by the mother, eldest child, or other chosen person. It is modeled on the order of Holy Mass.
The acts of faith, hope, and love take the place of the Eucharistic Prayer of consecration.
The act of spiritual communion, of course, stands in the place of the sacramental communion. The sign of the cross, the acts of contrition, faith, hope, and love, and spiritual communion all have a partial indulgence applicable to the souls of the faithful departed. The leader should remind everyone to make the intention of gaining and applying these indulgences for the departed in view of their happy Easter.
The acts of contrition, faith, hope, and love are from the Compendium of the Catechism of the Catholic Church and so are official texts. The act of spiritual communion is the one used by Pope Francis after each of his daily Masses during this time of plague. It is by the very learned and holy Cardinal Merry del Val from the time of the reign of Pope St. Pius X.
The service should be in the most dignified place in the house: the living room, the dining room, or even a garden if the weather is fine.
A pair of candles can be lit and an image of Our Lord placed in their midst as an altar, and a hymn may begin or end the service if desired.
It would be wonderful if the family dressed up a little as they would for a special event. Dinner could follow soon after.
STAND
Father or Leader: +In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit
All: Amen
Father or Leader: Brethren let us acknowledge our sins, and so prepare ourselves to meditate on the sacred mysteries.
Act of Contrition
All: O my God, I am heartily sorry for having offended thee, and I detest all my sins because of thy just punishments, but most of all because they offend thee, my God, who art all good and deserving of all my love. I firmly resolve with the help of thy grace to sin no more and to avoid the near occasion of sin. Amen.
Leader: +May the Almighty and Merciful God grant us pardon, absolution, and remission of our sins. Amen.
SIT
Reader: A reading from the First Letter of St. Paul to the Corinthians
Brothers and sisters:
I received from the Lord what I also handed on to you,
that the Lord Jesus, on the night he was handed over,
took bread, and, after he had given thanks,
broke it and said, “This is my body that is for you.
Do this in remembrance of me.”
In the same way also the cup, after supper, saying,
“This cup is the new covenant in my blood.
Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me.”
For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup,
you proclaim the death of the Lord until he comes.
The Word of the Lord.
All: Thanks be to God.
If desired, the father or leader of the prayer may give a reflection on the Holy Eucharist, some thoughts from the heart about the Mystery of Faith. If this is done, all should SIT.
KNEEL
Act of Faith
All: O my God, I firmly believe that you are one God in three divine Persons, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. I believe that your divine Son became man and died for our sins and that he will come to judge the living and the dead. I believe these and all the truths which the holy Catholic Church teaches because you have revealed them who are eternal truth and wisdom, who can neither deceive nor be deceived. In this faith I intend to live and die. Amen.
All: I believe Lord Jesus in your real presence and true sacrifice in the Blessed Sacrament of the altar! O sacrament most holy, O sacrament divine, all praise and all thanksgiving be every moment thine!
Act of Hope
All: O Lord God, I hope by your grace for the pardon of all my sins and after life here to gain eternal happiness because you have promised it who are infinitely powerful, faithful, kind, and merciful. In this hope I intend to live and die. Amen.
All: I hope Lord Jesus in your promise that the one who feeds on you will live because of you in the Blessed Sacrament of the altar! O sacrament most holy, O sacrament divine, all praise and all thanksgiving be every moment thine!
Act of Love
All: O Lord God, I love you above all things and I love my neighbor for your sake
because you are the highest, infinite and perfect good, worthy of all my love.
In this love I intend to live and die. Amen.
All: I love you Lord Jesus, offering yourself and dwelling among us in the Blessed Sacrament as our true friend and the Lover of our souls! O sacrament most holy, O sacrament divine, all praise and all thanksgiving be every moment thine!
STAND
Leader: At the Savior’s command and formed by divine teaching we dare to say:
All: Our Father, etc.
Act of Spiritual Communion
KNEEL
All: At Your feet, O my Jesus,
I prostrate myself and I offer You
the repentance of my contrite heart,
which is humbled in its nothingness
and in your holy presence.
I adore you in the sacrament of your love,
the ineffable Eucharist.
I desire to receive You
into the poor dwelling that my heart offers you.
While waiting for the happiness of sacramental communion,
I wish to possess you in spirit.
Come to me, O my Jesus,
since I, for my part, am coming to you!
May your love embrace my whole being in life and in death.
I believe in you,
I hope in you,
I love you. Amen.
STAND
Leader: Let us pray. O God who in this wonderful sacrament has left us a memorial of your Passion, grant us we pray, so to venerate the sacred mysteries of your Body and Blood as ever to feel within ourselves the effects of your redemption, who live and reign with the Father and the Holy Spirit, God forever and ever.
All: Amen
Leader: +May the Lord bless us and keep us from every evil and lead us to eternal life.
All: Amen
Here a father or mother may trace the sign of the cross with the thumb on the forehead of each person in the household.