what if i can't go to mass on saturday morning?
Nous sommes dans une période de crise de l’Église sans précédent et il n’est pas toujours facile d’avoir une messe les 1ers samedis du mois. Par ailleurs on peut avoir des obligations majeures (travail, famille etc.) ou être dans l’impossibilité de se déplacer (personnes âgées, malades, etc.) Voici ce qu’il faut faire en fonction des situations.
Situation 1: Il n’y a pas de messe le samedi matin pres de chez soi
Il est alors possible d’utiliser la messe du samedi soir mais toujours en communiant dans l’intention de réparer les offenses faites à la Sainte Vierge. (et sans l’utiliser comme “messe anticipée du dimanche“ bien sûr et donc y aller aussi le dimanche).
Note: if you're short on time, you don't have to attend the "Liturgy of the Word", as it will be followed by Mass on the following Sunday. It is therefore possible to arrive only for the offertory and to take communion.
situation 2: il n’y a pas du tout de messe le samedi pres de chez soi (ou on ne peut pas se deplacer)
Cela peut arriver notamment en pleine campagne ou s’il on est malade.
Christ himself answered this question to Sister Lucia and explained to her in the event of total impossibility on Saturday, Sunday communion was valid on two conditions:
(1) signaler au prêtre que l’on réalise le 1er samedi du mois ce dimanche et
(2) always receive communion in reparation for offenses to the Blessed Virgin.
Of course, the other requests (rosary and 15 min meditation) are made on Saturdays, and confession within eight days.
situation 3: il n’y a pas du tout de messe (et pas de confessions)
If you're unable to travel, or if you're faced with persecution measures removing masses, confessions, etc., carry out the first Saturdays of the month. is still perfectly possible.
In this case, the 1er Saturday of the month, recite the rosary and do the 15-minute meditation on a Rosary mystery. Then make an examination of conscience, asking God for forgiveness, and achieve spiritual communion.
You can do it alone or with others, depending on your situation. If you're able to travel, you'll need to do it in a chapel or church.
See below how to achieve spiritual communion on the 1st Saturday of the month.
spiritual communion in cases of force majeure
There may be real, objective circumstances (not comfort) in which sacramental communion (actually receiving the host) is IMPOSSIBLE: material impossibility of travel (illness, lack of means of transport, etc.), absence of mass (Church crisis), persecution, governmental measures, etc.
In this case, there is still a simple way of fulfilling Our Lady's request to receive communion on the 1ers Saturdays of the month: spiritual communion (also called communion of desire). The Council of Trent defined it very clearly: "To commune spiritually is to unite oneself to Jesus Christ present in the Eucharist, not by receiving him sacramentally, but by receiving him spiritually. by a desire stemming from a faith animated by charity. " (Council of Trent session XII)
St Thomas sums up the fruits of this spiritual communion in four words: "Like the other communion, it sustains and strengthens, repairs and rejoices. Saint Thomas thus specifies that this spiritual communion "repairs". The objective set by the Blessed Virgin for the 1ers is to make reparation for any offence done to him. We see, then, that in the event of an impediment due to force majeure can still practice in full on the 1st Saturday of the month thanks to spiritual communion.
How to practice spiritual communion
1/ Before communion prepare as for sacramental communion. Be in silence, if possible kneeling before a cross or an image / statue of the Sacred Heart, Christ the King or other. Place yourself in the presence of the Holy Trinity, Our Lady, the Angels and the Saints. Meditate for a few minutes on the renewal of the sacrifice of the Cross, which takes place at each Mass during the Elevation. Bear in mind the image of the Elevation presented by Our Lady to Sister Lucy of Fatima (below). Then sincerely ask God for forgiveness for your faults (recite the "I confess to God" or the act of contrition and "Lord, I am not worthy to receive you...").
2/ For spiritual communion make an act of desire. To do this, say a prayer like that of Saint Alphonsus de Liguori, which is beautiful and simple:
"My Jesus, I believe in your presence in the Blessed Sacrament. I love you more than anything else and I want you to come into my soul. I cannot now receive you sacramentally into my heart: come there at least spiritually. I embrace you as if you had already come, and I unite myself to you entirely. Do not let me ever have the misfortune of separating from you.
Don't hesitate to add a prayer of desire from your own heart and offer this spiritual communion in reparation for offenses against Our Lady.
3/ After communionIn the same way as for the usual communion.
