Urgent! For those of you who are snowed in on Christmas

... or perhaps stuck in an airport terminal.

The following is an adaptation I have made from the Key of Heaven (copyright 1943) for spiritually hearing Mass and making a Spiritual Communion when one can not attend Mass. This isn't the best method, and I ought to work on it, but it will do in a pinch.

You will need your 1962 hand missal.


HEARING MASS SPIRITUALLY


Predatory Prayer: I believe, Lord Jesus, that in the Last Supper Thou didst offer up a true sacrifice; I believe it because Thou hast made it known to us through the Catholic Church, which from apostolic times has constantly taught the same to us. Since Thou didst command the Apostles and the priests ordained by them to do the same until the end of time, I, therefore, offer to Thee with the priest this Holy Sacrifice of the Mass (which I believe to be one with that offered on Mount Calvary) to Thy honor and glory, in acknowledgment of my most bounden service, in thanksgiving for the innumerable benefits which Thou hast conferred upon me and upon the whole world, in satisfaction for my sins and the sins of all mankind, and for obtaining the grace of perfect contrition for my sins. I also offer to Thee this Holy Mass for my friends and benefactors, and for those to whom I am bound, and for whom Thou wilt me to pray. I also offer it for my enemies, that they may be converted, for all the faithful departed, particularly for my parents and relatives and for the welfare of all Christendom.


The Sign of the Cross


Pray the Judica Me (Ps. 42) from the missal.


Pray: God, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, almighty Source of all things, my best Father, my merciful Redeemer, the Fountain of my sanctification and happiness, I, Thy most unworthy creature, venture to appear before Thee, to show Thee, my true God and Creator, all honor, adoration, and trustful submission; to thank Thee for the innumerable benefits which I have received from Thee, to praise Thee for Thy glory (for I am created for Thy praise); to implore Thy mercies; and to appease Thy justice, because I have so often and so grievously sinned against Thee. All this I cannot do in a worthier and more perfect manner than by hearing, with faith and devotion, Holy Mass. For in that Holy Sacrifice is offered to Thee the most sublime Sacrifice of praise and thanksgiving, the most efficacious sacrifice of supplication and propitiation, the most worthy Sacrifice of salvation for the living and dead. But because I cannot this day be present bodily at Holy Mass, I will, at least in spirit, place myself before the altar where Jesus Christ, in an unbloody manner, offers Himself, O Heavenly Father, to Thee. With this glorious Sacrifice I unite my present prayer; I fervently desire, united with the Son of God, in the strongest manner to praise, love, supplicate Thee, O Heavenly Father, to repair all the wrong and shame that I have wrought, and completely to accomplish all that can be accomplished by the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass. To this end give me Thy divine grace, and grant that I may perform all this with sincere devotion. Amen.


Pray the Confiteor, make a brief examination of conscience, and then pray an act of contrition.

Pray the Introit for the day and the Kyrie from the missal.

Pray the Collect of the Day.

Read from the missal the day’s lesson or epistle, and the Gospel. (Please consult Haydock's biblical commentary or a trusted priest/spiritual adviser regarding questions concerning Holy Writ.) St. Jerome recommended lectio divina as a method of spiritually receiving Our Blessed Lord's Body and Blood.


Recite the Offertory verse.


Pray: O most holy Jesus, before Thee the heavenly choirs kneel and adore; with them I lift up my voice and cry: Holy, holy, holy, art Thou, O Lord of hosts. Heaven and earth are full of Thy grace and glory. Thou art present, O Jesus, under the appearance of bread and wine. Hear, O hear my prayer! I strike my breast and confess my unworthiness, but with firm confidence I implore Thee, O Jesus, be merciful to me! O most benign Jesus, forgive me my sins! O holy Blood, wash me from my sins! O precious Blood of Jesus, O Blood of Jesus, rich in grace, cry out to heaven for mercy upon me! Most holy God, receive this precious Blood, together with the love through which it was shed; receive it as an offering of my love and thankfulness, for the forgiveness of my sins; in satisfaction of the punishments that I have deserved; for the washing away of the stains of my guilt, as reparation for all my neglects, and as amendment for all the sins which I have committed through ignorance or frailty; receive it also as a sacrifice for the consolation of the afflicted; for the conversion of sinners; for the recovery of the sick and suffering; for the strengthening of those who draw near to death; for the refreshment, purification, and deliverance of the souls of the departed in Purgatory. Amen.


To Thee, O most benign Jesus, I lift up my eyes and my heart. Oh, turn upon me Thy gracious countenance and Thy true love. Behold, O Lord, my manifest need, and the great danger of my soul. Receive me, O Thou Who art my only true mediator and helper! Be Thou, through the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass, my salvation, and obtain for me the entire remission of my sins. Oh, represent to Thy Father how cruelly Thou wast scourged, crowned, crucified, and put to death for us, and thereby reconcile with the strict justice of God me, a miserable sinner. Amen.


Pray the Pater Noster


Pray: O Lamb of God, Who didst suffer for us, miserable sinners, have mercy upon me, and offer up to the Father Thy Passion for the forgiveness of my sins! O Lamb of God, Who didst die for us, miserable sinners, have mercy upon me, and offer up to God Thy death in satisfaction for my sins! O Lamb of God, Who didst sacrifice Thyself for us, miserable sinners, have mercy upon me, and offer up Thy holy Blood to the Father for the cleansing of my soul!


Heavenly Father, I offer up to Thee, this precious and most worthy oblation. My sins are more in number than the hairs of my head, but, O just and merciful God, lay this precious offering in the one scale and my sins in the other, and that will far outweigh my guilt. O merciful, O holy God, give me Thy blessing before I end my prayer, and through this blessing let me obtain grace at once to begin to amend my life, and renounce whatever is sinful and displeasing to Thee. Support me in my weakness, strengthen me when temptations assail me, and let me never forget that Thou art near me.


O precious day! but perhaps the last of my life! O happy day! if it shall make me better! Holy Mother of God, Mary, holy Angels and friends of God, pray for me and lead me in the way of truth. O God, grant Thy love to the living and Thy peace to the dead. Amen.


Pray an Ave Maria, and ask the Blessed Virgin Mary to possess you of her Immaculate Heart so that she might prepare a place in your soul for her Son as once she prepared the stable at Bethlehem, and that the presence of her Immaculate Heart might make a fitting reception for the King of kings.


Make a spiritual Communion with the following prayer: My Jesus, I believe that Thou art present in the Blessed Sacrament. I love Thee above all things, and I desire Thee in my soul. Since I cannot now receive Thee sacramentally, come at least spiritually into my heart. As though Thou wert already there, I embrace Thee and unite myself wholly to Thee; permit not that I should ever be separated from Thee. (By St. Alphonsus Maria de Liguori)


Send a moment in silent contemplation.


End with the Sign of the Cross and read the Last Gospel from the missal.