The Value And Importance Of Spiritual Communion from Saint Gertrude the Great

Chapter XXXIII: Of The Value And Importance Of Spiritual Communion.
THIS holy spouse of Jesus Christ had usually an extreme and ardent desire to receive the Body of Christ, and it happened that once, when she prepared for Communion with more than ordinary devotion, she found herself so weak on Sunday night, that she feared she would not be able to communicate ; but, according to her usual custom, she consulted her Lord, to know what would be most pleasing to Him.
He replied : " Even as a spouse who was already satisfied with a " variety of viands would prefer remaining near his bride to sitting at table with her, so would I prefer that you should deprive yourself of Communion through holy prudence, on this occasion, rather than approach it." " And how, my loving Lord, can You say that You are thus satiated ?"
The Lord replied : " By your moderation in speech, by your guard over your senses, by all your desires, by all your prayers, by all the good dispositions with which you have prepared to receive My adorable Body and Blood these are to Me as the most delicious food and refreshment. "
When she came to Mass, though still in a state of extreme weakness, and had prepared for spiritual Communion, she heard the sound of a bell announcing the return of a priest who had gone to a village to give communion to a sick person.
" Life of my soul !" she exclaimed ; "how gladly would I receive Thee spiritually, if I had time to prepare myself worthily!"
"The looks of My Divine mercy," replied the Lord, " will impart to you the necessary preparation ; " and at the same time, it seemed to the Saint that the Lord cast a look upon her soul like a ray of sunlight, saying : "I will fix my eyes upon thee " (Ps. xxxi.)
From these words she understood that the look of God produces three effects in our souls, similar to those that the sun produces in our bodies, and that the soul ought to prepare in three ways to receive it.

First, the glance of Divine mercy searches the soul, and purifies it from every stain, making it whiter than snow ; and we obtain this favor by a humble acknowledgment of our defects.
Secondly, this look of mercy softens the soul, and prepares it to receive spiritual gifts, even as wax is softened by the heat of the sun, and becomes capable of receiving any impression ; and the soul acquires this by a pious intention.
Thirdly, the glance of Divine mercy on the soul makes it fruitful in the different flowers of virtue, even as the sun produces and ripens different sorts of fruit ;
and the third effect is obtained by a faithful confidence, which causes us to abandon ourselves entirely to God, confiding assuredly in the superabundance of His mercy, believing that all things will contribute to our eternal welfare, whether they appear favourable or adverse.

Then, as some of the community communicated at Mass, our Divine Lord appeared to give Himself to each with His own Hand, making the sign of the cross as the priest does; the Saint, marvelling at this, said to Him: "Lord, have not those who have received Thee in this Sacrament obtained greater grace than I, whom Thou hast gratuitously favoured with so many benefits!"

"Who is esteemed most worthy," replied our Lord, " he who is adorned with pearls and precious stones, or he who has an immense treasure of pure gold hidden in his house! " making her understand by these words, that while he who communicates sacramentally receives without doubt immense grace, both spiritually and corporally, as the Church believes, still, they who abstain from receiving the Body of Christ through obedience and holy discretion, and purely for the glory of God, and who, being inflamed with Divine love, communicates spiritually, merits to receive a benediction like that given to the saint, and obtains from God more abundant fruit, although the order and secret of this conduct is entirely hidden from the eyes of men.