Article II. The Dispositions Required for Receiving the Eucharist

190. Note. A twofold reception of the Eucharist is customarily distinguished: one sacramental, the other spiritual. Sacramental reception is the eating or drinking of the Eucharistic species. Spiritual reception is the desire for sacramental reception when the latter is in fact impossible because of reasons standing in the way. All ascetical authors earnestly commend the exercise of spiritual Communion as very fruitful ex opere operantis through charity. This exercise is fittingly performed by eliciting the following acts: 1. an act of living faith in the real presence of Christ in the Eucharist; 2. fervent thanksgiving for the institution of this sacrament; 3. contrition for all sins committed; 4. an ardent desire for union with the Eucharistic Christ. In what follows we shall no longer speak of spiritual Communion, but of sacramental Communion, in the reception of which dispositions both of soul and of body are required; these are to be treated separately.