Homebound Communion

For our brothers and sisters who cannot attend Mass due to infirmity, homebound Communion is a greatly appreciated service. One of the reasons why each Catholic church has a tabernacle is to reserve some of the Blessed Sacrament for those who are confined to their home, a hospital or a nursing home.

Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion receive special training from the diocese in order to bring Communion to the sick. My personal experience of doing this both before I became a deacon and now is one of great joy.

To be received into the home of someone who longs to be with the rest of the community, but can’t, is so uplifting. A visit to the sick may take on several forms. Generally time is spent listening to Scripture (especially readings from the Mass of the day), praying, and simply conversing. Those who make a homebound Communion call are performing at least two acts of corporal mercy. Not only are they visiting the sick, but they are feeding those who hunger for health and community with the most important food, Christ himself.

During these visits, the strength that comes from Jesus, the Divine Physician, and the hope our Lord imparts to the communicant through the Eucharist is always palpable. This is only possible because of Christ’s True Presence in the Blessed Sacrament.

Please remember those confined to their homes, nursing homes and hospitals in your regular prayers. Please also pray for the good health and safety of our homebound ministers of Communion. Let us be grateful for those who bring Jesus to those who are ill, in the spirit of the Blessed Virgin Mary’s visit to Elizabeth while Mary was carrying Jesus in her womb.

"Because the sick are prevented from celebrating the Eucharist with the rest of the community, the most important visits are those during which they receive Holy Communion. In receiving the Body and Blood of Christ, the sick are united sacramentally to the Lord and are reunited with the Eucharistic community from which illness has separated them." - Pastoral Care of the Sick, No. 51

Questions? Comments? Suggestions? Contact me at eucharist@stmli.org.