St. Theophan the Recluse on Communion

St. Theophan the Recluse on Communion

The Christian life is life in the Lord Jesus Christ. The believer puts on Christ and lives through Him. He who falls after baptism loses this Grace; when rising up from his fall and returning to the Lord, he has to become worthy of it again, and this he does through Holy Communion. He that eats my flesh and drinks my blood, dwells in Me, and I in him, says the Lord (Jn.6:56).

This is the beginning of life in Christ Jesus for the penitent. The Lord said that He is the Vine, and those who believe in Him are the branches (cf. Jn.15:1-6). The branch does not live unless it is on the vine; so the faithful do not live unless they live in the Lord. There is no true life anywhere except on this Vine. Whatever is not on it is dead.

Therefore, whoever wants to truly live should cultivate it in himself, receive its life-giving juices and live on its nourishment. This cultivation is done through Holy Communion - here the Christian becomes one with the Lord. When the Lord guided the sinner to complete repentance, he only knocked at the door of his heart. When it is opened by contrition and repentance, He enters in and feasts with the communicant.

Now the man is born again. An entirely new life begins for him. Life cannot continue without food, and it must be customary food at that. Such food is the Body and Blood of the Lord. He Himself said: My Flesh is meat indeed, and My Blood is drink indeed (Jn.6:55). One who is beginning a new life should begin with this. It is especially necessary to taste this Food at the outset, at the first, so to say, movements of his new life. They say that the first food an infant eats has an effect on the character of his physical life, and from then on comprises his continual bodily requirements. What should be the character of the life of a penitent? A life in Christ Jesus our Lord. What should be his constant requirement?  The need for communing with the Lord. Let him hasten in the first movement of this life to taste the Body and Blood of Christ, so that he may lay the foundation of a Christ-like life and generate a true need for constant communion with Him by means of this partaking. The partaker, after tasting the sweetness of this heavenly Manna, will ever more hunger and thirst to partake again. 

Thus, having received mercy and forgiveness in repentance, come forward to Holy Communion for full revivification of your inner man. 

There is no need to prescribe any particular rule of preparation for this. The repentant sinner has already done everything necessary[repentance and confession], and he naturally continues on to Communion. Whoever has wept over his sins and confessed is ready to approach this great Mystery. The Apostle also has nothing more to prescribe. He says only: But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of that Bread, and drink of that Cup (1Cor. 11-28)...

According to our established order, there is usually little time between Confession and Communion, most often only evening, morning and Liturgy. During this time it is important to carefully preserve the good frame of mind with which you left the church after Confession, and apply it to your communion with the Lord in Holy Communion.

1. Preserve your attention undistracted and your heart undisturbed. Take care not to become scattered or anxious over cares, and remove yourself from everything; go within and remain there with one thought about the Lord, Who is able to come to you. Put away all thought processes, and, concentrating on the one Lord, pray to Him with undistracted prayer of the heart.

  2. If your thought cannot reside only in this, occupy it with thoughts of Communion itself; and so that it            will not stray too much, bind it with the words of the Lord and the Holy Apostles about this Sacrament. 

  3. Contemplate a saying of the Lord or the Holy Apostles; glean some edification from them and dispose           yourself to contrite prayer. When prayer comes, fall down before the Lord and do not abandon the               prayer as long as it is present.

  4. Occupy the evening this way until sleep closes your eyes. Morning comes.  As soon as you come to                yourself upon waking, first of all, resurrect your awareness of the greatness of the dawning day. But do        not bustle about, do not be distracted with many things;  and keep your attention focused on that                  which is necessary to be with you and in you. Beware! The enemy will be trying to tempt you in every            way, to put your soul in a bad mood, to either scatter your thoughts, or generate some worry or                      dissatisfaction with something, or inspire some displeasure against someone. Attend to yourself,                    praying to God, and you will escape these stumbling blocks.

  5. Entering the church, feel as though you were in the upper chamber at Sion, where the Lord communed        His Holy Apostles, and heed more than ever what is being sung and read, directing everything to the              thought that the Lord Himself is preparing a Supper of salvation for you.

  6. Warm your faith in the actual presence of the Lord and Saviour Himself in the Mysteries. Going from               this faith and concentrating on the Lord Himself as if already approaching you, in self-abasement call             out: I am not worthy that Thou should'st enter under the roof of my house.  From self-abasement, pass         to the fear of the Prodigal Son, not cutting you off, but bringing you to a state of reverent soberness.             Inasmuch as the Lord invited you and asks you to approach, be ready to approach with good hope,               desire and thirst, like the deer panting after the fountains of water, and longing with assurance to                   receive the Lord Himself, together with all the treasure of life that is hidden within Him. From this                   longing, which will not be put to shame, again turn to yourself in readiness to meet the lord, and fan             ever stronger the flame of contrition, repeating the promise to turn away from sin, even if you have to           die doing it.

   7. Work hard to stand through the whole service, passing from one of these feelings to another. In this             good state finally approach the chalice of the Lord, and upon seeing it, make a bow to the Lord Who             approaches you. Opening your lips and heart, receive Him, humbly and reverently calling out with the           Apostle Thomas: My Lord and my God!

Glory to Thee, O God!  Glory to Thee, O God!  Glory to Thee, O God!

Having approached the chalice of the Lord with such a disposition, and stepping away from it, you will feel in your heart: It is truly said, that having communed of divine grace, I am no longer alone but with Thee, my Christ, the three-sunned Light that enlightens the world. From this moment, you will begin to bear Christ within yourself. Take care to zealously guard Him and hold Him within yourself. If Christ is in you, who can be against you? And you will be able to do anything in the Lord Who strengthens you.