New on TikTok: Act of Spiritual Communion by St. Alphonsus Liguori When you can’t receive sacramental Communion (e.g., watching a streamed TLM), make a Spiritual Communion—uniting your soul to Christ in the Eucharist. Prayer: My Jesus, I believe that You are present in the Most Holy Sacrament. I love You above all things, and I desire to receive You into my soul. Since I cannot at this moment receive You sacramentally, come at least spiritually into my heart. I embrace You as if You were already there and unite myself wholly to You. Never permit me to be separated from You. Amen. (St. Alphonsus recommends saying this during the priest’s Communion at Mass for greatest fruit.) Key Differences: Tridentine Mass vs. Novus Ordo (For Viral Clarity) • Direction: TLM – Priest faces East (ad orientem) with people, leading toward God. Novus Ordo – Usually versus populum (facing people). • Language: TLM – Almost entirely Latin (sacred, universal). Novus Ordo – Vernacular (local language). • Silence & Reverence: TLM – Much silent Canon, bells, incense; focus on sacrifice. Novus Ordo – More audible prayers, options for music/styles. • Offertory & Canon: TLM – Strong sacrificial language (victim, oblation). Novus Ordo – Simplified, more “meal” emphasis. • Communion: TLM – Kneeling, on tongue, only Host. Novus Ordo – Often standing, in hand, both species possible. • Overall: TLM – Fixed, ancient rubrics (organic development). Novus Ordo – More options, post-1969 reform. The TLM brings the “light” of unchanging tradition—like St. Lucy piercing darkness. Stream one at latinmasssociety.org! 🙏 St. Lucy Fun Facts (Feast: Dec 13 – Patron of Eyes & Light) • Her name means “light” (Latin: lux)—perfect for the darkest time of year! • Martyred ~304 AD in Sicily for consecrating her virginity to Christ; rejected suitor betrayed her as Christian. • Legends: Survived fire unharmed; guards couldn’t move her (even with oxen!); eyes gouged out (or she removed them herself to repel a suitor)—miraculously restored. • One of only 8 women named in the Roman Canon (Eucharistic Prayer I). • Scandinavian tradition: Girls wear candle crowns on her feast, bringing light & saffron buns ( Lussekatter)—symbolizing her carrying light to hidden Christians. #StLucy #TridentineMass #TLMDifferences #CatholicTradition #SpiritualCommunion