Catholic News Service: 'Spiritual Communion': Youths learn a traditional concept the hard way

When a severe thunderstorm damaged the tents holding most of the consecrated hosts for Sunday's closing WYD Mass, rendering them structurally unsound and therefore off-limits, the vast majority of Mass attendees had to learn the concept of "Spiritual Communion" the hard way. Spiritual Communion, Cindy Wooden of the Catholic News Service explains, is the practice of "inviting Jesus into one's heart and soul when receiving the actual sacrament isn't possible." Read her report for the history of this tradition and how it was applied at WYD Madrid.