Welcome!: Holy Communion: Readers who already know and love The King of the Golden City will immediately recognise the tender, practical spirituality of Mother Mary Loyola in this companion work. In The King of the Golden City, she taught children—through story and allegory—how to prepare their hearts to welcome Christ the King. Here, she takes the same mission a step further, helping us make our Holy Communions as fruitful and meaningful as possible.

We all know that preparing for Communion and giving thanks afterward can sometimes feel harder than it should. Distractions creep in, worries of the day pull at us, or we find ourselves repeating set prayers without much feeling. Mother Loyola deeply understood these struggles–and she set out to guide us through them with warmth and wisdom. This book offers a rich collection of meditations for both before and after Holy Communion, each one written to meet the reader at a different place—whether we’re full of joy and devotion, weighed down with cares or simply longing for a deeper connection with Our Lord.

What makes her approach so beautiful is its accessibility. Children can use these meditations to grow into the habit of prayerful Communions, learning to welcome Jesus into their hearts with love and confidence. At the same time, parents will find fresh inspiration here too. The variety of reflections helps adults break free from routine and rediscover the richness of the Blessed Sacrament, even on days when household cares are numerous!

This little volume is not just a guide to prayer—it’s a gentle companion for families, helping both children and parents draw closer to Christ in every Holy Communion.

Mother Mary Loyola (1845–1930) was an English nun of the Bar Convent in York, known for her gift of writing catechetical works that were simple, vivid, and full of heart. Her books remain timeless because they speak to both young and old, offering practical ways to live out the Catholic faith with joy.