June 14, 1998The Body and Blood of Christ |
Corpus Christi is the Solemnity of the Body and Blood of Our Lord. This particular feast is celebrated annually by the Church as a time to honor the Real Presence of Christ in the Eucharist.
Through our past religious education we know that the doctrine of Transubstantiation means the bread and wine offered as gifts at the Offertory of the Mass are changed into the Body and Blood of Christ. This was confirmed by Pope John XXII by initiation of the celebration of the Solemnity of Corpus Christi and Pope Urban IV extended it to the Universal Church.
This Solemnity (high ranking feast) is celebrated on the first Thursday after Trinity Sunday. For the greater benefit to a larger number of people, celebration is often transferred to the following Sunday.
THE BODY AND BLOOD OF CHRIST: This feast, known as 'Corpus Christi' before the calendar reform of Vatican II, was instituted for the universal Church in 1264. It used to be celebrated on Thursdays as a conscious link to Holy Thursday. This additional feast was thought necessary in addition to Holy Thursday because the Church's joy on that day was 'overshadowed' by the sadness of Good Friday. Today's renewed feast combines Corpus Christi with the former Feast of the Precious Blood (formerly July 1) to create a solemn feast that celebrates the mystery of the Lord's enduring presence in our midst through the gift of his body and blood given in the eucharistic liturgy. This feast prompts us to reflect on several matters with regard to the Eucharist. FIRST, do I reverence Jesus as equally present under both forms? If so, how is it then that I might not receive under both forms? SECOND, what is our manner of preparing to receive Jesus really present in Communion? Do I sing with joy and commitment as I am standing in line waiting to receive him? THIRD, do I ever come on the Fridays throughout the year to our Little Flower Chapel to worship Jesus as he is exposed in the monstrance? Such private and individualized worship in the Eucharist is to lead us back to our Sunday celebrations of the Death and Resurrection of Jesus for us. FOURTH, it is good for us to remember words of St. Augustine from the fifth century referring to the duplicate meaning 'the body of Christ' for the Church as well as for Communion. Augustine exhorted his people and now strongly exhorts us: 'Be what you see, Body of Christ; receive what you are, Body of Christ!'
When we think of the Body and Blood of Christ, we probably think in terms of the food given us by Jesus on that night before He died. And that it is. Yet it is so much more-it's an action involving our whole being. Even in our daily lives a meal has the ability to transform the action of eating into forming community. Sharing a meal goes beyond satisfying bodily hunger. Coming together to share a meal satisfies our deep human need for companionship and fellowship. It promotes and brings about the bonding of unity.
In the same way, receiving the Body and Blood of Christ in the Eucharist provides wonderful nourishment for our spiritual lives. When we come together to share Eucharist, community happens: relationships flourish; selfish interests give way to loving concern for others; and we are enlivened with new energy. Above all, we are one in Our Lord, for we all share in that promise of Jesus that in eating His Body and drinking His Blood we receive life from Him and He lives in us.
The Scriptures for this Feast of the Body and Blood of Christ speak to us not only of the institution of the Eucharist in Paul's letter to the Corinthians, but in the gospel Jesus feeds the five thousand with five loaves and two fishes. Certainly physical hunger was satisfied in this meal, but as we hear the story again, this action of Jesus takes on a deep meaning for us. In the Eucharist we celebrate the memorial of Jesus' saving action on the cross; however, in this particular memorial, Jesus' action comes to life again and again. Here is where we celebrate this supreme act of divine love in remembering His sacrifice on the cross, which is made present, and we partake of Jesus' own Body and Blood. Our participation in the Eucharist implies a way of life. Eucharist calls for a response to God's incredible love. Eucharist is a graced moment to return love for love. And if I am really to share in God's divine life, I must be willing to live a life of love and service according to the example of Jesus. Once again, God has taken the initiative. The history of salvation remains a history of God's love for each and every one of us. Our challenge is to live as a eucharistic community which understands the full impact of what it means to share in the Body and Blood of Christ, to share in God's own life and share His love with each other.
Father James Tobin, S.M.
Pastor
On the threshold of the new Millennium Christians need to place themselves humbly before the Lord and examine themselves on the responsibility which they too have for the evils of our day. The present age in fact, together with much light, also presents not a few shadows ... How can we remain silent, for example, about the religious indifference which causes many people today to live as if God did not exist, ... To this must also be added the widespread loss of the transcendent sense of human life, and confusion in the ethical sphere, even about the fundamental values of respect for life and the family.
Pope John Paul II
This Sunday we celebrate the Solemnity of Corpus ChristiÑthe Body of Christ. It is a feast which praises God for the gift of the Holy EucharistÑthe Body and Blood of Christ. While Holy Thursday's Mass of the Lord's Supper invites us to appreciate the institution of the Eucharist by Our Lord the night before He died, Corpus Christi encourages us to appreciate and adore the real presence of Jesus Christ, the Lord. He is present from the time of the consecration of the Mass and we actually receive Him in person when we receive Holy Communion. The Feast of Corpus Christi also reminds us that Our Lord continues to be present in the Blessed Sacrament which is reserved in the tabernacle in Church. There are a few practical suggestions I offer in light of the presence of Our Lord with us through the Holy Eucharist.
1) Proper dress code: Even though it is summer time, our clothing in Church needs to be respectful. Would we attend a wedding in shorts and a T-shirt? Doesn't Jesus Christ deserve at least as much respect as we would give to a bride and groom?
2) Respect for the Blessed Sacrament: We genuflect when we enter and leave Church to show our belief and adoration of Jesus Christ, present in the tabernacle. We do not engage in conversation in Church beyond what is necessary, lest we disturb someone else's prayer.
3) Preparation time: We need to arrive at Church a few moments before Mass to properly prepare our minds and hearts to enter into the celebration of the sacred liturgy.
4) Visits to the Blessed Sacrament: We are encouraged to make a visit to Our Lord, present in the Blessed Sacrament. This is particularly appropriate on First Fridays during the Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament.THEME: THE EUCHARIST - Ghandi once said that there is so much hunger in the world that the only way that God can come is in the form of bread. What a great truth this is. God is present wherever bread is broken and wine is poured out and both are shared. This reality carries us forward filled and renewed and makes us Eucharistic people.
Today is the Solemnity of Corpus Christi (In English, the Body of Christ). The origins of this day certainly find their roots in Sacred Scripture, and the constant belief in this had gotten quite shaky, with many people (including priests and religious) doubting and denying this belief. At about that time, an Augustian sister in Belgium (Sister Juliana of Retiennes) has a vision that Christ wanted a feast established in honor of the Blessed Sacrament. Her spiritual advisor later was elected Pope, and so decided to establish this feast. At the same time, a priest in Orvieto, Italy (north of Rome) was having grave doubts about the presence of Christ in the Eucharist, when it is said, that the Eucharistic Bread turned to flesh. To honor these two events, Pope Urban established the solemnity of Corpus Christi. At this same time, St. Thomas Aquinas wrote his great Eucharistic hymns "Tantum Ergo" and "Lauda Sion". It is from this time that we have the Corpus Christi processions which are held on this day. Prayer before the Blessed Sacrament (such as we have here on Saturdays and at St. Mary's Hospital, and many places around the world) IS NOT PRE-VATICAN II at all! In fact, it is enjoying a spontaneous world wide revival. Rather, it helps us to reflect on this great mystery of Faith, and prepares us in fact, for fuller participation in the Liturgy of the Eucharist celebration. I would quote from the CATECHISM OF THE CATHOLIC CHURCH:
It is highly fitting that Christ should have wanted to remain present to his Church in this unique way. Since Christ was about to take his departure from his own in his visible form, he wanted to give us his sacramental presence; since he was about to offer himself on the cross to save us, he wanted us to have the memorial of the love which he loved us "to the end", even to the giving of his life. In his Eucharistic presence he remains mysteriously in our midst as the one who loved us and gave himself up for us, and he remains under signs that express and communicate this love:
The Church and the world have a great need for Eucharistic worship. Jesus awaits us in this sacrament of love. Let us not refuse the time to go meet him in adoration, in contemplation full of faith, and open to making amends for the serious offenses and crimes of the world. Let our adoration never cease.
Pope John Paul II has called upon Catholics throughout the world to prepare for the Great Jubilee of the Year 2000 through prayer and renewed faith. Our own St. Louis Archdiocesan Strategic Pastoral Plan has made its first goal: "to foster conversion through prayer and the sacraments." Keeping this in mind, we are challenged to ensure a renewed devotion to and appreciation of the Sacrament of the Holy Eucharist as the source and summit of our Christian life.
On this Feast of the Body and Blood of Christ (Corpus Christi), our Parish Family at Immaculate Conception-Dardenne should have every member recommit ourselves to devotion to the presence of Jesus Christ in the Eucharist. The Lord is present in the assembly of the People of God for liturgical worship: "Where two or three are gathered in my name, there I am." The Liturgy of the Word is an opportunity for God to speak to His People the message of salvation. Jesus Christ, the great High Priest and the Lamb of Sacrifice, is present at the altar during the Mass. And finally the Real Presence of Christ in His Body & Blood is received by all of us in Communion. Let us be devoutly alert to this complex presence of Christ every time we come to share in the Eucharist.
Today we celebrate the Feast of Corpus Christi, the Feast of the Body and Blood of Christ. If 35 years ago you were to ask Catholics: "Do you believe that the Eucharist is truly the Body and Blood of Christ?" nearly 100% of Catholics would have said "yes". When that survey was done by Time/Life two years ago, only about 49% of Catholics said "yes". The good news is that much of this is changing.
The reasons for the change are multiple. Many Catholic bishops, including Archbishop Rigali, are encouraging either regular extended Adoration or Perpetual Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament. I am told that one of the leading chalice makers was asked in a recent ten year period to make only one monstrance used in Adoration and Benediction. Today this company is receiving so many orders it cannot keep up.
Another important reason for the change is that bishops and theologians are beginning to challenge the theology of some of those who have undermined belief in the real presence.
SEVEN WAYS TO CELEBRATE THE COMING OF THE MILLENIUM:
The U.S. bishops offer these suggestions to individuals nad communities to make these preparatory years spiritual fruitful.
'The sacrifice of the cross and its sacramental renewal in the Mass, which Christ instituted at the Last Supper and commanded his apostles to do in his memory, are one and the same, differing only in the manner of offering.
Consequently the Mass is at once a sacrifice of praise and thanksgiving, of reconciliation and expiation.
The celebration of Mass also proclaims the sublime mystery of the Lord's real presence under the eucharistic elements, which Vatican II and other documents of the Church's magisterium have reaffirmed in the same sense and as the same teaching that the Council of Trent has proposed as a matter of faith.
The Mass does this not only by means of the very words of consecration, by which Christ becomes present through transubstantiation, but also by that spirit and expression of reverence and adoration in which the eucharistic liturgy is carried out.
For the same reason the Christian people are invited in Holy Week on Holy Thursday and on the solemnity of Corpus Christi to honor this wonderful sacrament in a special way by their adoration.'
General Instruction of the Roman Missal, Rome, March 27, 1975, #2-3.
