June 12, 2009
The Christian Journey
A conversation about the Body and Blood of Jesus Christ
BY FATHER JIM SAUER
“Gracie, I’m preparing my Sunday homily; since you’re a senior parishioner, may I ask you a few questions about the Feast of Corpus Christi?” “Father, come in. I may not contribute much, but we’ll enjoy our visit!”
“Gracie, do you remember when Corpus Christi (now the Lord’s Body and Blood) was celebrated on Thursday? The Blessed Sacrament was carried through the town and fields asking God’s blessings upon the crops.”
“Yes! Those were inspiring days. First Communicants wore their white dresses and the boys their new clothes. Mom cooked a special dinner. No one worked that day.”
“Gracie, did you receive communion?” “Oh no! We didn’t receive communion frequently back then. Isn’t this why the Feast of Corpus Christi began?
“It seems this twelfth century Feast of Corpus Christ originated because of an overemphasis on the real presence of Christ in the consecrated bread. Christians felt unworthy to receive communion, preferring instead to look at the Blessed Sacrament. This led to the elevation of the bread and cup during Mass and devotions like Benediction. The Eucharist was no longer considered a meal. In 1264, the universal Church observed the Feast of Corpus Christ. St. Thomas Aquinas wrote the feast’s prayers and hymns. The Feast of the Precious Blood was joined with Corpus Christi.”
“So, Father, the original reasons for beginning this Feast no longer exist; we now emphasize the Eucharist as a meal and most people receive Communion. ‘Looking at the Blessed Sacrament’ is no longer a great need.”
That’s right, Gracie. Religious devotions had a beginning and reasons for beginning, which may have changed. However, this doesn’t mean the devotions have become irrelevant.
“Father, what you mean?” “Adoration and Benediction are still worthy devotions. However, we can’t judge that fewer Catholics attending at these devotions means that Catholics no longer pray. Actually, their partaking of Communion is precisely the main purpose of the Eucharist. Each age will create different devotions while some Catholics will still find former devotions beneficial.
Another reason for continuing the Feast of the Lord’s Body and Blood is that recent statistics show that about 49 percent of U.S. Catholics believe that the bread and wine are changed into Christ’s Body and Blood. Since this has been a traditional Catholic belief, eliminating the Feast of Christ’s Body and Blood may be detrimental to our faith. But we must always connect Christ’s Body and Blood with Christ’s presence in his people, priest and his Word.”
“That’s the very point. As a child, we mainly thought of Christ’s presence in the Blessed Sacrament. Vatican II taught us we could not even have the Blessed Sacrament if the Church did not first gather to celebrate the Eucharist. The bread and wine become Christ’s Body and Blood so we may receive Christ in Communion to become more like Christ.”
“Gracie, we are also fed by the people gathering with us, by their participation and hospitality. We gather as a community to be there for one another. That’s what the liturgical ministers remind us of. The assembly performs the greatest service. Christ’s presence in the Gospel and Homily also nourishes our spirits.
“Father, Mass is a much richer experience for me to recognize Christ in so many people, places and experiences thanks to Vatican II’s re-acquainting us with this ‘broader notion’ of Christ’s presence in the Church, priest, his Word and the Sacrament.”
“Gracie, I think you could deliver my homily this Sunday!