Solemnity of the Most Holy Body
and Blood of Christ
Corpus Christi
June 18, 2017
Fr. José Maria Cortex, F.S.C.B.

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Today we are celebrating the Solemnity of the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ.

In my former parish, we had First Communion on that day.  After the Mass, we used to have the procession of the Blessed Sacrament from the Little Shepherd's Church to Saint Peter's Church.  It is about one mile.  Many people used to participate: all the children who had just received communion, their families and the whole parish.  There were about 1,000 people in the street, walking with Jesus in the middle of the city.  The bells rang and the people sang.  Along the way, we met all kinds of people: enthusiasts, those who were indifferent and opponents.  Some people were throwing petals at the Blessed Sacrament and some throwing bad words at the passing procession.  Some people knelt before the Blessed Sacrament and some people turned their bakes.  I still remember an old lady's gaze, full of faith, as she watched the procession from the window of her house.  Her look was so impressive that I directed the monstrance at her: immediately her ace filled with joy.

For me, that procession was what the Church should be: a group of people carrying and bringing Jesus to their world.

"I am the living bread that came down from heaven" (Jn 6:51).  Jesus wants to be ur food.  He wants to give his live to us, to become one with us.  He desires to be assimilated by us, for his eternal life to become present in our veins.

The Eucharist is the most precious gift that we receive from God.  For understanding and accepting this gift, we need to adore Jesus, present in the Blessed Sacrament.  That is why the adoration that we started i our parish is so important.

I would like to conclude with a prayer written by St. John Henry Newman, entitled A Short Visit to the Blessed Sacrament, which we pray here every Thursday.  This prayer beautifully expresses what our attitude should be before the Blessed Sacrament:

I place myself in the presence of Him, in whose Incarnate Presence I am before I place myself there.

I adore You, O my Savior, present here as God and Man, in Soul and Body, in true Flesh and Blood.

I acknowledge and confess that I kneel before the Sacred Humanity, which was conceived in Mary's womb, and lay in Mary's bosom; which grew up to man's estate, and by the Sea of Galilee called the Twelve, wrought miracles, and spoke words of wisdom and peace; which in due season hung on the cross, lay in the tomb, rose from the dead, and now reigns in heaven.

I praise sand bless, and give myself wholly to Him, Who is the true Bread of my soul, and my everlasting joy. (1)

(1)  John Henry Newman, Medications and Devotions, ed. W. P. Neville, Longmans, Green, and Co., New Your, London, Bombay, and Calcutta, 1907. p. 293.