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Body And Blood Of Christ

Celebrating 100 years

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Corpus Christi

The feast of Corpus Christi ("Bodyand Blood of Christ") was established by the Church to remind us how superlative a gift we have in the Holy Eucharist. We can never honor this sacrament enough; but as the hymn sequence in today's Mass urges us, we should try our best: "Bring Him all the praise you know!"

One way in which we can honor the Eucharist Christ is to prepare carefully to receive Holy Communion. The primary preparation is, of course, spiritual: we should NEVER, NEVER receive with mortal sins on our souls. That would be to dishonor, not honor, Him.

Two little stories show how we can a also be prepared bodily to give Him honorable welcome.

The first story deals with Lucia Santos' first communion. Sister Lucia, at present the only survivor of the three little visionaries of Fatima, recalls the joy of her first Holy Communion in her memoirs. Aided by her older sisters, she dressed in her long white First Communion dress, put on her wreath of flowers, and according to Portugese custom, knelt and asked her parents' blessing. Her mother told her to resolve to become a saint. Then Lucy's bigger brother took up the first communicant in his arms and carried her all the way to church. Why? Not because she was disabled, but because they didn't want even a speck of dust to soil her when she received Jesus.

The second story deals with Pope Plus XII.

Older Catholics will recall that in bygone days when Mass could be offered no later than noon, those who intended to receive communion had to abstain from midnight from all food including medicine) and all liquid (including even water). It was to give the body a "reverent hunger" for the Bread of Angels.

Times change, however. After World War II evening Masses were permitted. Also, many people in our pain-ridden society needed to take medicine. Consequently, in 1953, Pope Pius XII graciously reduced the eucharistic fast to three hours, and allowed water and medicines to be taken at any time. Most Catholics welcomed the relaxation. (Pope Paul VI carried it still farther in 1964 when he set the present requirement - only one hour of fasting before receiving.)

What did Pius XII think of the changes he had made to the law? Did he not rejoice as pope since the pope so often had to celebrate long morning Masses that didn't allow them to eat breakfast until 2 p.m.?

Sister Pascalina Lehnert, as the housekeeper of Pope Pius XII, knew his habits well. Three years after his death, Sister Pascalina told an American priest that the Pope had never taken advantage of his own, easier rule. Until his dying day he fasted from midnight before saying Mass. He would not even take water.

We can't repeat the reverence Lucia Santos showed for the Eucharist at her First Communion. But we can at least be sure that we approach the altar clean and modestly dressed.

We don't have to fast from midnight anymore. But we may do so, especially when we are attending a morning Mass. It is still a good way of saying "thank you" to Jesus. It is one response to today's hymn: "Bring Him all the praise you know."

-Father Robert F. McNamara

Q321: Who would want to fondly remember a desert journey through spiders, scorpions, snakes, and such? Why this particular memory (Dt 8:2-3,14-16)?

It isn’t the dangers themselves that are the focal point. Rather, it is the fact that God’s provident hand was with them at all times, guiding them even in the midst of dangers. When the Israelites were hungry, God fed them manna from heaven. When they were thirsty, God gave them water from the rock. This is a portrait of a loving God, a parent who really cares about his children.

Many of us had the blessing of being raised in a large family (for me, a family of ten), without riches (in the sense of material possessions). But we were greatly blessed because of the spiritual riches all around us. Good Catholic parents who made the Holy Eucharist the center of life for our family. Good Catholic education at the knees of our parents, who could not afford to send us to a distant parochial school in another town. Good food on the table, although the portions were always very modest. Good social justice lessons, since somehow there was always something to share with other families with similar needs, such as hand-me-down clothing. God’s provident hand was clearly seen and gratefully acknowledged by us every single day.

This is what the Israelites were experiencing, to learn to trust in God and his providence. The disciples of Jesus discovered that also, as they came to understand and believe that the Holy Eucharist was indeed the very flesh and blood of Jesus, in sacramental form. Jesus had gone, but he was still here! God truly provides for his children, even unto eternal life.

Know Your Catechism! The Eucharist is the pledge of the glory to come (CCC#1402). Like the Israelites of the Old Covenant remembering their desert journey, we remember the promise of the New and Everlasting Covenant first celebrated at the Last Supper (CCC#1403). We are fed and strengthened by this Eucharist to live the life of Christ (CCC#1436). It is the nourishment for our daily desert journey, the medicine of immortality (CCC#2837).


Page last modified on January 29, 2008, at 10:10 AM