The Solemnity of the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ

Lectionary: 168

While they were eating,
he took bread, said the blessing,
broke it, gave it to them, and said,
"Take it; this is my body."
Then he took a cup, gave thanks, and gave it to them,
and they all drank from it.
He said to them,
"This is my blood of the covenant,
which will be shed for many.

Way back in the 1960's, I attended a Beach Boys concert in Freedom Hall in Louisville, Kentucky. Like every teenager in the arena, I was thrilled by their performance, and could lip sync almost all of their songs. 

If I attend a symphony today, I might first find out what they're playing, and then research the music on YouTube or among my CDs. I should know something about the composer, their nationality and musical era. I already bring a long-time familiarity to such chestnuts as Beethoven's Fifth and Tchaikovsky's 1812 Overture. I want to be swept up in the performance by the skill of the performers, the rapt attention of the audience, and the wonder of music. 

Hopefully, realizing that recorded music must be perfect before it's marketed, and that real music is live music, I will not criticize the performance. I am here to listen with everyone and not to be superior to anyone. 

As we celebrate today's Solemnity of the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ and prepare for a Eucharistic Congress in Indianapolis, we have to do more than show up. We have to be present: fully attentive, open, responsive, completely here in body and soul, intelligence, feelings, sympathies, affections. I am ready to praise God/  

Recently, leaders of the Church in the United States were shocked when a poll of Catholics revealed little faith in the Real Presence of Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament. Catholics demonstrate that lack of faith by failing to show up when the Mass is celebrated. It's just not that important to them, despite their declaration to the pollsters that they are Catholic. Some might believe he is truly present in the church and tabernacle, but if they’re not with us in Church it really doesn’t matter.  

However, we are also seeing a resurgence of Catholicism in North America; it's described in the news media as a rise of conservative religion because the newly enthused oppose abortion, gay marriage, and transgender ideology. But it might be a revitalized liberal movement because they oppose racism, capital punishment, and censorship. They are enthusiastic about Mary the Mother of God, pilgrimages, the rosary, and especially, the Most Blessed Sacrament. They admire neither Donald Trump nor Joe Biden, and their vote in November is uncertain. 

This solemnity of Corpus Christi was first proposed by Saint Thomas Aquinas and introduced to the universal Roman Catholic Church by Pope Urban IV in 1264. They promoted a teaching which had been intuitively understood by the Church for many centuries, and was formally defined by the Fourth Lateran Council in 1213. That is, our belief in  the transubstantiation of the bread and wine to the body and blood of Christ. The bread is no longer bread; it is the Body of Christ. The wine is no longer wine; it is the blood of Christ. 

Saint Francis of Assisi attended that council and was so swept up in this renewed enthusiasm that he urged his friars to carry brooms with them. Whenever they found a sanctuary with a Tabernacle and the Blessed Sacrament, they should sweep it out and make sure it was clean and presentable. Whenever they encountered a priest, regardless of his personal virtue, they should kiss his hands for, in those days, only a priest was permitted to hold the Sacrament in his hands. 

Since that time, innumerable saints and witnesses have testified to the beauty and power of the Sacrament. Saint John Henry Newman admitted that, before his conversion to Catholicism, he had little interest in the doctrine. But afterwards he was surprised to discover his sheer delight in the presence of the Lord. Wherever he went, he made it a point to pray and find reassurance, guidance, and courage in the chapel, oratory, church, or basilica where the Blessed Sacrament was reposed. 

But nothing in the human heart happens automatically. Just as concert goers prepare to hear beautiful music, so do Catholics prepare for the celebration of Mass. Knowing their unworthiness, they seek that worthiness that comes with God’s insistent invitation. Many Catholics study their missals or go to the Internet to find the readings for the coming Sunday or weekday. They might click on additional links to read the fuller context of each passage. Who wrote this book, when, where, why, and to whom? 

Many also pray the Liturgy of the Hours, especially Morning and Evening Prayers. They carry rosaries in their pockets and purses everywhere, and use them daily. Some read a daily meditation as found in the magazine, Magnficat. Given the persistent, ugly demands of the world around us, we must turn energetically to the Lord each day to find our purpose and our peace. 

When we bring our own real presence to the Real Presence of the Lord during the Mass or to an otherwise empty church, the Holy Spirit moves us to participate with our body, mind, soul, and spirit. We genuflect, kneel, pause, listen, and pay attention to the mystery of God's being with us. We do not criticize the ceremony because we're to listen to God's word, and not to be superior to anyone.

We discover and feel the kindness and mercy of God. We know it is a privilege shared by few, but we can't be bothered with that distracting thought for we hear the whisper of angel wings and the tramp of marching saints. We hear God pronounce his name again, "I am;" and our own wonderful response, "Here I am."