What Is the Feast of Corpus Christi?
The Feast of Corpus Christi (Latin for 'Body of Christ') is a solemnity in the Catholic Church that celebrates the real presence of Jesus Christ in the Eucharist. It is celebrated on the Thursday after Trinity Sunday, or on the following Sunday in many countries. The feast is a time to give special honor and worship to the Eucharist, the source and summit of the Christian life.
The Feast of Corpus Christi was established in the 13th century by Pope Urban IV, at the request of St. Juliana of Liège, who had a vision of the Church without a feast specifically dedicated to the Eucharist. The feast was established to give the faithful an opportunity to express their faith in and devotion to the real presence of Christ in the Eucharist.
The Biblical Foundation
The Feast of Corpus Christi is based on the biblical teaching about the Eucharist, particularly the words of Jesus at the Last Supper. In the Gospel of John, Jesus says, 'I am the living bread that came down from heaven. Whoever eats of this bread will live forever; and the bread that I will give for the life of the world is my flesh' (John 6:51).
At the Last Supper, Jesus took bread and wine and said, 'This is my body' and 'This is my blood' (Matthew 26:26-28). These words are not symbolic, but are a real promise that the bread and wine would become His body and blood. The Catholic Church teaches that through the power of the Holy Spirit and the words of consecration, the bread and wine are truly transformed into the body and blood of Christ.
The History of the Feast
The Feast of Corpus Christi was established in 1264 by Pope Urban IV, but its origins go back to the vision of St. Juliana of Liège. St. Juliana was a nun who had a vision of the Church without a feast specifically dedicated to the Eucharist. She worked for many years to promote the establishment of such a feast, and her efforts were finally successful when Pope Urban IV established the Feast of Corpus Christi.
The feast was originally celebrated on the Thursday after Trinity Sunday, which is the traditional day of the Last Supper. However, in many countries, the feast is now celebrated on the following Sunday to allow more people to participate in the celebrations. The feast includes special liturgies, processions, and devotions to honor the Eucharist.
The Meaning of the Eucharist
The Eucharist is the source and summit of the Christian life, the greatest gift that Christ has given to His Church. In the Eucharist, Christ is truly present - body, blood, soul, and divinity - under the appearances of bread and wine. This is not a symbolic presence, but is a real, substantial presence that we call the 'real presence.'
The Eucharist is the memorial of Christ's passion, death, and resurrection, making present the saving work of Christ in a sacramental way. When we receive the Eucharist, we are united with Christ and with all the members of His Body, the Church. The Eucharist is also a foretaste of the heavenly banquet, giving us a glimpse of the eternal life that awaits us.
The Eucharistic Procession
One of the most distinctive features of the Feast of Corpus Christi is the Eucharistic procession. During the procession, the Blessed Sacrament is carried through the streets in a monstrance, a beautiful vessel designed to display the consecrated host. The faithful follow in procession, singing hymns and praying, as they give public witness to their faith in the real presence of Christ in the Eucharist.
The Eucharistic procession is a powerful expression of faith and devotion. It shows that our faith is not just a private matter, but is something that we are called to share with the world. The procession also reminds us that Christ is present not just in the church, but in the world, and that we are called to bring His presence to others through our words and actions.
The Liturgy of the Feast
The liturgy for the Feast of Corpus Christi is rich in symbolism and meaning. The readings focus on the Eucharist and its importance in the life of the Church. The Gospel reading is usually from John 6, where Jesus speaks about Himself as the bread of life and promises to give His flesh for the life of the world.
The prayers of the liturgy express our faith in the real presence of Christ in the Eucharist and our gratitude for this great gift. The liturgy also includes special hymns and music that help us to enter into the mystery of the Eucharist and to express our devotion to Christ present in the Blessed Sacrament.
Eucharistic Adoration
The Feast of Corpus Christi is also a time for Eucharistic adoration, when we spend time in prayer before the Blessed Sacrament. Eucharistic adoration is a way of showing our love and devotion to Christ present in the Eucharist, and of receiving His grace and blessing.
During Eucharistic adoration, we can pray, read Scripture, meditate on the mysteries of our faith, or simply be present to Christ in silence. Eucharistic adoration helps us to grow in our relationship with Christ and to deepen our understanding of the Eucharist.
The Eucharist and Our Daily Lives
The Eucharist is not just something that we receive at Mass, but is meant to transform our daily lives. When we receive the Eucharist, we are called to become what we receive - to become more like Christ in our thoughts, words, and actions. The Eucharist gives us the grace and strength to live as disciples of Christ and to serve others in love.
The Eucharist also calls us to unity and charity. When we receive the Eucharist, we are united with Christ and with all the members of His Body, the Church. This unity calls us to work for peace and justice in the world, and to serve others, especially the poor and marginalized.
Eucharistic Devotions
The Feast of Corpus Christi is a time to renew our devotion to the Eucharist and to practice various Eucharistic devotions. These might include:
Eucharistic Adoration: Spending time in prayer before the Blessed Sacrament.
Benediction: A service that includes the blessing of the faithful with the Blessed Sacrament.
Eucharistic Processions: Public processions with the Blessed Sacrament.
Eucharistic Hymns: Singing hymns in honor of the Eucharist.
Conclusion: The Gift of the Eucharist
The Feast of Corpus Christi is a time to give thanks for the great gift of the Eucharist and to renew our faith in the real presence of Christ. It is a time to express our love and devotion to Christ present in the Blessed Sacrament, and to ask for the grace to live our lives in union with Him.
The Eucharist is the greatest gift that Christ has given to His Church, and the Feast of Corpus Christi helps us to appreciate this gift more fully. By celebrating this feast with devotion and love, we can grow in our relationship with Christ and in our understanding of the Eucharist.
The Eucharist is not just a symbol or a memory, but is the real presence of Christ among us. It is the source of our strength, the food for our journey, and the foretaste of the eternal life that awaits us. May we always treasure this great gift and live our lives in gratitude for the love that Christ has shown us in the Eucharist.