Solemnity of the Most Precious Body and Blood of Christ (C)

Gen 14:18-20; 1 Cor 11:23-26; Lk 9:11-17

In 1263, a German priest, Peter of Prague, stopped at Bolsena while on a pilgrimage to Rome. He is described as being a pious priest, but one who found it difficult to believe in Transubstantiation. While celebrating Mass at the tomb of St. Christina, located in Bolsena, Italy, he had barely spoken the words of consecration when blood started to seep from the consecrated Host and trickle over his hands onto the altar and the corporal.

The priest was immediately confused. At first he attempted to hide the blood, but then he interrupted the Mass and asked to be taken to the neighboring city of Orvieto, the city where Pope Urban IV was then residing.

The Pope listened to the priest’s story and gave him absolution for his lack of faith. He then sent emissaries for an immediate investigation. When all the facts were ascertained, he ordered the Bishop of the diocese to bring to Orvieto the Host and the linen cloth bearing the stains of blood. With archbishops, cardinals and other Church dignitaries in attendance, the Pope met the procession and, amid great solemnity, had the relics placed in the cathedral. The linen corporal bearing the spots of blood is still reverently enshrined and exhibited in the Cathedral of Orvieto, Italy.

Pope Urban IV was prompted by this miracle to commission St. Thomas Aquinas to compose the liturgical prayers in honor of the Eucharist. One year after the miracle, in August of 1264, Pope Urban IV introduced the saint’s compositions, and by means of a papal bull instituted the feast of Corpus Christi.

(The story is told by Fr. James Farfaglia)

The Church’s feast of Corpus Christi is an expression of our strong belief in the real presence of Christ in the Eucharist. In the second reading, Saint Paul recalls how the Lord Jesus had instituted the Eucharist on the night before he died: “The Lord Jesus took some bread, and after he had given thanks, he broke it, and he said, ‘This is my body, which is for you; do this in remembrance of me.’ And in the same way, with the cup after supper, saying, ‘This cup is the new covenant in my blood. Whenever you drink it, do this as a memorial of me’ (1 Cor 11:23-25). The phrase “Do this in remembrance of me” is taken by the Church as a direct command by the Lord for his followers to perpetuate the memorial and the fruits of his redeeming sacrifice. And so, we believe that every time we gather and celebrate the Eucharist, we continue to benefit from the salvific action of Christ.

Other Christians do not believe in the real presence of Christ in the Eucharist. For them, the bread and wine are mere symbols of the Body of Christ, not his presence. However, we, Catholics, point out that when Jesus held the piece of bread and the cup of wine in his hands, he did not say “These are symbols of my body and blood”. Instead, he said, “This is my body” and “This is my blood” (See Matthew 26:26-28), meaning, he was giving himself under the form of bread and wine. This interpretation is quite consistent with Jesus’ statement in the gospel of John: “I am the living bread that came down from heaven; whoever eats this bread will live forever; and the bread that I will give is my flesh for the life of the world” (6:51). His listeners reacted strongly to this, saying, “How can this man give us his flesh to eat?” (6:52). But the Lord did not waver and continued to say, “Amen, amen, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you do not have life within you. Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise him on the last day” (6:53-54). It is reasonable to believe that in saying this, Jesus was referring to the Eucharist that he was about to institute at the Last Supper.

To believe in the real presence of Christ in the Eucharist is a matter of great faith. The bread and wine do not manifest any difference in size, color, or taste after their consecration. Our senses, in fact, would not confirm that the consecrated bread and wine are now the Body and Blood of Christ. But when it comes to the mysteries of God, we are challenged to surrender our senses, even our intellect, to faith.

There is a fascinating story told of scientists from NASA interested in experimenting with the energy of the human body and how the aura might be affected by prolonged travel in space. They devised a camera that could perceive the aura. They asked permission of a dying man in a hospital if they could observe his aura as death approached. The man consented to the experiment.

While observing the man through a monitor set up in an adjacent room one day, they were stunned by a white light that suddenly appeared on the screen. Without knowing exactly what was taking place in the hospital room, they observed that the white light entered the dying man and then filled him with a radiant light.

When the scientists entered the sick man’s room, they found a priest praying by his bedside. The priest had brought the dying man Holy Communion. The scientists were so moved by this miracle that they converted to Catholicism.

(The story is told by Fr. James Farfaglia)

Through the feast of Corpus Christi, the Church wishes to inspire in us great reverence and devotion to the Blessed Sacrament. May we always do our best to receive the Body and Blood of Christ in the Mass with proper disposition and constant longing!