Why Celebrate the Body and Blood of Christ?

This last Sunday was the Solemnity of Corpus Christi, celebrating Christ’s institution of the Holy Eucharist at the Last Supper. On this Feast day, we were encouraged to set aside time to reflect on the real presence of the Body and Blood of Jesus in the Eucharist, as well as to take part in a public procession of the Blessed Sacrament following Mass.

The Friars devoted the entire weekend to this extraordinary Feast. On Saturday, we participated in a Eucharistic Conference and a Holy Hour at the Shrine of the Most Blessed Sacrament in Hanceville. The celebration continued on Sunday with a Corpus Christi Mass and Procession. Both the Mass and the Procession were televised with Fr. Miguel and Fr. Patrick serving as the MCs.

The Catechism tells us that the Eucharist is “the source and summit of the Christian life.” St. Francis of Assisi truly lived with the Eucharist as the focal point of his life. His powerful reflections continue to encourage our community, and many others, to grow in love and devotion to the Blessed Sacrament.

Be inspired by an excerpt from a letter that St. Francis wrote to his Order. “Let everyone be struck with fear, the whole world tremble,and the heavens exult when Christ, the Son of the living God, is present on the altar in the hands of a priest! O wonderful loftiness and stupendous dignity! O sublime humility! O humble sublimity! The Lord of the universe, God and the Son of God,so humbles Himself that He hides Himself for our salvation under an ordinary piece of bread! See the humility of God, brothers, and pour out your hearts before Him! Humble yourselves that you may be exalted by Him! Hold back nothing of yourselves for yourselves, that He Who gives Himself totally to you may receive you totally!” (Writings of St Francis).