WHAT, ANOTHER FEAST ???

Instead of explaining certain aspects of the Blessed Eucharist, I think it best to try and recall what are the incidents, events leading to this wondrous Mystery.

The Feast of Corpus Christi knows its beginning in Belgium, in the 13th century. It was celebrated by the Benedictine Friars behind the walls of their Monastery. In 1264, Pope Urbanus extended this Solemnity throughout the Universal Church. According to some, the reason behind the Pope’s decision was influenced by the Bolsena Miracle.

Yet one might ask, why create a new feast in the Church? Is not this same occasion celebrated during Maundy Thursday? Do we not commemorate it during every Sunday Mass? Could we not say that the Feast of the Body and Blood of Jesus is re-presented and celebrated in every single Mass, every day?

All these arguments hold water, but the main aim of this Feast, in a solemn way, was not to remind the faithful of any episode in the life of Jesus; say His Birth, His Presentation, His Baptism and the rest, but to make one and all conscious about “a truth of Faith”; the Real Presence of Christ in the Blessed Eucharist. The Church felt the need to make a solemn proclamation about a “fact of faith.”

The need was felt of the imminent danger of accepting this fact as a habit, as a matter of fact, and as a habit would, in turn, be ignored and ‘taken forgranted.’ If we fall into such a category we will be deserving of the accusation made by John the Baptist, when he said to the Jews: “In your midst there stands one whom you do not recognise.”

THIS is the reason for the extraordinary, and visible solemnity of this Feast in the Catholic Church. There was a time when the procession of Corpus Christi was the one and only manifestation organised by the Catholic Church with great Solemnity. Yet, sorry to say nowadays these processions have become more of a ‘pageant’.

The Liturgy of this solemnity is reflected in the Readings, the Antiphons, the Hymns and the Prayers, they are all witnesses of this wondrous miracle. Had not the Feast of Corpus Christi already existed, the Church would have felt the need to create one. Nowadays all believers are facing the problem of many who try to paint this Mystery as something ‘trivial, insignificant’.


Those of us who are past their seventies still recall the fact that to receive Holy Communion, we had to fast for a good number of hours and prepare ourself by going to Confession. Today, it seems, with all due respect; many, in their hundreds, receive the consecrated Host, and yet no one seems to go to Confession.

Another heart ache is the fact that many attend (rather than participate), Holy Mass, yet they do not partake of the Banquet. We know quite well that the aim of the Mass is in the partaking of the Bread changed into the Body and Blood of Christ. I can’t imagine any one attending a party without even taking part of the eats and drinks provided (save for health reasons).

At the same time it is best to keep in mind what St.Paul told us:” He who eats this Bread and drinks from this Chalice unworthily, will be guilty of the Body and Blood of Jesus.”

It would be beneficial, both for our soul and body to keep in mind the words of St.Francis of Assisi. He used to shake and tremble all over at the simple thought of holding the Body and Blood of Jesus in his hands. As a human being he felt so much unworthy to hold in his hands the Creator of the whole Universe. God has humbled Himself for your sake, for my sake; let us show our appreciation for such a wondrous miracle of love.