The Body and Blood of Christ Solemnity

“The little, red light flickering on the altar, burning silently day and night, is an eloquent reminder of a presence and, at the same time, the fulfillment of a promise:” I am with you, always, to the end of the earth”.

Christ loves us so much that “The night before He was betrayed” he handed Himself into our hands.

He knew that the generation of “Judas” who betray Him would continue to suffer and die  at the hands of His priests. The would betray once more, as we read on the newspapers.
 
He knew that the sacrament of His love would have been profaned by Christians who would have approached this sacrament without a due preparation, or in the state of mortal sin. Nevertheless He decided that He wanted to stay and remain with us till the end of time.

Today we celebrate His faithful love to us. Is the “solemnity”, i.e. “great celebration”, of the Body and Blood of Christ.

This feast came in to being long ago, in 1263 when a German priest, Peter of Prague, stopped at Bolsena (Italy) while on a pilgrimage to Rome.

He is described as being a pious priest, but one who found it difficult to believe that Christ was actually present in the consecrated Host. While celebrating Holy Mass 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 confused and afraid.

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. To Pope  ordered to bring to Orvieto the Host and the linen cloth bearing the stains of blood. The linen corporal bearing the spots of blood is still reverently enshrined and exhibited in the Cathedral of Orvieto.

This outstanding miracle, as for all miracle in general, is not the reason why I do believe that the wafer we receive is the Body and Blood of Christ. Things can be manipulated.

I believe that Christ is in the Eucharist because He said so.

Men can tell lies, God can not lie. It would be in contradiction with the very nature of God who is TRUTH.

The Apostles saw the humanity of Christ walking, discoursing, performing miracle. They saw the humanity and believed the divinity.

We see none of the two, but still, we believe.

We are indeed truly blessed since Christ said to Thomas: “You believe because you saw be, How blessed are those who, without seeing will believe!” That blessing is ours.

If so, why the some many Holy Communions we receive seem to leave us as we were before? It is not so, we are deceived by appearances.

 In reality, we are never the same after we have received Holy Communion. We are either a bit better, or a little bit worse than before.

The Eucharist we receive does not seemingly bring about big changes most probably  because there is no prior preparation, and no thanksgiving after its reception.

We were advised to keep a fast of at least for our hour prior to its reception. I have noticed how people come to church chewing gum,  drinking coffee and chat even when waiting in line to receive the Body of Christ.