This weekend, the Church celebrates the Solemnity of the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ, also known as the Feast of Corpus Christi. This celebration is held to honour the Real Presence of Jesus in the Eucharist. We acknowledge that Jesus Christ is truly present in the Eucharistic elements, and that each time we receive the Eucharist, even if we only receive under one species, we receive the full Body and Blood, Soul and Divinity of Jesus Christ, which the Eucharistic elements contain.
Belief in the Real Presence is central to our Catholic Faith. That is why we profess that the Eucharist is the source and summit of our faith. All Christian spirituality and graces flow from the Eucharist, and all Christian activity is directed back to the Eucharist. All of the other Sacraments that we celebrate are oriented toward the Eucharist, and towards Christ, our Divine Head.
We recognize these truths each time the Mass is celebrated. On the Feast of Corpus Christi, however, we call them to mind in a special way. That is why many Churches throughout the world will hold Eucharistic Processions to mark this feast, as we are doing this weekend. These professions serve as a public witness of our belief in the Real Presence and represent an act of invoking Christ’s blessings on the world. This is symbolized by the Priest imparting the Eucharistic Benediction at various times during the procession.
We are living in a time in which faith in the Real Presence has declined. There is an increasing tendency to view the Eucharist as a mere symbol, and to ignore the words of our Lord when he tells us that his flesh is true food, and his blood is true drink. It is in times like these that we as Catholics are called to witness more boldly to the truth of our Faith, and show by our actions that we truly believe in the Real Presence of Christ in the Eucharist.
I’m encouraged to see our brothers and sisters in faith in the United States entering into a period of National Eucharistic Revival, leading up to the National Eucharistic Congress in July of 2024. I pray that we can find similar renewal in Canada, and reawaken the hearts of the Faithful to recognize the importance of the Eucharist in our lives of faith. Please pray for the pilgrims who are currently journeying in procession with the Eucharist to Indianapolis for this Congress, and pray that this Eucharistic revival will be a source of inspiration for the whole world, which will deepen devotion to the Most Holy Eucharist.
Sincerely in Christ,
Fr. Steven Huber, CSB