What is the Feast of Corpus Christi?

Definition of Corpus Christi

Corpus Christi is Latin for “The Body of Christ”. In other words, the Holy Eucharist that Catholics receive during Mass. On the Feast Day of Corpus Christi, Catholics celebrate the body and blood of Christ. Catholics profess their belief in the Blessed Sacrament with great joy. As Catholics, we believe and profess that the Eucharist is really the body and blood of Christ. We believe that, during the Mass, the bread and wine become the body and blood of Christ. He is really and substantially present, though the appearances of Bread and Wine remain.

Jesus is physically present through the Holy Eucharist

The Church teaches that Jesus is really and substantially present in the Holy Eucharist. Some Catholics even struggle to fully grasp this mystery. Why is this? First of all, we often just assume that everyone knows what the church teaches about a variety of issues. Because of this assumption, we may not remember to learn about these fundamental beliefs. Here is the fundamentals of the Catholic belief: the Eucharist is not simply bread and wine, it is not simply a representation of Christ. When we celebrate the Mass we don’t just “remember” what Christ did many years ago. Rather, it is truly the presence of Christ.

Each Mass allows us to not only remember Jesus, but we enter into his story. The precious gift of the Eucharist is Jesus’ lasting presence in our world. The Eucharist should be an important part of our lives. In fact, Vatican II called it the source and summit of our Catholic faith.

Receive communion to grow closer to God

A second reason why many people are probably unaware of this teaching is because most of us stopped learning about our faith when we were in grade school. That can leave us to think of our faith as something in the background. Once we dive deeper into learning about the Holy Eucharist in our adulthood, we will have more “ah-ha” moments of understanding that the Eucharist is truly the physical presence of Jesus Christ. Start attending daily Mass and you will experience the peaceful prayer and daily joys of receiving the Eucharist. Consider attending adoration at your local church parish. It is like stepping out of the earthy world and gaining a glimpse of God’s heavenly kingdom through the powerful call of the Eucharist. The Eucharist can literally your life.

The body of Christ: This is our daily bread

The Eucharist can do the same in your lives as well. Turn to the body and blood of Christ each and every day. As it is said, the communion is our daily bread, which feeds our soul. Learn to love the Eucharist more and more. If you do, you will see that it is the Eucharist that gives us the grace and strength we need to be faithful disciples of Jesus.

So, no matter what your vocation is, the Eucharist should be central. The Eucharist makes you a better husband or wife, mother or father. This is because the Eucharist gives us the presence of Christ in our lives, and it teaches us the great lesson of self-giving love.

Become enamored by the Eucharist. Fall in love with it. Don’t just say the words of Mass, really pray the words of the Mass. Don’t just see the bread and wine as bread and wine – understand that they have been transformed through transubstantiation as Jesus’ sacrifice for humanity. If you draw near to the body and blood of Christ, Jesus himself will draw near to you.

 

About the Author

Father Jake Runyon is a priest in the Diocese of Fort Wayne-South Bend where he serves as the Rector and Pastor of the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception in Fort Wayne. This post was originally published on his personal blog Docete and is shared here with permission.

 

The Best Corpus Christi Christian Products

The Eucharist is often a challenge to behold and understand. Christians often turn to the crucifix to remember the sacrifice Jesus Christ made for the sake of saving us from sin. This ultimate sacrifice is depicted as Jesus nailed to the cross. Hang up a crucifix on your wall at home or wear a crucifix bangle bracelet to remember the ultimate sacrifice of Jesus. Alternatively, you can hold your keys on a crucifix keychain, place a cross visor clip in your car, or wear a crucifix pendant.