Corpus Christi

Corpus Christi means “body of Christ.” This feast day celebrates the true presence of Jesus in the Eucharist – body, blood, soul, and divinity. It is called the Solemnity of the Body and Blood of Christ. Traditionally, Corpus Christi was celebrated on the Thursday after Trinity Sunday. In the United States, it is celebrated on the following Sunday. The focus of this feast is the Blessed Sacrament.

The Eucharist brings us together and gives us strength. Jesus is our high priest who sustains us with His very being. He is called the Lamb of God because He was sacrificed for our sins.

See ideas for catechists, teachers, youth minister, families, and more here. See how to determine the correct year.

Corpus Christi Year A
Corpus Christi Year B
Corpus Christi Year C

Mass Readings for Corpus Christi Year A

See resources, homilies, and more for the Corpus Christi Year A readings here.

• First Reading – Deuteronomy 8:2-3, 14B-16A: God led and tested the Israelites in the desert, providing manna and water, to show that life depends on His word.
• Responsorial Psalm – Psalm 147: Praise the Lord for strengthening Jerusalem, granting peace, and sharing his word and laws with Israel.
• Second Reading – 1 Corinthians 10:16-17: The cup and bread we bless signify our sharing in Christ’s blood and body, uniting us as one body.
• Gospel – John 6:51-58: Jesus declares He is the living bread from heaven. To have eternal life, we must eat His flesh and drink His blood, ensuring our union with Him and eternal life.

Mass Readings for Corpus Christi Year B

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• First Reading – Exodus 24:3-8: Moses relayed God’s laws to Israel, recorded them, and confirmed the covenant by sprinkling blood on the people, symbolizing their commitment to God’s commands.
• Responsorial Psalm – Psalm 116: In gratitude for God’s blessings, I commit to acts of thanksgiving and promise fulfillment before all His people, acknowledging His mercies and deliverance.
• Second Reading – Hebrews 9:11-15: Christ, the perfect high priest, entered heaven with his own blood, not that of animals, offering us eternal redemption and mediating a new covenant.
• Gospel – Mark 14:12-16, 22-26: Jesus instructs his disciples to prepare the Passover in a designated room, where he institutes the Eucharist and predicts his final drink of wine in God’s kingdom.

Mass Readings for Corpus Christi Year C

See resources, homilies, and more for the Corpus Christi Year C readings here.

• First Reading – Genesis 14:18-20: Melchizedek, king of Salem and priest of God, brought bread and wine and blessed Abram. Abram gave Melchizedek a tenth of everything.
• Responsorial Psalm – Psalm 110: The LORD declares an eternal priesthood in the line of Melchizedek, promises victory over enemies, and assures divine authority and power.
• Second Reading – 1 Corinthians 11:23-26: Jesus instituted the Eucharist at the Last Supper, saying the bread is his body and the cup is the new covenant in his blood, to be done in remembrance of him.
• Gospel – Luke 9:11B-17: Jesus fed a crowd of five thousand with five loaves and two fish. He blessed and broke the food, distributing it through his disciples. Everyone was satisfied, and twelve baskets of leftovers were collected.

More About Lectionary Cycles

Learn more about the difference between a Bible and a Lectionary, how the Lectionary is arranged, and translations of the Bible used at Mass.

The liturgical cycle is a three-year sequence of A, B, and C.

• 2024 is Year B
• 2025 is Year C
• 2026 is Year A
• 2027 is Year B
• 2028 is Year C
• 2029 is Year A
• 2030 is Year B
• 2031 is Year C
• … and so on