Corpus Christi

Corpus Christi celebrates the gift of the Eucharist. The readings from all three years focus on Jesus giving his Body and Blood for the life of the world. In one year, we hear Jesus say, “This is my body” at the Last Supper. In another, he talks about being the living bread from heaven. The Gospel stories remind us that Jesus feeds us in both body and soul.

This feast also points to the mystery of God’s love made real in the Mass. The readings often mention sacrifice, covenant, and sharing. We are reminded that Jesus gave everything for us. We are called to receive the Eucharist with faith and to live in unity with others. Corpus Christi is a time to remember what the Mass means and how it feeds our life as Catholics.

Click on the appropriate year below to see resources, themes, homilies, and more. 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

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

• 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.

Lookup Other Liturgical Dates in the Lectionary

The Bible and the Lectionary both contain Scripture, but they are used in different ways. The Bible is the full collection of sacred books. It can be read in any order for prayer, study, or reflection. The Lectionary is a book of Bible readings arranged for Mass. It follows a set plan so the Church hears key parts of Scripture during the year. The Lectionary is organized with Sundays, weekdays, and feast days. Each reading has a lectionary number that helps people find it easily.

The Lectionary follows a three-year cycle for Sundays (Years A, B, and C) and a two-year cycle for weekdays (Years I and II). Readings are chosen to match the Church’s seasons and highlight important themes. For example, the readings for Corpus Christi focus on the gift of the Eucharist. The Lectionary helps Catholics stay connected to the message of the Gospel all year, including special feast days like Corpus Christi.

How to Determine the Liturgical Year

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

Corpus Christi is a special day when we focus on the Eucharist. In every Mass, Jesus gives himself to us as food. The readings from all three years show that the Body and Blood of Christ are more than symbols. They are real gifts for our lives.

One Gospel shows Jesus feeding a large crowd with just a few loaves and fish. Another tells us about the Last Supper, where Jesus shares bread and wine with his friends. Another reading reminds us that Jesus is the living bread from heaven. All the readings help us see how Jesus feeds our souls.

Corpus Christi helps us remember that we are one body in Christ. When we take part in the Eucharist, we are united with Jesus and with each other. This feast reminds us to be thankful and to share what we have with others.

Corpus Christi is not just about the altar. It is also about how we live after Mass. Jesus feeds us so we can serve others.

The readings for Corpus Christi help us see the meaning of the Eucharist. They show us how Jesus gives us his Body and Blood to feed our faith. Take time to reflect on how the Eucharist strengthens your life. Think about how you are called to share that gift with others.

Read the Scripture for Corpus Christi and think about what stands out to you. What does the Eucharist mean in your life? What do you notice in the readings from the different years? Share your thoughts or experience in the comments. Let’s help each other grow in faith.