Corpus Christi means “body of Christ”. This feast day celebrates the true presence of our Lord Jesus Christ in the sacrament of the Eucharist – body, blood, soul, and divinity. Corpus Christi was traditionally celebrated the Thursday after Trinity Sunday, but in the United States it is celebrated the following Sunday.
The readings for the Solemnity of the Body and Blood of Christ for Year B give background for the notion of sacrifice and explain why we call Jesus the Lamb of God. So the Blessed Sacrament is the main theme for this feast day along with the notion of self-giving. Here are some suggested activities for this date.
The Book of Revelation can be one of the most difficult books of the bible to understand. In his book The Lamb's Supper: The Mass As Heaven on Earth, Scott Hahn makes the case that the Book of Revelation is actually a description of the Mass. And every time we participate in the Eucharistic celebration we are actually taking part in a liturgy where heaven intersects with earth.
The readings for the Solemnity of the Body and Blood of Christ for Year A focus on the Eucharist. So the Blessed Sacrament is the focus for this feast day. We can focus on how it brings us together and gives us strength Here are some ideas for this weekend
The readings for The Solemnity of the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ for Year C focus on Jesus Christ, our high priest, who sustains us with is very being. This is a time to talk about the Eucharist and also the priesthood.
In this video we see the words of St. Justin wrote to the Roman emperor in 155 AD to defend Christianity. He describes a Mass which would be familiar to us today – the reading from scripture, the homily, the petitions, the offertory, the praying over the gifts, the reception of communion. He even describes bringing communion to those who are not present. He explains that this is called Eucharist and that we believe it is truly the body and blood of Christ.
This is a wonderful resource to show the continuity of the order of Mass throughout the ages.
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