I find it fitting to post this blog today as we celebrated The Feast of Corpus Christi, also known as the Solemnity of the Most holy Body and Blood of Christ. Did you know that Corpus Christi is Latin for Body of Christ? This entire Feast Day came about because one priest, Fr. Peter of Prague was on a pilgrimage and stopped to say mass in Italy. At the time, he was doubtful about Jesus being truly present in the Blessed Sacrament. He, like many others I’m sure, questioned if Christ was actually present in the consecrated bread and wine. As he celebrated the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass, and knowing of his doubts, when he recited the prayer of consecration, blood started seeping from the consecrated host and onto the altar and the corporal. Fr. Peter reported this to Pope Urban IV and there were delegates sent to investigate. The relics were placed in the Cathedral of Orvieto, where they remain today.
This Eucharistic Miracle was confirmed by the visions given to St. Juliana of Mont Cornillon. She was a nun and had a vision that she was instructed by Our Lord to establish a liturgical feast day in honor of the Blessed Sacrament. She tried tirelessly to convince the Pope to create this special day, but it wasn’t until after her death that the Pope instituted Corpus Christi for the Universal Church and celebrated it for the first time in the year 1264.
So what does all this mean? It means that as Catholics, we believe, TRULY believe that Jesus is present in the consecrated bread and wine. Well don’t you?
If you answered yes to the previous question then this blog is for you. I’m here to talk about reverence and how to receive Jesus while we are at mass. For quite some time, I’ve been thinking about this the wrong way. Maybe I was embarrassed to receive Him by tongue, maybe I wasn’t sure of what to do. I don’t know my exact reason, but whatever reason I had wasn’t a reason at all. I used to always receive communion by hand. After all, that was the way I was taught for my First Communion. I think we, as Catholics, have lost sight on what is actually taking place. Consuming, receiving, Jesus Christ himself, requires the utmost reverence. We as the laity are not worthy of touching Him. St. Thomas Aquinas reminds us of this: The dispensing of Christ’s body belongs to the priest for three reasons. First, because … he consecrates in the person of Christ… Secondly, because the priest is the appointed intermediary between God and the people, hence as it belongs to him to offer the people’s gifts to God, so it belongs to him to deliver the consecrated gifts to the people. Thirdly, because out of reverence toward this sacrament nothing touches it but what is consecrated, hence the corporal and the chalice are consecrated, and likewise the priest’s hands, for touching this sacrament. Hence it is not lawful for anyone else to touch it, except from necessity-for instance, if it were to fall upon the ground or else in some other case of urgency.
I was visiting another parish recently, and was blown away by Father’s homily. He spoke on the Holy Trinity, but he touched base on reverence. He said that when people saw Jesus they fell onto their knees and put their faces on the ground out of respect and awe of His presence. I was totally motivated. Like YEAH!! We should always think of Jesus that way. Father continued by asking us how would we react if Jesus was before us? Would we fall onto our knees? I was truly impressed with the homily and looked forward to communion at this mass. Thankfully my family sat on the correct side of the church that the priest would be administering communion to. But, there were four Eucharistic Ministers. They picked up Jesus and started handing Him out like coupons for discount ground meat. Our parish hasn’t had Eucharist Ministers for quite some time. I was appalled. I really try hard, y’all know this, to not worry or look at what other people do in the communion line. Y’all. Every single person received Him by hand. I saw two people prior to myself that received him by tongue.
How can the priest go on and on about the reverence and how to act before Jesus Christ but when you are actually receiving Him during communion, it’s okay to just toss Him in your hand? I don’t know. It bothered me the entire mass. I know people choose to go up to communion the way they want, after all it is a free country. I felt that maybe the parishioners didn’t truly believe. Or maybe my home parish is more reverent so I’m not used to seeing that happen. Either way, we have to start preparing ourselves the receive the Eucharist. Today, in my home parish, our priest spoke on how we prepare for celebrations. Birthdays, marriages, etc. We plan, we buy gifts, we order a cake, the list goes on. Receiving the Holy Eucharist is a celebration. Why are we not preparing ourselves in the same manner? With the same “check off your list” mindset? Are we in sanctifying grace?
I have recently watched a video titled “Jesus is on the Floor.” It shows how pieces of the consecrated bread, Jesus himself, in crumbs on the floor where people receive communion. It shows awareness to the fact that even the smallest particles can fall and the lack of respect that shows to Him. I have also watched videos of how receiving in hand leaves even small particles of Jesus onto your hand. Is that how we should treat Him?
I’m thankful that our parish allows us to kneel, to receive Jesus by tongue and in the utmost reverence. So let me ask you, do you truly believe Jesus is present in the consecrated bread and wine? If you said yes, then why are you still receiving Him by hand?
Hugs and Loves, Ali
“While they were eating, Jesus took bread, said the blessing, broke it, and giving it to his disciples said, “Take and eat; this is my body.” Then he took a cup, gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, “Drink from it, all of you, for this is my blood of the covenant, which will be shed on behalf of many for the forgiveness of sins.” Matthew 26:26-28