Today is Corpus Christi Sunday, already celebrated in Rome and other places Thursday! Corpus Christi meaning The Body of Christ!
Readings for Corpus Christi:
Reading 1GN 14:18-20
In those days, Melchizedek, king of Salem, brought out bread and wine,
and being a priest of God Most High, he blessed Abram with these words:
“Blessed be Abram by God Most High, the creator of heaven and earth;
and blessed be God Most High, who delivered your foes into your hand.”
Then Abram gave him a tenth of everything.
and being a priest of God Most High, he blessed Abram with these words:
“Blessed be Abram by God Most High, the creator of heaven and earth;
and blessed be God Most High, who delivered your foes into your hand.”
Then Abram gave him a tenth of everything.
The Word of the Lord! Thanks be to God!
Sequence before the Gospel:
Lo! the angel’s food is given
To the pilgrim who has striven; see the children’s bread from heaven,
which on dogs may not be spent.
To the pilgrim who has striven; see the children’s bread from heaven,
which on dogs may not be spent.
Truth the ancient types fulfilling,
Isaac bound, a victim willing,
Paschal lamb, its lifeblood spilling, manna to the fathers sent.
Very bread, good shepherd, tend us, Jesu, of your love befriend us,
You refresh us, you defend us,
Your eternal goodness send us In the land of life to see.
You who all things can and know, Who on earth such food bestow,
Grant us with your saints, though lowest, Where the heav’nly feast you show,
Fellow heirs and guests to be. Amen. Alleluia.
GospelLK 9:11B-17
Jesus spoke to the crowds about the kingdom of God,
and he healed those who needed to be cured.
As the day was drawing to a close, the Twelve approached him and said,
“Dismiss the crowd so that they can go to the surrounding villages and farms
and find lodging and provisions; for we are in a deserted place here.”
He said to them, “Give them some food yourselves.”
They replied, “Five loaves and two fish are all we have,
unless we ourselves go and buy food for all these people.”
Now the men there numbered about five thousand.
Then he said to his disciples,
“Have them sit down in groups of about fifty.”
They did so and made them all sit down.
Then taking the five loaves and the two fish, and looking up to heaven,
he said the blessing over them, broke them,
and gave them to the disciples to set before the crowd.
They all ate and were satisfied.
And when the leftover fragments were picked up, they filled twelve wicker baskets.
and he healed those who needed to be cured.
As the day was drawing to a close, the Twelve approached him and said,
“Dismiss the crowd so that they can go to the surrounding villages and farms
and find lodging and provisions; for we are in a deserted place here.”
He said to them, “Give them some food yourselves.”
They replied, “Five loaves and two fish are all we have,
unless we ourselves go and buy food for all these people.”
Now the men there numbered about five thousand.
Then he said to his disciples,
“Have them sit down in groups of about fifty.”
They did so and made them all sit down.
Then taking the five loaves and the two fish, and looking up to heaven,
he said the blessing over them, broke them,
and gave them to the disciples to set before the crowd.
They all ate and were satisfied.
And when the leftover fragments were picked up, they filled twelve wicker baskets.
The Gospel of the Lord! Praise to you Lord Jesus Christ!
I love this Solemnity and it always brings to memory the Solemnity of Corpus Christi in Rome in the year 2000. I was able to attend the Corpus Christi Mass and Procession with the then Pope John Paul II, he was becoming frail in body but all there is mind and spirit! The Mass and procession were beautiful!
We remember that in receiving Communion we receive All of Christ, Boday, Blood, Soul and Divinity, not a piece or a part but All of Christ! We should strive to live from Communion to Communion! Along with going to Mass please try to visit Christ present in the Tabernacle or during exposition at your Church! Even if it is just for a few minutes once a week, it is some private time with just you and Jesus!
