Corpus Christi

THAT’S the “Body of Christ” in Latin. But it’s short for the Body and Blood of Christ whose solemnity the Church celebrated recently. It’s a big event in the liturgical calendar, surrounded by rich tradition and practices of piety, all highlighting the real presence of Christ in the Blessed Sacrament.

In Rome and all over the world, processions of the Blessed Sacrament take place, with people, led by the Pope or the bishop or the priest, adoring the sacred presence in different stations along the way. Really moving!

I joined one of these processions in Rome. I was awe-struck at the carriage and monstrance used. They were literally covered with diamonds. The glitter was blinding if not for the thick billows of incense that surrounded them.

The Blessed Sacrament was placed under a beautiful canopy, carried by a number of priests. Eucharistic hymns accompanied it, filling the air with such piety and devotion that somehow called to mind another world, the one meant for us after our long and tedious journey here on earth.

Before the procession returned to the church, the final part was to pass by the church front ground which was entirely covered by a floral carpet, in different colors and fabulous designs. My heart was already twirling with unspeakable delight!

Yet in spite of all this, some naughty thought flashed. Is it worthwhile to have all this extravagant and lavish show of piety? The answer came strong and quick—Yes, but of course. What we have here is nothing and no one less than Christ himself!

This is what our Christian faith teaches. Christ, in the Blessed Sacrament, is not merely a symbol. He is real! All his body and soul, humanity and divinity throb alive in real time in what now appears as a piece of bread inserted for display in some gadget.

Of course, all this reality has to be accessed through faith. It cannot be seen and appreciated if we use our senses alone, or our feelings or even pure reason that is not infused by faith.

That’s why we need to make many acts of faith all throughout the day. In fact, this should be our abiding exercise. We need to live by faith. We can not remain in the level of human thought and feelings if we want to be consistent with our dignity as children of God.

And in the Blessed Sacrament we at least get close to the one who is everything to us. We just have to grow in our faith in it, such that a living and meaningful relationship exists between Christ and us, one that expresses itself in a continuous flow of loving thoughts, words and deeds.

We cannot doubt anymore about the truth of the real presence of Christ in the Blessed Sacrament. First, because it is Christ himself who said it: “This is my body…This is my blood…”

And then in the history of the Church, there already had been a number of extraordinary episodes corroborating this wonderful truth. Some people who had doubts about this truth were confronted with hosts that literally turned into flesh or that shed blood.

Even now, in a place which I will not reveal, there was this incident when the sacred host accidentally fell and was stepped on during the Mass. When the priest realized it, he was shocked to see the host shedding blood.

We have to live by faith, and we need to sustain that kind of life by making acts of faith. These acts of faith should not just be an added-on to our consciousness. It should be an organic part. In fact, it should be our life’s inspiring spirit, the one that gives origin, shape and direction to our thoughts, words and deeds.

This ideal, for sure, requires a bit of practice and training. But it should not be that difficult to do and achieve. We can always make use of the ordinary events of our daily life to exercise this faith.

Of course, we need to make that faith grow and take flight, until it becomes quite capable of entering and flowing with the mystery involved in our life with God. This is the challenge of today.

I suggest study of the doctrine of our faith, especially the one related to the Holy Eucharist. Then deep and continuing meditation of God’s word as written in the Gospel, and reflected in the writings of saints and some inspired vocal prayers in the Church!