The Solemnity of the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ
Corpus Christi
Today we celebrate Corpus Christi, the Solemnity of the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ. In today’s Gospel, we are reminded of the Last Supper, when Jesus told his disciples, “Take and eat; this is my Body.” The priest echoes these words during every liturgy, so that we never lose sight of the precious gift that Christ offers us at every Mass.
We all have a sense of what it means to give ourselves for another person. If you’re a parent, a spouse, or a friend, you’ve likely had experiences of offering up your time, your talents, and your very self for the good of your beloved. What Christ is doing at the Mass takes this self-giving to its extreme: he gives his Body and Blood, truly present, for us to consume. And why? So that we may be consumed in turn by his love and life. Today, let us pray for the grace to receive this holy gift in a manner worthy of its sanctity, so that Christ may truly live in us.