Message of Corpus Christi: God with us

South Coast Today By LINDA ANDRADE RODRIGUES

Over 1,600 years ago, a North African mystic explained to Christians that with the Eucharist, God had given them everything.

"Although God is all-powerful, He is unable to give more; though supremely wise, He knows not how to give more; though vastly rich, He has not more to give," St. Augustine taught.

When the Franciscans of the Immaculate lead the Corpus Christi (Body of Christ) Procession through downtown New Bedford at 2 p.m. Sunday, they will be visibly expressing this belief that "God is with us."

"Our Catholic faith is not one where everything remains only in the abstract, but rather there are also concrete things in demonstration — things that we can see, things that we can touch, and things that we can sense that help witness to our faith," said the Rev. Louis Maximilian Mary, Father Guardian of the Franciscan Friars of the Immaculate of Our Lady's Chapel.

Catholics believe that Jesus Christ will be present — body, blood, soul and divinity — in the consecrated host exposed in the monstrance that a priest will carry along city streets, just as He is present in the tabernacles of Catholic churches veiled under the appearance of bread.

"We see with the eyes of faith, and it's something of a mystery," said Father Louis. "It's our way to come into His presence, a mysterious and profound contact with God by things we can see and touch."

Along with the six Friars of the Immaculate, diocesan priests will participate in the procession.

"Last year we had many priests from New Bedford parishes who participated with their parishes, and I think it's a wonderful statement of the unity of the faithful in proclaiming their belief and in praising their Lord," said Father Louis. "It is very public and so very important."

Members of church organizations and sodalities from throughout the diocese also will join the procession with their banners, and buses of worshippers are expected to participate.

Stepping off from Our Lady's Chapel, clergy and laity will process reverently in a circuitous route to Our Lady of Purgatory Church (11 Franklin St.), St. Lawrence Martyr Church (560 County St.) and St. John the Baptist (344 County St.) and return to Our Lady's Chapel for final, prayers, hymns and Benediction.

While processing, children dressed as angels, will be strewing flower petals in front of the Blessed Sacrament, a European custom.

"One of the traditions with this procession is that children who make their First Communion this year dress up in white like angels," said Father Louis. This is kind of a visual reminder of the angels adoring the Lord."

Established in 1246 by Bishop Robert de Thorte of Liege, France, the Feast of the Blessed Sacrament was extended to the universal Church by Pope Urban in 1264. It is celebrated on the first Sunday after the Feast of the Trinity.

In 1979, Pope John Paul II took the traditional procession of the Eucharist from St. Peter's Square to the people, and Pope Benedict XVI follows in his footsteps.

After the final Benediction at Our Lady's Chapel, the friars will host a reception.

Following the Corpus Christi Procession, three days and nights of Eucharistic Adoration at the chapel will be dedicated to prayers for Pope Benedict XVI, who will celebrate the 60th anniversary of his priesthood on June 29.

"The Vatican has requested that the faithful around the world participate in Eucharistic Adoration to pray for the Holy Father," said Father Louis. "Area parishes will participate, too. We are offering up this extra prayer to our Holy Father to ask God to protect him and to thank God for him."

A blessed Feast of Corpus Christi!

By Archbishop Timothy J. Dolan

We just celebrated Trinity Sunday, confessing our faith in the one, true God, who reveals Himself as three divine persons, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

The second Person of this Most Blessed Trinity, God the Son, became man in Jesus Christ.

And Jesus Christ remains really and truly with us in the Sacrament of His Body and Blood.

So, this Sunday, we celebrate Corpus Christi, the Feast of the Body and Blood of Christ.

Jesus Christ is truly with us at every Mass; we receive Him — body, blood, soul, and divinity — each time we worthily approach Holy Communion; and He remains really present in the Most Blessed Sacrament, reserved in our tabernacles, adored in Eucharistic exposition.

Last week, we bishops met for our annual Spring Meeting, this year in Seattle. We had a lot of business: liturgical matters, revision of the Charter to Protect Youth, approval of a defense of fragile human life against physician-assisted suicide, a decision to issue a document to help our priests, deacons, and ourselves preach better . . . plus a lot more.

But the most productive session came on Friday morning. As usual, we began with the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass. But then we gathered as the Blessed Sacrament was placed in the monstrance on the altar. There we prayed: morning prayer from the Liturgy of the Hours; silence; an excellent conference by a brother bishop; silence; opportunity for confession; and closing Benediction.

It was, in my mind, the most productive part of our meeting. Nearly two hundred bishops, on their knees, in silent prayer, before Jesus, really and truly present in the Holy Eucharist.

As I tip-toed out of the room to stand in line for confession, I heard two of the young hotel workers chatting.

“It’s sure quiet in there,” whispered one of them. “What are they doing?”

“It’s weird,” replied the other. “They’re not doing nothing. They’re all just kneeling there quietly looking at this flat piece of bread in this fancy gold holder.”

He almost got it right . . . except that we believe, with all our heart and soul, that it’s not a “flat piece of bread,” but the second Person of the Blessed Trinity, Jesus Christ, really and truly present in the Sacrament of His Body and Blood.

A blessed Feast of Corpus Christi!