Why do Catholics celebrate Corpus Christi? 
The Catholic Church honors Christ’s Presence in the Holy Eucharist with a special feast owing to St. Juliana of Liège, a 13th-century Norbertine canoness from Belgium. She had a great love for the Eucharist. When she was 16, she had a vision in which the Church was a full moon with a dark spot. The dark spot signified that the Church was missing a feast dedicated solely to the Body and Blood of Christ. Even though she had this vision several times, St. Juliana did not think that she could do anything to help institute this feast. Therefore, she kept it a secret for many years. Once she was elected prioress, she finally told her confessor, who in turn told the bishop. This eventually led to the universal feast of Corpus Christi.

What does Corpus Christi mean?
The Latin words “Corpus Christi” translate to “Body of Christ.”

Why is the Solemnity of Corpus Christi important?
The Eucharist is the “source and summit of the Christian life” (Second Vatican Council, Lumen gentium, no. 11). In the Eucharist, Jesus Himself re-presents for our benefit His Sacrifice on Calvary (Luke 22:19 20; 1 Cor. 11:26-29), gives Himself to us in Holy Communion (Exodus 16:4, 35; John 6:1-14, 48-51), and remains among us until the end of the age (Luke 24:13-35; Mt. 28:18-20). He comes to us in this humble form, making Himself vulnerable, out of love for each one of us. Yet, as God Himself, the Body and Blood of Christ deserves our utmost respect and love, as well as our adoration. St. Thomas Aquinas, Hymn “Tantum Ergo” “Down in adoration falling, Lo! the sacred Host we hail; Lo! o'er ancient forms departing, Newer rites of grace prevail; Faith for all defects supplying, Where the feeble senses fail.”

The Holy Eucharist is the greatest of the seven sacraments.
The Catholic Church teaches that in the Eucharist, Our Lord Jesus Christ, true God and true man, is really, truly, and substantially, present under the appearances of bread and wine. Our Lord is not merely symbolized by the bread and wine; nor is he present only through the faith of those present. Rather, the two material things, bread and wine, are completely changed (His Essence) into the Body and Blood of Jesus Christ, leaving behind only their sensible appearances. Thus, through the words of consecration spoken by the priest, Jesus, without ceasing to be present in a natural way in heaven, is also present sacramentally, Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity, wherever the consecrated elements are present.

Is the Eucharist biblical?
The Eucharist is discussed many times in Sacred Scripture in its root meaning “to give thanks” (Ps. 9:1, Is. 12:1, 4; Col. 3:17; 1 Thess. 5:18). Giving thanks, or blessing God, was the essential element of the prayers of temple, synagogue, and daily life for Israel. There are many instances, as well, in the Old Testament where the Eucharist is foreshadowed even in its sacramental forms, such as Melchizedek’s offering of bread and wine (Genesis 14:18–20), the Passover (Ex. 12:1-14), and the manna which sustained Israel until it could enter into the Promised Land (Ex. 16:13-17). Christ likewise always gave thanks to His Father for His good gifts. This is recorded especially in contexts where He anticipated the forms of new covenant worship. These include the wedding feast of Cana (John 2), changing water into wine, the two multiplication of loaves miracles (Mt. 14:13-21; Mt. 15:32-39), multiplying substance to satisfy the needs of all, and His explanation of the Eucharist in the Bread of Life Discourse (John 6). Finally, at the Last Supper He instituted the Eucharist, as the normative way of commemorating His Paschal Sacrifice on Calvary, commanding that we do this until He comes again (cf. 1 Cor. 11).

June 2, Sunday, the Feast of Corpus Christi will see St. Catherine of Siena hold a Eucharistic Procession at the conclusion of the Mass. We will process from the altar out the atrium doors, turning right and proceeding to the backyard and process to a prepared outdoor altar of veneration. Signing songs including the Litany of the Saints, Tantum Ergo and Holy God We Praise Thy Name. We shall the have a Eucharistic Blessing and the Divine Praises. The whole celebration will last 30 minutes, so I invite all to please participate in this beautiful liturgical celebration and come to know better the beauty of and greatest gift of the Eucharist in our lives as a Church and as people. As Roman Catholics, we are blessed to share in God’s Divine Love every time we attend Mass.

Come one, come all to the Lord!