Why do we celebrate the Solemnity of Corpus Christi? In the news of late, locally and across the nation, there has been reports of miracles in the Catholic Church. This is nothing new to be honest. Throughout our Church’s history, the Lord has performed miracles of all types and in many parts of the world. And, yes it is certain to say that miracles happen all the time—and I am not talking about raising people from the dead or turning water into wine. I am talking about the miracles of people caring and sharing with those in need. In addition, if you do not think that that is a miracle in this world, which can be all too selfish and self-centered, then… Miracles happen! Look at our parish—from Pantry Partners, Feed the Hungry, St. Elizabeth House and the Street Sandwich ministries and to Comitas…people are caring all the time. From our Lenten Mercy Project and Advent Giving Tree to the Little Sisters of the Poor, St. Francis Hospital, and the Malta House of Care…and that’s just one parish. Look at our Archdiocese and the Archbishop’s Annual Appeal, the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, and all the way to the Rome and beyond… miracles happen. But of all the miracles, there is one that is the greatest: and just look below to understand the miracle that happens at every Mass in every Catholic Church on every day of the week! And yet some people will still question “if miracles happen?!?”

The year 1264 saw the proclamation of a new feast for the Catholic Church. Years before, a holy nun had received a dream indicating the need for this feast. Various delays slowed its institution, until a Eucharistic miracle in 1263 finalized the Church’s decision to declare the feast. It’s lovely Office (prayers)— admired to this day by Protestants and Catholics—was written the Catholic theologian and saint, Thomas Aquinas.

This feast (or solemnity) known today as the Solemnity of Corpus Christi—the Feast of the Body of Christ. As with the recently celebrated feasts in the Church—Easter, Pentecost, and Most Holy Trinity— Corpus Christi solemnly celebrates one of the fundamental mysteries of the Catholic Church. In the celebration of this particular feast (solemnity), we honor Jesus as He is among us in the Holy Eucharist. This feast focuses specifically on “transubstantiation” the miracle of the change of “substance” which the bread and wine undergo at Consecration. Originally, this Solemnity was celebrated on a Thursday but now is transferred to the second Sunday after the Most Holy Trinity.

Today, we celebrate and adore Jesus—truly Emmanuel, God with us, through the Eucharist— telling Him with jubilance and solemnity how much we love Him. That is the point of the Solemnity—and why we celebrate it—to adore Christ and illustrate publically our love for Him.

At the end of the Holy Mass, there is often a procession of the Blessed Sacrament, generally in a monstrance. The procession is followed by the Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament, which we shall do. In Rome, the Pope holds a notable Eucharistic procession that begins at the Archbasilica of St. John Lateran and passes to the Basilica of St. Mary Major. Corpus Christi wreaths of flowers are hung on the front doors of the homes of faithful Christians. This celebration was suppressed in Protestant churches during the Reformation for theological reasons—they do not believe in the Real Presence of Christ in the Eucharist, for them it is merely symbolic. However, the Church of England, which abolished it in 1548 and then later on reintroduced it in some churches, calling it “Thanksgiving for Holy Communion”. The Lutheran Church is the only Protestant church to maintain the confession of the Real Presence.

For us this Sunday at St. Catherine of Siena Church, we shall celebrate the Solemnity of Corpus Christi at each of our Masses this weekend, but at the 11 a.m. Mass we shall have a procession at the end of the Mass, taking the Eucharist in the monstrance, to an outdoor altar near the Mary Garden. We shall sing a few songs, proclaim the Litany of the Saints during the brief procession, and then have benediction and a final blessing with the Eucharist. Once that is concluded, about 15 minutes after the Mass, we shall gather for a collation in Russell Hall to celebrate the Solemnity and an Ordination anniversary. Let me quote Jesus for this processional invitation: “Come, follow me!