In Canada, the Solemnity of the Body and Blood of the Lord (Corpus Christi) will be observed this coming Sunday, however according to the tradition of the Church, it is observed in Rome and in other parts of the world today. At 7:00pm this evening, the Holy Father, Pope Francis celebrated Mass in the Square outside the Basilica of Saint John Lateran.
At the conclusion of the Eucharistic Celebration, a procession with the Blessed Sacrament began along the via Merulana and continued until it reached the Basilica of Saint Mary Major, where the Pope imparted a Solemn Blessing with the Blessed Sacrament.
We have heard that during the Last Supper, Jesus gave his Body and his Blood in the form of bread and wine, in order to leave a memorial of his sacrifice of infinite love. With this viaticum which is full of grace, the disciples have everything that they need for their journey through history, in order to share the kingdom of God with all people. Light and strength will be the gift that Jesus offered to them, willingly offering himself on the cross. This Bread of life is also offered to us! The Church's bewilderment before this reality is never-ending. An amazement that constantly nourishes our contemplation, adoration and memory. This is demonstrated in a beautiful text from today's liturgy, the Responsory that follows the second reading in today's Office of Readings which says: Know that in this bread is the body of Christ which hung on the cross, and in this chalice, the blood of Christ which flowed from his side. Take and eat the body of Christ, drink of his blood: for now you are members of Christ. Eat this sacred food so that your bond of unity with Christ may never be broken. Drink this sacred blood, the price he paid for you, so that you may never lose heart because of your sinfulness.
There is a danger, there is a threat: a bond can be broken, we can lose heart. What does this mean today, what bond can be broken? How can we lose heart?
We become broken when we are no longer docile to the Word of the Lord, when we do not live in peace with one another, when we set our hearts on occupying the places of importance - climbers - when we no longer find the courage to bear witness to love, when we are no longer capable of offering hope. This is how we become broken. The Eucharist allows us to not become broken, for it is the bond of communion and the fulfillment of the Covenant, the living sign of the love of Christ who humbled himself and sacrificed himself so that we could remain united. By participating in the Eucharist and by feeding on him, we are placed on a journey that does not permit divisions. Christ, present among us in the form of bread and wine, proves to us that the power of love can overcome every wound, and at the same time that we are in communion with the poor, that we must support those who are weak, pay fraternal attention to those who are tired of bearing the weight of daily life and who are in danger of losing faith.
Then, the other word: what does it mean for us to lose heart, that is to say, to water down our Christian dignity? It means that we can allow ourselves to be affected by the idolatry of our time: appearance, consumerism, concern for ourselves as the focus of everything we do, but also competitiveness, arrogance and a competitive attitude, an unwillingness to ever admit that we are at fault or that we are in need. All of this causes us to lose heart, makes us mediocre Christians, lukewarm, weak, pagans.
Jesus shed his blood as the ultimate price, and as a cleansing, so that we might be purified from all sin: so that we might not lose heart, looking toward Him, so that we could drink from his font in order to be preserved from corruption. Therefore we experience the grace of a transformation: we are still poor sinners, but the Blood of Christ frees us from our sins and restores our dignity. It frees us from corruption. By no merit of our own, with sincere humility, we can share with others the love of our Lord and Saviour. We become his eyes in search of Zacchaeus and of Mary Magdalene; we become his hands which comfort those who suffer in body or in spirit; we become his heart that loves those who are in need of reconciliation, mercy and understanding.
In this way, the Eucharist fulfills the Covenant that sanctifies us, that purifies us and unites us in admirable communion with God. In this way, we learn that the Eucharist is not a prize reserved for those who are good, but a source of strength for those who are weak, for sinners. It is forgiveness, the encouragement that helps us to continue along the journey.
On this feast of the Body and Blood of the Lord, we have the joy not only of celebrating this mystery, but also of praising and singing through the streets of our city. The procession which will take place at the end of Mass is an opportunity for us to recognize the extent of the journey that Jesus travelled in the desert of our poverty, he united himself with our human nature and continues to feed us with his Love made present in the Sacrament of his Body and his Blood.
In a little while, as we walk through the streets, let us be in communion with our brothers and our sisters who do not have the freedom to express their faith in Jesus Christ. Let us be united with them: let us sing with them, let us praise with them, let us adore with them. Let us venerate in our hearts all our brothers and sister who have been asked to sacrifice their lives for their faithfulness to Christ: may their blood, united to the blood of Christ, be a pledge of peace and reconciliation for all the world.
Don't forget: Eat this sacred food so that your bond of unity with Christ may never be broken. Drink this sacred blood, the price he paid for you, so that you may never lose heart because of your sinfulness.
At the conclusion of the Eucharistic Celebration, a procession with the Blessed Sacrament began along the via Merulana and continued until it reached the Basilica of Saint Mary Major, where the Pope imparted a Solemn Blessing with the Blessed Sacrament.
Homily of the Holy Father, Pope Francis
for the Mass celebrated outside the
Basilica of Saint John Lateran
We have heard that during the Last Supper, Jesus gave his Body and his Blood in the form of bread and wine, in order to leave a memorial of his sacrifice of infinite love. With this viaticum which is full of grace, the disciples have everything that they need for their journey through history, in order to share the kingdom of God with all people. Light and strength will be the gift that Jesus offered to them, willingly offering himself on the cross. This Bread of life is also offered to us! The Church's bewilderment before this reality is never-ending. An amazement that constantly nourishes our contemplation, adoration and memory. This is demonstrated in a beautiful text from today's liturgy, the Responsory that follows the second reading in today's Office of Readings which says: Know that in this bread is the body of Christ which hung on the cross, and in this chalice, the blood of Christ which flowed from his side. Take and eat the body of Christ, drink of his blood: for now you are members of Christ. Eat this sacred food so that your bond of unity with Christ may never be broken. Drink this sacred blood, the price he paid for you, so that you may never lose heart because of your sinfulness.
There is a danger, there is a threat: a bond can be broken, we can lose heart. What does this mean today, what bond can be broken? How can we lose heart?
We become broken when we are no longer docile to the Word of the Lord, when we do not live in peace with one another, when we set our hearts on occupying the places of importance - climbers - when we no longer find the courage to bear witness to love, when we are no longer capable of offering hope. This is how we become broken. The Eucharist allows us to not become broken, for it is the bond of communion and the fulfillment of the Covenant, the living sign of the love of Christ who humbled himself and sacrificed himself so that we could remain united. By participating in the Eucharist and by feeding on him, we are placed on a journey that does not permit divisions. Christ, present among us in the form of bread and wine, proves to us that the power of love can overcome every wound, and at the same time that we are in communion with the poor, that we must support those who are weak, pay fraternal attention to those who are tired of bearing the weight of daily life and who are in danger of losing faith.
Then, the other word: what does it mean for us to lose heart, that is to say, to water down our Christian dignity? It means that we can allow ourselves to be affected by the idolatry of our time: appearance, consumerism, concern for ourselves as the focus of everything we do, but also competitiveness, arrogance and a competitive attitude, an unwillingness to ever admit that we are at fault or that we are in need. All of this causes us to lose heart, makes us mediocre Christians, lukewarm, weak, pagans.
Jesus shed his blood as the ultimate price, and as a cleansing, so that we might be purified from all sin: so that we might not lose heart, looking toward Him, so that we could drink from his font in order to be preserved from corruption. Therefore we experience the grace of a transformation: we are still poor sinners, but the Blood of Christ frees us from our sins and restores our dignity. It frees us from corruption. By no merit of our own, with sincere humility, we can share with others the love of our Lord and Saviour. We become his eyes in search of Zacchaeus and of Mary Magdalene; we become his hands which comfort those who suffer in body or in spirit; we become his heart that loves those who are in need of reconciliation, mercy and understanding.
In this way, the Eucharist fulfills the Covenant that sanctifies us, that purifies us and unites us in admirable communion with God. In this way, we learn that the Eucharist is not a prize reserved for those who are good, but a source of strength for those who are weak, for sinners. It is forgiveness, the encouragement that helps us to continue along the journey.
On this feast of the Body and Blood of the Lord, we have the joy not only of celebrating this mystery, but also of praising and singing through the streets of our city. The procession which will take place at the end of Mass is an opportunity for us to recognize the extent of the journey that Jesus travelled in the desert of our poverty, he united himself with our human nature and continues to feed us with his Love made present in the Sacrament of his Body and his Blood.
In a little while, as we walk through the streets, let us be in communion with our brothers and our sisters who do not have the freedom to express their faith in Jesus Christ. Let us be united with them: let us sing with them, let us praise with them, let us adore with them. Let us venerate in our hearts all our brothers and sister who have been asked to sacrifice their lives for their faithfulness to Christ: may their blood, united to the blood of Christ, be a pledge of peace and reconciliation for all the world.
Don't forget: Eat this sacred food so that your bond of unity with Christ may never be broken. Drink this sacred blood, the price he paid for you, so that you may never lose heart because of your sinfulness.
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