Corpus Christi

I didn't post last Thursday, since we were helping a neighbor with a yard sale, since he is going through some rough times and needed the money badly. Anyway, Thursday was the Feast of Corpus Christi, even though it will probably be celebrated this Sunday.. Why can't our 'leaders' believe in Thursdays, anyway? Holy Thursday with the Last Supper and the institution of the Eucharist, the Ascension, Corpus Christi, etc. They need prayers badly! As our beloved Abbot Gueranger says:

'The Eucharist has been instituted for the very purpose of ceaselessly applying, here on earth, the reality of Christ's Sacrifice.'

And this explains how souls who find all their delight in the pleasures of this world refuse to share in the banquet of the Christian Faith, wherein the church nourishes all with the teaching of the Gospel. "Taste and see," continues St. Gregory, "that the Lord is sweet. By these words the Psalmist expressly tells us: You do not know His sweetness if you do not taste it, but touch the food of life with the palate of your heart, that experiencing His graciousness you may be able to love Him.

"Man lost these delights when he sinned in paradise, out of which he came when he had closed his lips to the food of eternal sweetness. It follows from this that having been born in the pains of this exile, we reach such a state of disgust with our life here below, that we no longer know what we ought to desire." (Matins).







Here what Holy Church maintaineth,
That the bread its substance changeth
Into Flesh, the wine to Blood.

Doth it pass thy comprehending?
Faith, the law of sight transcending
Leaps to things not understood.

Here beneath these signs are hidden
Priceless things, to sense forbidden;
Signs, not things, are all we see.

Flesh from bread, and Blood from wine,
Yet is Christ in either sign
All entire, confessed to be.

They, who of Him here partake,
Sever not, nor rend, nor break:
But, entire, their Lord receive.

Whether one or thousands eat,
All receive the self-same meat,
Nor the less for others leave.

Both the wicked and the good
Eat of this celestial Food:
But with ends how opposite!

Here 'tis life: and there 'tis death:
The same, yet issuing to each
In a difference infinite.

Nor a single doubt retain,
When they break the Host twain,
But that in each part remains
What was in the whole before;

Since the simple sign alone
Suffers change in state or form,
The signified remaining one
And the same for evermore.

Lo! upon the altar lies,
Hidden deep from human eyes,
Bread of Angels from the skies,
Made the food of mortal man;

Children's meat to dogs denied.
In old types presignified;
In the manna heaven-supplied,
In Isaac, and the Paschal lamb.

Jesu! Shepherd of the sheep!
Thou thy flock in safety keep.
Living Bread! Thy life supply:
Strengthen us or else we die:
Fill us with celestial grace!

Thou, who feedest us below!
Source of all we have or know!
Grant that with Thy Saints above,
Sitting at the feast of love,
We may see Thee face to face.
Amen. Alleluia.


It couldn't be more clear. Jesus said, the Apostles believed it, and passed it on to us 2000 years later. This IS the stumbling block for the protestants. If they would just use history as a guide, they would all be Catholics.

Lord Jesus of the Holy Eucharist, help our unbelief.