Corpus Christi Blog

The Catholic Church teaches that Jesus is truly present — body, blood, soul, and divinity — in the Eucharist. We are blessed to have the opportunity to receive Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament every day at Mass, and at our parish, we have access to Jesus in the Adoration Chapel 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Because the Host is not merely a piece of bread, but Jesus himself in the flesh, the Eucharist has the same ability to heal and perform miracles in our lives as the stories we read of Jesus performing miracles in the gospels. Our parish has hosted Eucharistic miracle exhibits featuring well-documented miracles from around the world. However, there are countless healings and miracles that regular Catholics experience every day. Several weeks ago, there was an announcement in the bulletin asking parishioners to send me their personal Eucharistic miracle stories to share. Here are just a few that were shared.

He sat down opposite the treasury and observed how the crowd put money into the treasury. Many rich people put in large sums. A poor widow also came and put in two small coins worth a few cents. Calling his disciples to himself, he said to them, “Amen, I say to you, this poor widow put in more than all the other contributors to the treasury. For they have all contributed from their surplus wealth, but she, from her poverty, has contributed all she had her whole livelihood. – Mark 12:41-44

Each of us is on our own spiritual journey with a natural ebb and flow. Sometimes, we feel great in our relationship with God, and everything is smooth sailing, while at other times, it feels like we are fighting against the tide. Today, we will examine a couple of terms popularized by St. Ignatius of Loyola in his Spiritual Exercises to describe these interior movements of the soul and our relationship with God: consolation and desolation. It is important to recognize that both consolation and desolation are normal parts of the spiritual journey. Even Jesus experienced moments of desolation, most notably in the Garden of Gethsemane. By learning to recognize and respond to these spiritual states, we can deepen our faith and navigate the challenges of the spiritual life more effectively.

November is approaching, and Catholics around the world are preparing to commemorate two significant days in the liturgical calendar: All Saints' Day on November 1^st and All Souls’ Day on November 2^nd. These observances are rooted in ancient Christian tradition and offer an opportunity for the faithful to honor the saints and remember departed loved ones. Let’s explore the origins and theological significance of both holy days.

Today, I'm going to discuss the topic of predestination. This is a topic we don't hear much about, perhaps because it involves a bit of mental gymnastics. Predestination is scriptural (cf. Rom 8:29-30, Eph 1:5) and a truth that all Christian religions teach, though how it is taught and understood among denominations varies. Here, I will present the Catholic view of predestination.

Our nation has an election quickly approaching in the coming weeks, so this is an excellent time to examine our obligations and responsibilities as Catholics regarding voting.

Catholics have a moral obligation to participate in the political process and vote in elections, as outlined by the Catechism of the Catholic Church and guidance from the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB). This duty stems from our responsibility to promote the common good and shape society according to Gospel values.

Editor’s Note: This piece discusses abortion — a topic that can bring up many emotions for people. No matter what your story is or where you are in your journey, we want you to know that God loves you and the Church loves you. If you are dealing with anger, sadness, shame, fear— or are hurting in any way — resulting from a connection to abortion, Jesus desires healing, wholeness, and restoration for you. If you or someone you know needs help finding healing and hope after an abortion, please contact Rachel's Vineyard at 877-467-3463 or the National Hotline for Abortion Recovery at 866-482-5433. Additional information is available at rachelsvineyard.org.