Corpus Christi Blog

Today, we celebrate the Solemnity of Our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe. In 1969, Pope Paul VI elevated today’s celebration from a feast to a solemnity, and "of the Universe” was added to the title. However, today, I will be discussing the institution of the original feast day.

Pope Pius XI’s encyclical Quas Primas, issued on December 11, 1925, established the Feast of Christ the King. He began the document by explaining why the feast is necessary. Historically, it was the aftermath of World War I and a time of great social and political upheaval. The world was witnessing the rise of totalitarian regimes and ideologies that sought to marginalize or eliminate religion from public life. The Pope saw these developments as symptoms of a deeper spiritual crisis – the rejection of Christ's authority in both private and public spheres. He stressed that there can be no lasting peace in the world until individuals and governments submit to the rule of Christ.

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.

On September 29th, the Catholic Church celebrates the Feast of the Archangels: St. Michael, St. Gabriel, and St. Raphael. The Feast of the Archangels is sometimes referred to as “Michaelmas” and has been celebrated since the 5th century. Originally, it commemorated only St. Michael, but the 1969 revision of the Roman calendar combined the feasts of Michael, Gabriel, and Raphael into one celebration. This day invites us to reflect specifically on the role of the heavenly beings in God's plan and in our lives. Let us explore the significance of the archangels through Scripture, Tradition, and the teaching of the Church.

Have you ever noticed how we are so constantly surrounded by noise that when we unexpectedly find ourselves in a moment of silence, it's deafening? In our fast-paced world, we are hit with noise from all kinds of various sources, all competing with one another for our attention. We are bombarded with technology, news, work, family, tasks, busyness, images, relationships, and more. It can be overwhelming. Moreover, because we sit in silence so infrequently, it can be uncomfortable, so we often even seek out noise to distract us from our discomfort. While noise isn't necessarily bad and is even sometimes necessary, it is not conducive to improving our spiritual health. Silence is essential for spiritual growth, inner peace, and a deeper connection with the divine.

The Church designates the third Sunday of September, “Catechetical Sunday” as an opportunity to remember and pray for those who dedicate themselves to the ministry of catechesis and to renew our commitment to the ongoing formation of disciples. While we do have designated, formal catechists to provide faith formation at all levels, every Catholic is called to be a catechist, depending on the person’s state in life. When we were baptized, we were conformed to Christ in his three-fold role of priest, prophet, and king. These baptismal promises should compel us to lead others to Jesus and share the truth of who he is. To that end, today is a good day to reflect on the nature and importance of catechesis so that we better serve the Church's mission in the salvation of souls.

As Catholics, we are called to put our faith into practice in all aspects of our lives, including our professional endeavors. These days, there can be complexities in bringing your Christian values into the workplace, particularly if you work in a secular profession where you interact with people from a variety of belief systems. However, now more than ever, the world needs authentic Christian witnesses to be “salt and light” across all sectors. By integrating our faith into our professional lives, we can transform our work into a means of glorifying God, serving others, and growing in holiness. As St. Paul says, “Whatever you do, do from the heart, as for the Lord and not for others” (Col 3:23). By approaching our work with this perspective, we can genuinely make our professional lives a testament to our Catholic faith.

Today is the World Day of Prayer for the Care of Creation, so it is an excellent opportunity to discuss the care of creation through the lens of our faith. There is a great deal of emphasis on environmental issues in the secular world these days. We hear a lot about sustainability, climate change, and whether humans can successfully inhabit other planets if the earth is rendered unlivable. However, most of these conversations are human-centric and primarily focused on environmental health as the means for humanity's longevity.