Corpus Christi Blog

The History of the Feast of Corpus Christi

06-12-2022Weekly ReflectionKathleen Foley, Director of Mission Advancement

This year marks the 758th celebration of the Feast of Corpus Christi (Latin for “Body of Christ”) – also known as the Solemnity of the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ. Since this is our parish feast day, which we’ll celebrate next Sunday, it’s helpful to know the history of this special day.

This year marks the 758th celebration of the Feast of Corpus Christi (Latin for “Body of Christ”) – also known as the Solemnity of the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ. Since this is our parish feast day, which we’ll celebrate next Sunday, it’s helpful to know the history of this special day. The origin of Corpus Christi began with a Eucharistic miracle, which is a moment of divine intervention aimed at confirming the faith in the Real Presence of the Body and Blood of Jesus in the Eucharist. While there are many websites and resources documenting Eucharistic miracles throughout history, one of the best is the compilation by Blessed Carlos Acutis: miracolieucaristici.org. Here is the description of the event in 1263:

In 1263 a German priest, Peter of Prague, stopped at Bolsena [Italy] while on a pilgrimage to Rome. He... [was] a pious priest, but one who found it difficult to believe that Christ was actually present in the consecrated Host. While celebrating Holy Mass above the tomb of St. Christina (located in the church named for this martyr), he had barely spoken the words of Consecration when blood started to seep from the consecrated Host and trickle over his hands onto the altar and the corporal. The priest was immediately confused. At first, he attempted to hide the blood, but then he interrupted the Mass and asked to be taken to the neighboring city of Orvieto, where Pope Urban IV resided. The Pope listened to the priest's account and absolved him. He then sent emissaries for an immediate investigation. When all the facts were ascertained, he ordered the Bishop of the diocese to bring the Host and the linen cloth bearing the stains of blood to Orvieto. With archbishops, cardinals and other Church dig- nitaries in attendance, the Pope met the procession and, amid great pomp, had the relics placed in the cathedral. The linen corporal bearing the spots of blood is still reverently enshrined and exhibited in the Cathedral of Orvieto. It is said that Pope Urban IV was prompted by this miracle to commission St. Thomas Aquinas to compose the Proper for a Mass and an Office honoring the Holy Eucharist as the Body of Christ. One year after the miracle, in August of 1264, Pope Urban IV introduced the saint's composition, and by means of a papal bull instituted the feast of Corpus Christi.

This was when St. Thomas Aquinas wrote the hymn containing the verses of Tantum Ergo, which we still sing today during Eucharistic exposition! The papal bull, Transiturus, ordered Corpus Christi be celebrated annually on the Thursday after Trinity Sunday throughout the Latin Church. Why Thursday? Perhaps as a reminder that Jesus celebrated the Last Supper on the Thursday before His passion. In modern times, this feast is commonly transferred to the following Sunday to accommodate the faithful.

So why another feast, so similar to the Last Supper, and why now – after the Ascension and Pentecost? Maybe as a reminder of the last verse of Matthew’s Gospel, where, just before His ascension into heaven, Jesus tells His disciples: “And behold, I am with you always, until the end of the age.” At the time, it may have seemed contradictory that Jesus was leaving them while also telling them He would be with them – how was this possible? The answer is simple: the Eucharist! Jesus confirmed His actual presence in the Holy Eucharist until the end of time.

In August of 1964, on the 700th anniversary of the institution of the feast of Corpus Christi, Pope Saint Paul VI celebrated Holy Mass at the altar where the holy corporal is kept in its golden shrine in the Cathedral of Orvieto.

In today’s culture though, religion has been pushed aside, watered down, or outright blasted for being useless. Likewise, faith in the Real Presence of Jesus in the Most Blessed Sacrament has waned. According to a 2019 Pew Research Center survey, only 31% of self-described Catholics believe that the bread and wine actually become the Body and Blood, Soul and Divinity of Jesus Christ during the consecration at Mass. Granted, it is a very difficult concept to believe. In the sixth chapter of John’s Gospel, after Jesus explained that one must eat His flesh and drink His blood in order to have eternal life, “... many of his disciples returned to their former way of life and no longer accompanied him.” This is why the Real Presence is a mystery of our faith. In our finite, human understanding, something that looks, feels, and tastes like bread simply doesn’t look, feel, or taste like the body of a person. This is why we need to pray for an increase of faith: “I do believe, help my unbelief!” (Mark 9:24).

Thankfully, we have abundant opportunities to increase our knowledge of the Eucharist, thereby giving the Holy Spirit additional room to work in our hearts and grow our faith.

  • Read the Gospels and reflect on the words and actions of Jesus.
  • Consider the references to the Eucharist throughout Scripture – how it relates to Passover and the sacrificial lamb; the exodus from Egypt and receiving manna from heaven; and Jesus’ miracles of feeding thousands of people from just a few loaves.
  • Study writings from the saints that encourage us to consider our own experiences and view them with the eyes of faith.
  • Watch videos or studies about the Eucharist on Formed.org – available to all parishioners.
  • Adore Jesus in the Most Blessed Sacrament in our chapel!

Providentially, Bishop Olmsted released an apostolic exhortation last year, entitled, Veneremur Cernui – Down in Adoration Falling, named after a line in Tantum Ergo! Copies of this exhortation are available in our Adoration Chapel. Our own Deacon Dennis Lambert also has a new book, FOR REAL? Christ’s Presence in the Eucharist, available online and in bookstores. Both resources provide evidence, explanations, and encouragement for growing in faith and believing the unbelievable.

The US Conference of Catholic Bishops also realizes the crisis of faith among Catholics and has announced a National Eucharistic Revival, which begins on our feast day, June 19, 2022. This multi-year effort is a sincere desire to rediscover and renew our own belief in the Real Presence of Jesus in the Eucharist and ignite our hearts to share Jesus with others. The focus in the first year will be at the diocesan level and the second year will be focused on the parish level. As the parish of Corpus Christi, we will share resources and celebrate events from the very beginning and encourage every parishioner to be transformed by the Real Presence of Jesus in the Eucharist!

In 2024, an International Eucharistic Congress will be held in Indianapolis. This event will serve as a culmination of the first two years and a launch of the third year, focused on the personal invitation to participate in the mission of sharing Jesus with others. The last International Eucharistic Congress held in the United States was more than 40 years ago in 1976 in Philadelphia. Pope Saint Paul VI, who was visiting Bolsena, Italy at the time, provided the closing comments via television and spoke of the Eucharist as being, "...a mystery great and inexhaustible." Let us invite the Holy Spirit to open our hearts to this great mystery!

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