This feast, Latin for “Body of Christ,” is a Catholic holy day dedicated to the Eucharist—the source and summit of our faith. It celebrates the doctrine of the Real Presence of Jesus Christ in the consecrated Host and Chalice: that Jesus is truly present, Body, Blood, Soul, and Divinity, under the appearances of bread and wine.
Though we remember the Eucharist every time we go to Mass, Corpus Christi is a special day set aside to publicly honor and adore Christ in the Eucharist, often with Eucharistic processions, Benediction, and extra time for adoration.
This ancient feast comes to us from the 13th century, an era in the history of the Church that was plagued by disbelief or incorrect belief about the Real Presence of Jesus in the Eucharist. It was the experience of a priest, Peter of Prague, that would make this a universal feast for the Church.
In 1263, Fr. Peter was on pilgrimage to Rome. He was a good, pious priest who strived for holiness but struggled with doubts about the Holy Eucharist. He agonized over whether, at the words of consecration, the bread and wine truly became the Body and Blood of Jesus.
During this time, he was celebrating Mass at the tomb of St. Christina. As soon as he said the words of consecration—“This is my Body”—the Host in his hands began to bleed down his arms and onto the altar cloth below. He was awestruck and began to cry.
Pope Urban IV was in the nearby town of Orvieto, and Fr. Peter went to him. After investigating, the Pope declared a miracle and had the corporal brought to the cathedral in Orvieto. One year after this miracle, the Pope extended the Solemnity to the universal Church.
What Is the Purpose of the Feast of Corpus Christi?
The purpose of this feast is to increase love and reverence for Jesus in the Eucharist and to give public witness to the belief that He is truly present in the Blessed Sacrament. It is a time for the Church to “go out into the streets,” quite literally in many places, with processions, prayers, and songs of praise.
Eucharistic theologians explain the Real Presence through a process called transubstantiation: the entire substance of bread and wine is changed into the entire substance of the risen, living, and glorified Body and Blood of Christ, while retaining only the “accidents” (taste, color, shape) of bread and wine.
Can there be a religion in which God is closer to man than in our Catholic Christianity? Jesus does not believe that He is humiliating Himself in coming to us and giving Himself to us in His Flesh and Blood to be our spiritual food.
The Impact of Corpus Christi Today
Today, the Feast of Corpus Christi remains a vital part of Catholic life and spirituality, embodying a rich theological and cultural heritage. It is a day for Catholics to reflect on the gift of the Holy Eucharist as the source and summit of Christian life.
It is also an opportunity for parishes to come together in a joyful, communal celebration that strengthens faith and fellowship.
The feast is an invitation to reflect on the social dimensions of the Eucharist. It calls on the faithful to recognize Christ in the marginalized and needy and to be nourished by Christ’s Body and Blood so that they may serve others effectively.
This echoes the teaching of the Second Vatican Council in Lumen Gentium, which describes the Eucharist as the “source and summit of the Christian life.”
The Feast of Corpus Christi is a profound expression of faith in the Real Presence of Christ in the Eucharist—a central tenet of Catholic belief. It is an occasion of joy, thanksgiving, and communal celebration that not only connects the faithful to the foundational event of the Last Supper but also invites them to live out the Eucharistic mystery in their daily lives.
Through its historic traditions and solemn liturgies, the feast continues to inspire and fortify the faith of Catholics around the world.
The Eucharist Unites Us
In the Eucharist, Jesus makes us one with each other. The Eucharist embraces the whole community. It is not just my personal communion with Christ; it is our shared communion with each other in Christ.
As St. Paul said:
“As there is one bread, so we, although there are many of us, are one single body, for we all share in the one bread.”
This is a social sacrament—a circle that includes Christ, yourself, and all your brothers and sisters.
When we approach the altar, it is a sign of our love for one another, a pledge of kindness and compassion toward each other—a love that finds its source in the Eucharist.
Finally, the Eucharist assures us of our heavenly destiny. Jesus said:
“Anyone who eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I shall raise them on the last day.”
Celebrate the True Presence by becoming the hands and feet of Christ. This Corpus Christi Sunday, let the Eucharist transform you. Step out of the pews and into your Sedalia community to share Christ’s radical love, grace, and compassion with a hurting world.
Fr. Martin Masiisa
