Corpus Christi—Taking the Most Holy Eucharist to the World

The greatest gift that Our Savior Jesus Christ gave to His Church is the gift of Himself in the Most Holy Eucharist. This gift of His living, substantial Presence is the preeminent way in which He fulfills the promise He made at the end of St. Matthew’s Gospel, “Behold, I am with you always, to the close of the age” (Mt 28:20).

Every day throughout the year, the Church offers this tremendous, dynamic, life-giving Mystery on her altars. The redemption of the world continues through the making present of Jesus’ Passion, Death and Resurrection in the Eucharistic Sacrifice at Mass. The faithful from across the globe come to enter into this mystery, where “from the rising of the sun to its setting a pure sacrifice” is offered to God’s name (cf. Eucharistic Prayer III). The healing, merciful, saving Presence of Jesus in the Holy Eucharist is the source and summit of the Church’s life.

On the Solemnity of Corpus Christi, the Church bids us to carry this Mystery of the Body and Blood of Jesus Christ, substantially present in the Holy Eucharist, out into the world. The Sacred Liturgy allows us to do this quite literally in a procession with the Blessed Sacrament into the streets and highways of our neighborhoods and towns. It brings the Savior of humanity into a world filled with violence, distrust, hatred, division and sorrow.

The procession with the Blessed Sacrament on Corpus Christi brings the One who heals the ills of people with His own wounds, suffered for us in His Passion. His Real Presence in the Holy Eucharist provides an encounter with God Himself, who reaches out to those who are suffering to bring them hope.  When we encounter Him and receive Him at Mass, He gives us the power to go out into the world to transform the lives of the poor, the sick, the imprisoned, and all those on the peripheries. We become by His grace the servants of all.  We serve all those in need when we bear Him to them.

This great act of processing with the Blessed Sacrament on Corpus Christi is also a way of professing faith in the way God works in our life and in our world. God is not far off and inaccessible. No, He is in our midst. He never deserts us. Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament reaches out to us to heal us and give us hope. Just as He entered into our human existence by the Incarnation, He continues to enter our world as we carry Him in procession on Corpus Christi.             

O come, let us adore Him!  O come, let us bring Him into the world!

Most Reverend William J. Waltersheid
Auxiliary Bishop of Pittsburgh