Hail, True Body

Ave, Verum Corpus, translated, “Hail, True Body,” is a Eucharistic hymn dating from the 14th century and attributed to Pope Innocent VI. In the past, it was often sung during Mass at the elevation of the Sacred Host, and used at Benediction of the Most Blessed Sacrament.  It continues to be popular in the Church today, and is often sung to the musical setting composed by Mozart. The hymn has very important significance, because it proclaims the truth about the Real Presence of Jesus in the Holy Eucharist. As a matter of fact, the words of this Eucharistic hymn affirm how “real” the Real Presence is. One translation of the hymn is as follows:

Hail, true Body, truly born
Of the Virgin Mary mild
Truly offered, wracked and torn,
On the Cross for all defiled,
From Whose love-pierced, sacred side
Flowed Thy true Blood’s saving tide:
Be a foretaste, sweet to me
In my death’s great agony.
O my loving, Gentle One,
Sweetest Jesus, Mary's Son. Amen.

The Real Presence of Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament means that the true Body, born of the Virgin Mary, is present. The bread and wine at Mass continue to appear as bread and wine; however, the substance of bread and wine give way to the Body and Blood of Jesus Christ. The Sacrament becomes Jesus’ actual Body that was offered and crucified on the Cross. It is the true Body of Christ, from Whose side, pierced through by the centurion’s lance, flowed forth His Blood, also present in the Holy Eucharist.  It is as “real” as the Flesh of the Bae laid in the manger of Bethlehem.
           
The Holy Eucharist is really Jesus, His Body, Blood, Soul, and Divinity. That is why we kneel in adoration before Him, and why we long to receive Him in Holy Communion. For us, His Eucharistic Presence is a foretaste of the paschal Banquet of Heaven that we desire especially at the hour of our death. In the Holy Eucharist, Jesus really is our Gentle and Loving One, the Son of the Virgin Mary.  Contemplating the Mother always emphasizes the reality of the Son, true God and true Man.
           
Whenever Our Lady is loved and celebrated in the Church, love and adoration offered to her Son in the Holy Eucharist flourish. As they are so united in His Incarnation, Pasion, Death and Resurrection, it makes perfect sense. This is emphasized in the message of Our Lady’s apparition at Fatima. In 1916, the year before Our Lady appeared, the Angel of Portugal came to the children Lucia, Francisco and Jacinta and taught them prayers that focused on the Eucharistic Presence of Jesus and His saving Sacrifice. When Our Lady came to them from May to October of 1917, the children were prepared to embrace her message of prayer, penance and reparation which was centered on her Son’s work of redemption.
           
We can say that devotion to Our Blessed Mother always leads us to her Son really present in the Holy Eucharist. She teaches us how to adore Him and how to receive Him in the Sacrament of the Altar.  It is His Eucharistic Presence that binds us together in his Body the Church
           
As we look forward to welcoming the National Eucharistic Pilgrimage to our diocese June 12-19, let us prepare to greet Jesus in the Most Blessed Sacrament coming through our streets and roads, through our parish churches and chapels. Let us look to His Mother to teach us how to adore, love and proclaim Him truly present in the Holy Eucharist.

Most Reverend William J. Waltersheid
Auxiliary Bishop of Pittsburgh