PRAYERS TO OUR LADY

Blessed Feast of Corpus Christi~ Ecce Agnus Dei, Ecce Qui Tollit Peccata Mundi

During the late twelfth century a little girl was born in a small village near Liège, Belgium. Her name was Juliana. At age 16, her divine bridegroom was favoring her with heavenly visions but they were mysterious - in that she could not understand their meaning. One of the visions she had while in contemplative prayer was a vision of a full moon; although it was full, there was a dark spot on it, so that it did not shine as brightly as it might have done. When this vision kept appearing she consulted her superior, Sister Sapientia.

Sister Sapeientia sought the advice of many pious and learned persons; but they too could not explain the meaning of what she saw so they looked upon the matter as a simple dream. Juliana humbly submitted to their judgment and really tried to forget all about it. She began to pray and pray but God would not remove those distracting thoughts from her mind. With wise foresight, Juliana’s superior granted her permission to devote herself more than ever to prayer and contemplation. One day, after praying for a long time, Juliana, fell asleep. During her sleep the Savior spoke to her soul. It was then she understood what the strange vision meant. The Blessed Sacrament was not being honored as it should be. What did Our Lord say to her? This is what she heard:

“Juliana, what disturbs you is that a feast is wanting in My Church militant, which I desire to establish. It is the feast of the Most High and Most Holy Sacrament of the Altar. At present the celebration of this Mystery is observed only on Maundy Thursday; but on that day My sufferings and death are the principal objects of consideration; therefore I desire another day to be set apart in which it shall be celebrated by the whole of Christendom. And I desire it for three reasons:

First, that faith in this divine mystery, which is beginning to be attacked and will in future times be still further menaced, may be more confirmed and reassured.

Secondly, that the faithful who believe and seek the truth may be fully taught and convinced, and enabled to draw from this well of life the strength necessary to carry them on in the way of virtue.

Thirdly, that reparation may be made for the irreverence and impiety shown towards the Divine Majesty in the Blessed Sacrament, by a sincere and profound adoration of the same. And you, Juliana, are chosen to give the opportunity for the establishment of this feast.”

Corpus Christi was established in A.D.1246 by the Bishop of Liège at the suggestion of St. Juliana of Mont Cornillon. It was then extended to the universal Church by Pope Urban IV in A.D.1264, granting many indulgences to the faithful for the attendance at Mass and at the Office. It is now one of the most lovely, touching, and glorious feasts that adorns the Holy Catholic Church.

As a liturgical solemnity that commemorates the institution of the Most Blessed Sacrament, the Office was composed by the Angelic Doctor, St. Thomas Aquinas. It is one of the most beautiful and admired pieces in the Church's Divine Office.

In processions this day, Catholics publicly testify their faith in the real presence of Our Divine Savior in the Adorable Sacrament of the Altar. The sacred Host is carried in a monstrance beneath a canopy, flowers are strewn along the way, and censers are swung; the altars of repose are beautifully decorated with lights and flowers in honor of the Blessed Sacrament.

In some places four altars are erected, and a pause is made at each, then one of the accounts of the institution of the Blessed Sacrament given by the four Evangelists is read. The four altars signify the four quarters of the world.

After the reading of the Gospel, a prayer is added for protection against lightning and tempest, and for a good harvest. This solemn ceremony, which is generally terminated by the Te Deum in the church, cannot fail to impress every beholder and lead the non-Catholic to inquire what is this! which towards such a profound reverence and veneration is displayed.

After the dogma of the Holy Trinity, the Holy Ghost reminds us of the dogma of Our Lord’s Incarnation in celebrating with the Church the greatest of all sacraments, summing up the whole life of the Redeemer, giving infinite glory to God and applying the fruits of the Redemption at all times to ourselves. (Collect)

It was on the Cross that Our Lord redeemed us and the Holy Eucharist, instituted on the night before His Passion, it remains His memorial. (Collect) The altar is the extension of Calvary, the Mass "shows the death of the Lord. " (Epistle)

Jesus is there in the state of a victim, for the words of the double consecration mean only that the bread is changed into the Body of Christ and the wine into His Blood. On account of this double action with different effects, which constitutes the sacrifice of the Mass, we are entitled to speak of Our Lord's Presence under the appearance of bread as that of the Body of Christ, although, since He can die no more, the whole Christ is there contained; similarly we may speak of the Presence under the appearance of wine as that of His Blood, although He is contained there whole and entire.

Through His priests, our Lord Himself, the principal Priest of the Mass, offers in an unbloody manner His Body and Blood which were really separated on the Cross, but on the altar only in a representative or sacramental sense, the matter and words used and the effect produced being different in the two consecrations. Besides, the Eucharist was instituted under the form of food, (Alleluia) that we may be united with the Victim of Calvary, so that the Sacred Host becomes the "wheat" which feeds our souls. (Introit)

Moreover, Christ, as the Son of God, receives the eternal life of the Father, in the same way Catholics share in that eternal life by uniting themselves to Christ through the Sacrament which is the symbol of unity, (Secret) and this possession of the divine life, already realized on earth through the Eucharist, is the pledge and the beginning of that in which we shall fully rejoice in heaven. (Postcommunion)

As the Council of Trent puts it: "That same Heavenly Bread that we eat now under the sacred veils, we shall feed upon in heaven without veil."

We should regard the Mass as the center of all Eucharistic worship, seeing in Holy Communion the means instituted by Our Lord to enable us to share more fully in this divine Sacrifice. In this way our devotion to our Lord's Body and Blood will effectively obtain for us the fruits of His Redemption. (Collect)

Concerning the procession which regularly should follow the Mass, we remember how the Israelites revered the Ark of the Covenant which was the Presence of God among them. When they carried on their victorious marches, the Ark went before, born by the Levites in the midst of a cloud of incense, accompanied by the sound of musical instruments and of the songs and shouts of the multitude.

We Catholics have a treasure far more precious, for in the Eucharist we possess God Himself. Let us feel a holy pride in forming His escort and extolling His triumphs, while He truly abides in our very midst.

Sermon of Saint Thomas Aquinas

The immense blessings bestowed by the Divine mercy upon the Christian people give it an inestimable dignity. There is not, nor ever was, a nation so great that has gods so nigh as our God is present to us. And this Body that He took from us He gave wholly for our salvation.

For He offered His own Body to God the Father upon the altar of the Cross as a Victim for our reconciliation, and He shed His own Blood both to redeem and cleanse us, that we, being bought back from a wretched slavery, might be washed from all our sins. And then, that the memory of such a great benefit might abide in us, He left His Body to be our food and His Blood to be our drink, that the faithful might receive them under the species of bread and wine.

O precious and wonderful banquet, health-giving and full of all sweetness! What could be more precious than this banquet, in which no longer as under the law the flesh of calves and goats is eaten, but Christ the true God is set before us that we may receive Him?

What could be more wonderful than this Sacrament, in which bread and wine are substantially changed into the Body and Blood of Christ? And therefore Christ, perfect God and man is contained under the appearance of a little bread and wine.

He is eaten by the faithful but not torn asunder; indeed when the Sacrament is divided He remains entire in each particle. The accidents subsist without a subject, that there may be room for faith, when we receive visibly that which is invisible and hidden under an appearance not its own. Thus the senses are kept free from deception, for they judge of accidents known to them.

Of all the Sacraments none is more health-giving, for by it sins are washed away, virtues are increased, and the soul is fed with an abundance of all spiritual gifts. It is offered in Holy Mother Church for the living and the dead, that all may profit by that which was instituted for the salvation of all.

Finally, no words suffice to describe the sweetness of this Sacrament, in which spiritual delights are tasted at their very source and the exceeding charity of Christ in His Passion is called to mind. It was in order to impress more deeply upon the minds of the faithful the boundless extent of His charity that, when He had kept the Pasch with His disciples and was about to depart out of this world to His Father, Christ instituted this Sacrament as a perpetual memorial of His Passion, the fulfillment of the ancient figures, the greatest of all His miracles. To those who grieved at His absence it was to be a special consolation.

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Permalink Reply by Samantha on June 8, 2023 at 1:20pm

Thank you, for this elaborate explanation. God is all-knowing, all-loving, all-merciful, and now I can properly articulate to the non believers, who inquire.

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Permalink Reply by Dawn Marie on June 9, 2023 at 6:32am

Beautiful! <3

Samantha said:

Thank you, for this elaborate explanation. God is all-knowing, all-loving, all-merciful, and now I can properly articulate to the non believers, who inquire.