Holy Body and Blood of Christ June 14

Feast : (14-06-2020)

Holy Body and Blood of Christ

This feast is celebrating the religious belief in the Body and Blood of Christ and real presence of Jesus in the Eucharist. This feast is celebrated on the next Sunday after Trinity Sunday to commemorate the institution of the Eucharist. An Augustinian nun Juliana of Liege had a great veneration for the Blessed Sacrament and she wished very much for the institution of a special feast for honoring the Blessed Sacrament. Once she saw a vision of the Church under full moon having a black spot. She thought that the black dark spot signifies the lack of a feast of the Eucharist. Bishop Robert de Thorete, Bishop of Liege was convinced about the vision of Juliana and ordered a feast to be celebrated in his diocese from the year 1247 and celebrated by the Cannons of St. Martins at Liege. Pope Urban-IV published a Papal Bull 'Transiturus' on September 8, 1264 directing to celebrate this feast on the Thursday, next after Trinity Sunday. But in countries where this feast is not a Holy Day of obligation including United States, it is celebrated on the next Sunday after Trinity Sunday. The new Liturgy for this feast was composed by St. Aquinas and he also written a hymn to sing on Corpus Christi Day-Pange Lingua Gloriosi Corporis Mysterium and this hymn is being sung on the Holy (Maundy) Thursday during the procession of the Blessed Sacrament.

This is to express the doctrine of Transubstantiation, in which it is believed that the bread and wine are changed into the Body and Blood of Jesus Christ. This feast is to show the Church's gratitude to the Christ, who instituted the Holy Eucharist and gave it to the Church, which is the greatest treasure of the Church. Maundy Thursday in which the Holy Eucharist was instituted is not a joyous day due to the Lord's Passion. To celebrate the joyous aspect of Maundy Thursday when the Holy Eucharist was instituted, this feast is celebrated. Eucharist is the sacrament of Life, sacrament of Love, sacrament of Unity and sacrament of Faith. Christ said when instituting the Holy Eucharist 'This is My Body given up for you, this is My Blood shed for you'. These are the words of sacrifice for others and love for others.

---JDH---Jesus the Divine Healer---