Let all mortal flesh keep silence

Let all mortal flesh keep silence,
And with fear and trembling stand;
Ponder nothing earthly minded,
For with blessing in His hand,
Christ our God to earth descendeth
Our full homage to demand.

King of kings, yet born of Mary,
As of old on earth He stood,
Lord of lords, in human vesture,
In the body and the blood;
He will give to all the faithful
His own self for heavenly food.

Rank on rank the host of heaven
Spreads its vanguard on the way,
As the Light of light descendeth
From the realms of endless day,
Comes the powers of hell to vanquish
As the darkness clears away.

At His feet the six winged seraph,
Cherubim with sleepless eye,
Veil their faces to the presence,
As with ceaseless voice they cry:
Alleluia, Alleluia
Alleluia, Lord Most High!

Through the Blood of Christ

I. Through the blood of Christ the New Testament was confirmed. This chalice is the new testament in my blood (I Cor. xi. 25). Testament has a double meaning.
(i) It may mean any kind of agreement or pact.  Now God has twice made an agreement with mankind. In one pact God promised man temporal prosperity and deliverance from temporal losses, and this pact is called the Old Testament. In another pact God promised man spiritual blessings and deliverance from spiritual losses, and this is called the New Testament, I will make a new covenant, saith the Lord, with the house of Israel and with the house of ]uda : not according to the covenant which I made with their fathers, in the day that I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt : but this shall be the covenant : I will give my law in their bosoms and I will write it in their hearts and I will be their God and they shall be my people (]er. xxxi. 31-33).
Among the ancients it was customary to pour out the blood of some victim in confirmation of a pact. This Moses did when, taking the blood, he sprinkled it upon the people and he said, This is the blood of the covenant which the Lord hath made with you (Exod. xxiv. 8). As the Old Testament or pact was thus confirmed in the figurative blood of oxen, so the New Testament or pact was confirmed in the blood of Christ, shed during his Passion.
(ii) Testament has another more restricted meaning when it signifies the arrangement of an inheritance among the different heirs, i.e., a will.  Testaments, in this sense, are only confirmed by the death of the testator. As St. Paul says, For a testament is of force, after men are dead: otherwise it is as yet of no strength, whilst the testator liveth (Heb. ix. 17). God, in the beginning, made an arrangement of the eternal inheritance we were to receive, but under the figure of temporal goods. This is the Old Testament. But afterwards He made the New Testament, explicitly promising the eternal inheritance, which indeed was confirmed by the blood of the death of Christ. And therefore, Our Lord, speaking of this, says, This chalice is the new testament in my blood (I Cor. xi. 25), as though to say, "By that which is contained in this chalice, the new testament, confirmed in the blood of Christ, is commemorated."
(In I Cor. xii.)

2. There are other things which make the blood of Christ precious. It is :
(i) A cleansing of our sins and uncleanness. Jesus Christ hath loved us and washed us from our sins in his own blood (Apoc. i. 5).
(ii) Our redemption, Thou hast redeemed us in Thy blood (ibid. v. 9).
(iii) The peacemaker between us and God and his angels, making peace through the blood of his cross, both as to the things that are on earth and the things that are in the heavens (Coloss. i. 20).
(iv) A draught of life to all who receive it. Drink ye all of this (Matt. xxvi. 27). That they might drink the purest blood of the grape (Deut. xxxii. 14).
(v) The opening of the gate of heaven. Having therefore brethren, a confidence in the entering into the holies by the blood of Christ (Heb. x. 19), that is to say, a continuous prayer for us to God. For His blood daily cries for us to the Father, as again we are told, You are come to the sprinkling of blood which speaketh better than that of Abel (ibid. xii. 22-24).  The blood of Abel called for punishment. The blood of Christ calls for pardon.
(vi) Deliverance of the saints from hell. Thou also by the blood of thy testament hast sent forth thy prisoners out of the pit, wherein is no water.(Zach. ix. n).

(Saint Thomas, Sermon for Passion Sunday.)

+++

On this feast that commemorates the shedding of our Lord's Blood at Calvary, may He forgive the sins that led to so great a sacrifice.

Thanks Be to You, O Lord

Bread of Life

At that time Jesus said to the multitudes of the Jews: My Flesh is meat indeed, and My Blood is drink indeed. He that eateth My Flesh, and drinketh My Blood, abideth in Me, and I in him. As the living Father hath sent Me, and I live by the Father, so he that eateth Me, the same also shall live by Me. This is the bread that came down from heaven. Not as your fathers did eat manna and are dead. He that eateth this bread shall live for ever.
John 6:56-59

Make us, we beseech Thee, O Lord, to be filled with the eternal enjoyment of Thy Divinity, which is prefigured by the reception in this life of Thy precious Body and Blood: Who livest and reignest, with God the Father, in the unity of the Holy Ghost, God, throughout all the ages of ages.
(Post-Communion payer)

How boundless, O Jesus, is Thy Love!

Thou hast prepared for me,
of Thy most precious Body and Blood,
a divine Banquet,
wherein Thou dost give Thyself to me without reserve.
What hath urged Thee to this excess of love?
Nothing but Thine own most Loving Heart.
O adorable Heart of Jesus,
Furnace of divine Love,
receive my soul into the wounds of Thy most sacred Passion,
that in this school of charity
I may learn to make a return of love
to that God who hath given me such wonderful proofs of His Love.

Amen.

(from Manual of Prayers, Third Plenary Council of Baltimore)

A Prayer before Holy Communion

Today is Corpus Christi. In honor of the day, here is a prayer from St. Thomas Aquinas suitable for praying before receiving the Blessed Sacrament:

Almighty and everlasting God, behold, I am about to approach the Sacrament of Thine only-begotten Son, our Lord Jesus Christ. I approach as one who is sick to the physician of life, as one unclean to the well-spring of mercy and goodness, as one blind to the light of eternal brightness, as one poor and needy to the Lord of heaven and earth. Wherefore I beseech Thee, of Thine infinite goodness, to heal my sickness, to wash away my filth, to enlighten my blindness, to enrich my poverty, and to clothe my nakedness, that I may receive the Bread of Angels, the King of kings, and Lord of lords with such reverence and humility, with such contrition and devotion, with such purity and faith, with such purpose and intention, as may conduce to the salvation of my soul. Grant, I beseech Thee, that I may receive not only the Sacrament of the Body and Blood of our Lord, but also the fruit and virtue of the Sacrament. O most indulgent and merciful God, grant me so to receive the Body of Thine only-begotten Son, our Lord Jesus Christ, which he took of the Virgin Mary, that I may be found worthy to be incorporated with his mystical body and numbered among His members. O most loving Father, grant that I may one day contemplate for ever face to face Thy beloved Son, Whom now on my pilgrimage I am about to receive under a veil, Who liveth and reigneth with Thee in the unity of the Holy Ghost, God, for ever and ever. Amen.

Second Sunday After the Epiphany

† Continuation of the holy Gospel according to St. John.

[Miracle of Cana in Galilee: a type of Transubstantiation.]

At that time there was a marriage in Cana of Galilee: and the Mother of Jesus was there. And Jesus also was invited, and His disciples, to the marriage. And the wine failing, the Mother of Jesus saith to Him: They have no wine. And Jesus saith to her: Woman, what is that to Me and to thee? My hour is not yet come. His Mother saith to the waiters: Whatsoever He shall say to you, do ye. Now there were set there six water-pots of stone, according to the manner of the purifying of the Jews, containing two or three measures apiece. Jesus saith to them: Fill the water-pots with water. And they filled them up to the brim. And Jesus said to them: Draw out now, and carry to the chief steward of the feast. And they carried it. And when the chief steward had tasted the water made wine, and knew not whence it was, but the waiters knew who had drawn the water: the chief steward calleth the bridegroom, and saith to him: Every man at first setteth forth good wine: and when men have well drunk, then that which is worse: but thou hast kept the good wine until now. This beginning of miracles did Jesus in Cana of Galilee; and manifested His glory, and His disciples believed in Him.

+++

A reenactment our Lord's first miracle:

A pilgrim or tourist visits the church built on the site of the wedding feast at Cana:

Only the Priest Could Distribute Holy Communion

Here's a Catholic Answers post I just tried to reply to:

Re: Communion in the hand

---

Quote:

Originally Posted by ANNE 2 Br. JR, OSF have you seen what is posted on the Vatican web site. It is closer to Voris's statements than yours. Further the Holy Father only gives Holy Communion on the Tongue and while kneeling, since 2008 per the Vatican web site. Yes, indeed St. Thomas Aquinas was the Voris quote about Priests, and that is also on the Vatican web site. http://www.vatican.va/news_services/...munion_en.html

Be careful. Go back to the site. It says

"Saint Thomas Aquinas also refers to the practice of receiving Holy Communion only on the tongue. He affirms that touching the Body of the Lord is proper only to the ordained priest."

Then it moves right on without telling the reader that this never became law in the Latin Church and that in fact, it is contrary to current Canon Law in the Latin Church. Canon Law says, as I quoted above, that deacons are also Ordinary Ministers of Holy Communion. We know that the hands of the deacon are not consecrated.

---

The thread was locked while I was composing my reply, but I suspect the issue will arise again, so I'm saving my comment:

"Then it moves right on without telling the reader that this never became law in the Latin Church"

Are you sure that this was never the law?

Canon 845 of the 1917 code of canon law:

§1. The ordinary minister of Holy Communion is only a priest.

§2. A deacon is an extraordinary [minister], authorized by the local Ordinary or a pastor, granted for grave cause, which in case of legitimate necessity is presumed.

I can't quote earlier canon law, but the Council of Trent (session 13, chapter 8) decreed:

"Now as to the reception of the sacrament, it was always the custom in the Church of God, that laymen should receive the communion from priests; but that priests when celebrating should communicate themselves; which custom, as coming down from an apostolical tradition, ought with justice and reason to be retained."

and the Roman Catechism, referring to that decree, stated:

It must be taught, then, that to priests alone has been given power to consecrate and administer to the faithful the Holy Eucharist. That this has been the unvarying practice of the Church, that the faithful should receive the Sacrament from the priests, and that the officiating priests should communicate themselves, has been explained by the holy Council of Trent, which has also shown that this practice, as having proceeded from Apostolic tradition, is to be religiously retained, particularly as Christ the Lord has left us an illustrious example thereof, having consecrated His own most sacred body, and given it to the Apostles with His own hands.

followed even more explicitly by:

To safeguard in every possible way the dignity of so august a Sacrament, not only is the power of its administration entrusted exclusively to priests, but the Church has also prohibited by law any but consecrated persons, unless some case of great necessity intervene, to dare handle or touch the sacred vessels, the linen, or other instruments necessary to its completion.

Priests themselves and the rest of the faithful may hence understand how great should be the piety and holiness of those who approach to consecrate, administer or receive the Eucharist.

---

Happy Easter to anyone who visits this blog.

"Christ is risen indeed!"

"And hath appeared unto Simon!" [Luke 24:34]

Alleluia.

On the Minister of Holy Communion

From the 1917 Pio-Benedictine Code of Canon Law:

Canon 845

§1. The ordinary minister of Holy Communion is only a priest.

§2. A deacon is an extraordinary [minister], authorized by the local Ordinary or a pastor, granted for grave cause, which in case of legitimate necessity is presumed.

Canon 846

§1. Any priest whatsoever, during Mass and, if he celebrates privately, even just before and immediately after, can administer Holy Communion, though observing the prescription of Canon 869.

§2. Even outside of Mass any priest whatsoever, if he is a stranger, partakes of the same faculty with the at least presumed permission of the rector of the church.

Canon 847

Holy Communion is to be brought to the sick publicly, unless a just and reasonable cause persuades otherwise.

Canon 848

§1. The right and duty of bringing Holy Communion publicly to the infirm, even non-parishioners outside the church, belongs to the pastor within his territory.

§2. Other priests may do this only in case of necessity or with the at least presumed permission of their pastor or the Ordinary.

Canon 849

§1. Any priest can bring private Communion to the infirm with at least the presumed permission of the priest to whom custody of the Most Holy Sacrament is committed.

§2. Whenever Holy Communion is privately administered to the infirm, the reverence and decency that is due to such a holy sacrament is be carefully observed, according to the prescriptive norms of the Apostolic See.

Canon 850

It belongs to the pastor in accord with Canon 848, with due regard for the prescription of Canons 397, n. 3, and 514, §§ 1-3, to bring Holy Communion in the form of Viaticum to the sick, whether publicly or privately.

Canon 851

§1. Priests will distribute Holy Communion [made from] leavened or unleavened bread according to the proper rites.

§2. Where necessity urges and there is not present a priest of a different rite, it is permitted to an oriental priest who uses fermented bread to minister the Eucharist in unleavened [form], and likewise to a latin or oriental priest who uses unleavened [bread] to use leavened [bread]; each must observe his own rites of administration.

Canon 852

The Most Holy Eucharist is to be given only under the form of bread.

Canon 868

A celebrating priest is not allowed to distribute the Eucharist during Mass to those faithful who are so distant from him that he loses sight of the altar.

Canon 869

Holy Communion can be distributed wherever it is permitted to celebrate Mass, even in a private oratory, unless the local Ordinary, for just cause, prohibits it in particular cases.

Canon 1274

§1. In churches or oratories to which it is given to preserve the most holy Eucharist, there can be private exposition, that is, with a pyx, for any just reason without the permission of the Ordinary; but public exposition, that is, with a monstrance on the feast of the Body of Christ and within the octave, can be done in all churches within solemn Mass and vespers; but at other times, it shall not [be done] unless there is just and grave cause, especially for public [exposition] and then with the permission of the local Ordinary, even though a church belongs to an exempt religious [institute].

§2. The minister of exposition and reposition of the Most Holy Sacrament is a priest or deacon; but the minister of the Eucharistic blessing is only a priest, nor can a deacon impart it, except in that case where he brings Viaticum to the infirm according to the norm of Canon 845, § 2.

The Marriage Supper of the Lamb

The Lamb
Apocalypse 5 (Douay Rheims)

¹ And I saw in the right hand of him that sat on the throne, a book written within and without, sealed with seven seals.

² And I saw a strong angel, proclaiming with a loud voice: Who is worthy to open the book, and to loose the seals thereof?

³ And no man was able, neither in heaven, nor on earth, nor under the earth, to open the book, nor to look on it.

⁴ And I wept much, because no man was found worthy to open the book, nor to see it.

⁵ And one of the ancients said to me: Weep not; behold the lion of the tribe of Juda, the root of David, hath prevailed to open the book, and to loose the seven seals thereof.

⁶ And I saw: and behold in the midst of the throne and of the four living creatures, and in the midst of the ancients, a Lamb standing as it were slain, having seven horns and seven eyes: which are the seven Spirits of God, sent forth into all the earth.

⁷ And he came and took the book out of the right hand of him that sat on the throne.

⁸ And when he had opened the book, the four living creatures, and the four and twenty ancients fell down before the Lamb, having every one of them harps, and golden vials full of odours, which are the prayers of saints:

⁹ And they sung a new canticle, saying: Thou art worthy, O Lord, to take the book, and to open the seals thereof; because thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God, in thy blood, out of every tribe, and tongue, and people, and nation.

¹⁰ And hast made us to our God a kingdom and priests, and we shall reign on the earth.

¹¹ And I beheld, and I heard the voice of many angels round about the throne, and the living creatures, and the ancients; and the number of them was thousands of thousands,

¹² Saying with a loud voice: The Lamb that was slain is worthy to receive power, and divinity, and wisdom, and strength, and honour, and glory, and benediction.

¹³ And every creature, which is in heaven, and on the earth, and under the earth, and such as are in the sea, and all that are in them: I heard all saying: To him that sitteth on the throne, and to the Lamb, benediction, and honour, and glory, and power, for ever and ever.

¹⁴ And the four living creatures said: Amen. And the four and twenty ancients fell down on their faces, and adored him that liveth for ever and ever.

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The Supper
Apocalypse 19:5-9 (Douay Rheims)

⁵ And a voice came out from the throne, saying: Give praise to our God, all ye his servants; and you that fear him, little and great.

⁶ And I heard as it were the voice of a great multitude, and as the voice of many waters, and as the voice of great thunders, saying, Alleluia: for the Lord our God the Almighty hath reigned.

⁷ Let us be glad and rejoice, and give glory to him; for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and his wife hath prepared herself.

⁸ And it is granted to her that she should clothe herself with fine linen, glittering and white. For the fine linen are the justifications of saints.

⁹ And he said to me: Write: Blessed are they that are called to the marriage supper of the Lamb. And he saith to me: These words of God are true.

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The Invitation and Warning
Apocalypse 3:15-22 (Douay Rheims)

¹⁵ I know thy works, that thou art neither cold, nor hot. I would thou wert cold, or hot.

¹⁶ But because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will begin to vomit thee out of my mouth.

¹⁷ Because thou sayest: I am rich, and made wealthy, and have need of nothing: and knowest not, that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked.

¹⁸ I counsel thee to buy of me gold fire tried, that thou mayest be made rich; and mayest be clothed in white garments, and that the shame of thy nakedness may not appear; and anoint thy eyes with eyesalve, that thou mayest see.

¹⁹ Such as I love, I rebuke and chastise. Be zealous therefore, and do penance.

²⁰ Behold, I stand at the gate, and knock. If any man shall hear my voice, and open to me the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.

²¹ To him that shall overcome, I will give to sit with me in my throne: as I also have overcome, and am set down with my Father in his throne.

²² He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith to the churches.

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Holy Thursday

Matthew 26:26-29 (Latin Vulgate)

²⁶ Cœnantibus autem eis, accepit Iesus panem, et benedixit, ac fregit, deditque discipulis suis, et ait: Accipite, et comedite: hoc est corpus meum.

²⁷ Et accipiens calicem gratias egit: et dedit illis, dicens: Bibite ex hoc omnes.

²⁸ Hic est enim sanguis meus novi testamenti, qui pro multis effundetur in remissionem peccatorum.

²⁹ Dico autem vobis: non bibam amodo de hoc genimine vitis usque in diem illum, cum illud bibam vobiscum novum in regno Patris mei.

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Matthew 26:26-29 (Douay Rheims)

²⁶ And whilst they were at supper, Jesus took bread, and blessed, and broke: and gave to His disciples, and said: Take ye, and eat. This is My Body.

²⁷ And taking the chalice, He gave thanks, and gave to them, saying: Drink ye all of this.

²⁸ For this is My Blood of the new testament, which shall be shed for many unto remission of sins.

²⁹ And I say to you, I will not drink from henceforth of this fruit of the vine, until that day when I shall drink it with you new in the kingdom of my Father.

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John 6:47-52 (Douay Rheims)

⁴⁷ Amen, amen I say unto you: he that believeth in Me, hath everlasting life.

⁴⁸ I am the Bread of Life.

⁴⁹ Your fathers did eat manna in the desert, and are dead.

⁵⁰ This is the Bread which cometh down from heaven; that if any man eat of it, he may not die.

⁵¹ I am the Living Bread which came down from heaven.

⁵² If any man eat of this Bread, he shall live for ever; and the Bread that I will give, is My Flesh, for the life of the world.

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Ecclesiasticus 43:29-37 (Douay Rheims)

²⁹ We shall say much, and yet shall want words: but the sum of our words is, He is all.

³⁰ What shall we be able to do to glorify Him? for the Almighty himself is above all His works.

³¹ The Lord is terrible, and exceeding great, and His power is admirable.

³² Glorify the Lord as much as ever you can, for He will yet far exceed, and His magnificence is wonderful.

³³ Blessing the Lord, exalt Him as much as you can: for He is above all praise.

³⁴ When you exalt Him put forth all your strength, and be not weary: for you can never go far enough.

³⁵ Who shall see him, and declare him? and who shall magnify him as he is from the beginning?

³⁶ There are many things hidden from us that are greater than these: for we have seen but a few of His works.

³⁷ But the Lord hath made all things, and to the godly He hath given wisdom.

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The Tabernacle in pre-1983 Canon Law

From the 1917 Pio-Benedictine Code of Canon Law
(the canon law in effect when Eucharisticum Mysterium was published):

Canon 1268

§1. The most holy Eucharist cannot be kept continually, that is, habitually, except on only one altar of the church.

§2. It shall be kept in the most excellent and the most noble place of the church and therefore regularly on the major altar unless it seems that the veneration and cult of such a sacrament is more convenient and decent elsewhere, observing the prescriptions of liturgical law, which pertain to the final days of the great week.

§3. But in cathedral churches or in collegial or conventual ones in which choral functions are conducted at the main altar, lest ecclesiastical officials be impeded, it is opportune that the most holy Eucharist not regularly be kept at the major altar but in another chapel or altar.

§4. Let rectors of churches take care that the altar in which the most holy Sacrament is reserved be decorated above all the others so that by this appearance the faithful be moved to greater piety and devotion.

Canon 1269

§ 1 The most Holy Eucharist must be preserved in an immovable tabernacle located in the center part of the altar.

§ 2 The tabernacle shall be well-constructed, closed on all sites, decently decorated according to the norm of liturgical law, empty of all foreign things, and thus carefully kept so that any sort of danger of sacrilege or profanation is excluded.

§ 3 If grave causes, approved by the local Ordinary, so persuade, it is not forbidden to preserve the most Holy Eucharist at nighttime outside the altar but on a corporal in a safe and decent place with due regard for the prescription of Canon 1271.

§ 4 The key of the tabernacle in which the most Holy Sacrament is preserved must be diligently kept, gravely burdening the conscience of the priest who has care of the church or oratory.

What is essential is invisible to the eye

Posted by Diogenes in Off the Record:

... But worshiping the body of Jesus under the species of bread also coaches us in a particular disconnect between appearance and reality, where the underlying reality is infinitely more precious than the surface appearance. Now it's comparatively easy to minister to poor people when they're cooperative and grateful and make the minister feel a sense of accomplishment. But sometimes, we're told, they're cantankerous to the point of being positively repellent. That's the point at which the self-congratulatory do-gooders quit and go home and where the real charity kicks in. That's the point at which it's impossible to see the face of Jesus in the destitute (or sick, or deranged) except as a pure act of faith. And that's the point at which it matters whether Jesus is divine or not, because belief in the repulsively disguised spark of divinity is the only reason to keep on giving love in exchange for contempt.

Corpus Christi, observed

Today is the day on which the Catholic Church in the United States observes the feast of Corpus Christi. It is not the traditional day, which was last Thursday, but still, as an expression of the Church's faith, it is within the Church's powers to change when the day is celebrated. Moving the day from Thursday to Sunday, we lose some of the connection to Holy Thursday, but gain more worshippers for the Lord.

Last Thursday, Corpus Christi as traditionally observed, the American bishops very fittingly announced their approval of corrections to various mistranslations in the Mass. Since this was the day on which we particularly honor our Lord's True Presence in the Holy Eucharist, one might think that our bishops would have paid particular attention to the words of consecration. One would be mistaken. Fixing lesser errors, the good bishops left our Lord's (supposed) words in the consecration of the Precious Blood at variance from what He actually said. But it is not in the Church's power to change what He said!

From today's first reading:
Taking the book of the covenant, he read it aloud to the people, who answered, "All that the LORD has said, we will heed and do." Then he took the blood and sprinkled it on the people, saying, "This is the blood of the covenant that the LORD has made with you in accordance with all these words of His."
(Exodus 24:7-8)

From today's Gospel:
Then He took a cup, gave thanks, and gave it to them, and they all drank from it. He said to them, "This is My blood of the covenant, which will be shed for many."
(Mark 14:23-24)

+++

A bright note at the meeting of the American bishops mentioned above was the address by the relatively new chairman of ICEL, the Right Reverend Arthur Roche. He spoke with the sensitivity to the sacred one hopes for from a man in his position:

...Another example is found in the Fourth Eucharistic Prayer in the phrase the fruit of the vine in the Institution Narrative. Currently we say he took the cup filled with wine, as you know, and some argue that the fruit of the vine means the same as the single word wine, and that the simpler expression should be preferred. But we hear the words the fruit of the vine on the lips of the Lord himself in all three synoptic Gospels – which I would consider as being more than enough reason to respect their form.

...The prayers of the Mass, including the anaphoras, are mainly inspired and formed from Sacred Scripture, and the Commission of ICEL has accepted one very important point found in Liturgiam authenticam and accepted it as being crucial, namely the significance of the language of Sacred Scripture in our translation of the Mass. One good example of this is the translation of the Domine non sum dignus as, Lord, I am not worthy that you should enter under my roof, with its reminiscence of the Centurion who asked Jesus to heal his servant.

The link between the Liturgy and Scripture, on which Liturgiam authenticam lays emphasis, seems so obvious, important and valuable. ...

I cannot help but think that what is being asked of us bishops today is no less vital than what was being asked of Paul when, in the face of the cacophonous Church at Corinth, he wrote:

For I received from the Lord what I also handed on to you, ...

Corpus Christi

"I am the bread of life. Your fathers did eat manna in the desert, and are dead. This is the bread which cometh down from Heaven, that, if any man eat of it, he may not die. I am the living bread which came down from heaven. If any man eat of this bread, he shall live for ever; and the bread that I will give, is My flesh for the life of the world."

John 6:48-52



Corpus Christi Sequence
by St. Thomas Aquinas

Zion, to Thy Savior sing,
To Thy Shepherd and Thy King!
Let the air with praises ring!

All thou canst, proclaim with mirth,
For far higher is His worth
Than the glory words may wing.

Lo! before our eyes and living
Is the Sacred Bread life-giving,
Theme of canticle and hymn.

We profess this Bread from heaven
To the Twelve by Christ was given,
For our faith rests firm in Him.

Let us form a joyful chorus,
May our lauds ascend sonorous,
Bursting from each loving breast.

For we solemnly record
How the Table of the Lord
With the Lamb’s own gift was blest.

On this altar of the King
This new Paschal Offering
Brings an end to ancient rite.

Shadows flee that truth may stay,
Oldness to the new gives way,
And night’s darkness to the light.

What at Supper Christ completed
He ordained to be repeated,
In His memory divine.

Wherefore now, with adoration,
We, the Host of our salvation,
Consecrate from bread and wine.

Words a nature’s course derange,
That in Flesh the bread may change
And the wine in Christ’s own Blood.

Does it pass thy comprehending?
Faith, the law of light transcending
Leaps to things not understood.

Here beneath these signs are hidden
Priceless things, to sense forbidden;
Signs, not things, are all we see.

Flesh from bread, and Blood from wine,
Yet is Christ in either sign,
All entire confessed to be.

And whoever of Him partakes,
Severs not, nor rends, nor breaks:
All entire, their Lord receive.

Whether one or thousand eat,
All receive the self-same meat,
Nor do less for others leave.

Both the wicked and the good
Eat of this celestial Food:
But with ends how opposite!

With this most substantial Bread,
Unto life or death they’re fed,
In a difference infinite.

Nor a single doubt retain,
When they break the Host in twain,
But that in each part remain
What was in the whole before;
For the outward sign alone
May some change have undergone,
While the Signified stays one,
And the same forevermore.

Hail! Thou Bread of Angels, broken,
For us pilgrims food, and token
Of the promise by Christ spoken,
Children’s meat, to dogs denied!

Shown in Isaac’s dedication,
In the Manna’s preparation,
In the Paschal immolation,
In old types pre-signified.

Jesus, Shepherd mild and meek,
Shield the poor, support the weak,
Pity all who pardon seek,
And who place all trust in Thee,
Fill them with Thy Charity!

Source of all we have or know,
Feed and lead us here below.

Grant that with Thy Saints above,
Sitting at the feast of love
We may see Thee face to face.

Amen. Alleluia.

Ascension Thursday

A Hymn for Ascension Day
by Saint Ephrem the Syrian

On this day the new bread of the spirit
has gone up to heaven.
The mysteries were revealed in Your Body
which has gone up as an offering.
Blessed be Your Bread, O Lord!

The Lamb has come to us from the house of David;
the priest, from the stock of Abraham,
has become for our sakes the Lamb of God,
the new minister of sacrifice.

His Body is the victim, His Blood is our drink.
Blessed be the new sacrifice!

He has descended from heaven like the light;
is born of Mary as a divine shoot;
as a fruit He has fallen from the cross;
and is offered up to heaven as the first fruits.
Blessed be His will!

You are the offering of heaven and of earth,
immolated and at the same time adored.
You came to be a victim,
You ascended as a singular offering,
You ascended, Lord,
bearing with You the offering of Your sacrifice.

The Precious Body and Blood in Scripture

Matt. 26:29; Mark 14:25; Luke 22:18 – Jesus says He will not drink of the “fruit of the vine” until He drinks it new in the kingdom. Some Protestants try to use this verse (because Jesus said “fruit of the vine”) to prove the wine cannot be His blood. But the Greek word for fruit is “genneema” which literally means “that which is generated from the vine.” In John 15:1,5 Jesus says “I am the vine.” So “fruit of the vine” can also mean Jesus’ blood. In 1 Cor. 11:26-27, Paul also used “bread” and “the body of the Lord” interchangeably in the same sentence. Also, see Matt. 3:7;12:34;23:33 for examples were “genneema” means “birth” or “generation.”


Scriptural support for Eucharistic dogma
http://www.scripturecatholic.com/the_eucharist.html

St. Justin Martyr - First Apology

From the first Apology of St. Justin Martyr:

CHAPTER LXVI -- OF THE EUCHARIST.

And this food is called among us Eukaristia [the Eucharist], of which no one is allowed to partake but the man who believes that the things which we teach are true, and who has been washed with the washing that is for the remission of sins, and unto regeneration, and who is so living as Christ has enjoined. For not as common bread and common drink do we receive these; but in like manner as Jesus Christ our Saviour, having been made flesh by the Word of God, had both flesh and blood for our salvation, so likewise have we been taught that the food which is blessed by the prayer of His word, and from which our blood and flesh by transmutation are nourished, is the flesh and blood of that Jesus who was made flesh. For the apostles, in the memoirs composed by them, which are called Gospels, have thus delivered unto us what was enjoined upon them; that Jesus took bread, and when He had given thanks, said, "This do ye in remembrance of Me, this is My body;" and that, after the same manner, having taken the cup and given thanks, He said, "This is My blood;" and gave it to them alone. Which the wicked devils have imitated in the mysteries of Mithras, commanding the same thing to be done. For, that bread and a cup of water are placed with certain incantations in the mystic rites of one who is being initiated, you either know or can learn.

---

(The Eucharistic Life website has two beautiful sequences of prayers by saints here and here).

Of the Blessed Sacrament of the Altar

Of the Blessed Sacrament of the Altar
By Robert Southwell, Catholic priest, martyr (1561–1595)

The angels’ eyes, whom veils cannot deceive,
Might best disclose that best they do discern;
Men must with sound and silent faith receive
More than they can by sense or reason learn;
God’s power our proofs, His works our wit exceed,
The doer’s might is reason of His deed.

A body is endued with ghostly rights;
And Nature’s work from Nature’s law is free;
In heavenly sun lie hid eternal lights,
Lights clear and near, yet them no eye can see;
Dead forms a never-dying life do shroud;
A boundless sea lies in a little cloud.

The God of Hosts in slender host doth dwell,
Yea, God and man with all to either due,
That God that rules the heavens and rifled hell,
That man whose death did us to life renew:
That God and man that is the angels’ bliss,
In form of bread and wine our nurture is.

Whole may His body be in smallest bread,
Whole in the whole, yea whole in every crumb;
With which be one or be ten thousand fed,
All to each one, to all but one doth come;
And though each one as much as all receive,
Not one too much, nor all too little have.

One soul in man in all in every part;
One face at once in many mirrors shines;
One fearful noise doth make a thousand start;
One eye at once of countless things defines;
If proofs of one in many Nature frame,
God may in stranger sort perform the same.

God present is at once in every place,
Yet God in every place is ever one;
So may there be by gifts of ghostly grace,
One man in many rooms, yet filling none;
Since angels may effects of bodies shew,
God angels’ gifts on bodies may bestow.

Last day of the Year of the Eucharist

(Today is the last day of the Year of the Eucharist, October 2004 - October 2005)

May the Heart of Jesus
in the Most Blessed Sacrament
be praised, adored and loved with grateful affection,
at every moment,
in all the tabernacles of the world,
even to the end of time.