My dear Friends in Christ,
Today we celebrate the Solemnity of the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ, historically known by its Latin name, Corpus Christi. It is our Parish Feast Day. We celebrate the Real Presence of Jesus Christ — Body, Blood, Sol, and Divinity in the Holy Eucharist, Truly and Substantially Present under the appearances of bread and wine. The transubstantiation (change of substance) occurs when at the Consecration of the Mass, the priest says the words which Christ Himself pronounced over the bread and wine, “This is My Body,” This is the chalice of My Blood,” “Do this is memory of Me.” The Story behind this comes from a German priest, Fr. Peter of Prague, who in 1263 made a pilgrimage to Rome. He stopped in Bolsena, Italy to celebrate Mass. He was having doubts about Jesus being truly present in the Blessed Sacrament. He was affected by the growing debate among theologians on this subject. While celebrating Mass and saying the prayer of consecration, blood started seeping from the consecrated host and onto the altar and corporal. Fr. Peter reported this miracle to Pope Urban IV who sent delegates to investigate. The relics were placed in the Cathedral of Orvieto where they remain today. Inspired by the miracle, Pope Urban commissioned a Dominican Fryer, St. Thomas Aquinas, to compose the Mass and Office for the Feast of Corpus Christi.
We are continuing to get estimates for the sink hole in the parking lot. When the Charter School lets out for the summer, repair work will begin. This is a financial setback that was unforeseeable. Nonetheless, safety comes first. Pray for us!
May God bless you all,
Father John