CENTENNIAL

To many Catholics, the term "Corpus Christi" awakens memories of a joyous feast celebrated to honor the institution of the Holy Eucharist. It was celebrated on a Thursday with processions and benedictions. Holy Thursday, the day of Christ's institution of the Holy Eucharist, had its own solemnity, because it occurred during Holy Week. Corpus Christi, the Body of Christ, recalls the words of Jesus at the Last Supper, when He took the bread, blessed and distributed it, saying, "Take and eat; this is My Body." These words are part of the Eucharistic Prayer at Mass.

At the same time, the words "Corpus Christi," the Body of Christ, have another scriptural reference. In the letters of St. Paul, Christians are reminded that, mystically, they are the Body of Christ in this world. Christ is the Head of His Body, the Church. Baptized Christians are members of that Body, diverse yet unified.

The identification between Jesus and His followers begins in the Gospels, when Jesus tells the parable of the judgment (Matt. 25). He notes that whatever is done to the least one is done to Him. Similarly, when Jesus appears to Saul on the road to Damascus (Acts 9), He identifies Himself as the one whom Saul is persecuting when Saul persecutes the Church. Saul, now Paul, deepens our understanding of this mystery, when he sees the community as the Corpus Christi, the Body of Christ.

As parishioners of Corpus Christi Church, we gather as the Body of Christ to celebrate the Eucharist. Christ's own Body is present at this celebration, He as Head, we as members. In the Eucharistic celebration, we recognize who we are. When we leave the celebration, we still are the Body of Christ, called to give the mystical Body the same care and veneration that we give to the Eucharistic Body, called to continue Christ's ministry in loving service to this world.