FATHER BRIAN writes ... - May 2008
IT IS THE MASS THAT MATTERS
We shall celebrate the great festival of Corpus Christi on the last Sunday of this month when we give thanks for the gift of the Holy Eucharist. Maundy Thursday, when Jesus instituted the Sacrament, is in Holy Week of course and a separate day is a good idea. So the week following Trinity Sunday was chosen. Yes, I know it used to be the Thursday but now it is the Sunday, when more people can make it to Mass.
‘Corpus Christi’ means ‘the Body of Christ’ and owes its place in the Church calendar to a 13th century nun, St. Juliana of Liége - a feisty woman indeed. She was professed in 1206 and put all her formidable energy in to securing her favourite feast day entry into the general Church Year. In 1230 she became sister-superior, but not surprisingly the nuns did not like her at all so she left to live in Liége. There she won over the Archdeacon, James Pantaléon. Archdeacons are always influencial people and are often on the way up in the Church. Sure enough, Archdeacon James was to become Pope Urban IV. However, Juliana died before Corpus Christi became a solemn feast day, having spent her last years as a recluse. Her forcefulness bore final fruit when Urban IV established the feast of Corpus Christi in 1264. She was canonised in 1869.
No less a saint than Thomas Aquinas drew up the services of the day, including the New English Hymnal, 268 Of the glorious body telling and 308 Thee we adore, O hidden Saviour, thee.
Catholic Christians, like ourselves, form the vast majority of believers and share a common understanding of the Faith that comes to us from the Bible and the living traditions of the Church. For all of us "the Eucharist makes the Church". The local church gathered to celebrate the eucharist is the universal Church in miniature. When we do this in memory of Jesus we are united with him and with one another. When we obey the Lord’s command in this way we are most truly the people of God.
It is one of the blessings from God that at S. Francis’ church we know that we are above all else a Eucharistic community. We are called together in Christ to offer our praise and thanksgiving for all that God has done, is doing, and will do for us. This is life enhancing, a wonderful resource of strength and joy. In the eucharist we present to the Father the sacrifice of Jesus, who lovingly gave up his life. We receive back from the Father the new life of Jesus risen in Holy Communion. This is for everyone, not saints only.
Each and every S. Francis’ person should be aware that they are uniquely vital to our worship at Mass. God has chosen and called each of us to be a member of our Eucharistic community. We should be present every Sunday and Holy day, for a Sunday missed is lost for ever. Only something unavoidable should keep us away.
At Mass, God gives himself to us and we give glory to him through our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. The Lord’s death and resurrection should make us want to pray and to praise God in the way that he himself has given us. The great festival of Corpus Christi reminds us that it is the Mass that matters. Thank God for it. Three cheers for St. Juliana!
Fr Brian