Solemnity of Corpus et Sanguis Christi
(The Body and Blood of Christ)

This weekend we are celebrating the Solemnity of Corpus et Sanguis Christi (The Body and Blood of Christ). This feast gives us the opportunity to recall the greatest gift of the Eucharist given to the Church by Jesus at the Last Supper. It stands at the centre of the Church’s life. Pope John Paul, in his encyclical letter of 2003 “Ecclesia et Eucharistia”, sought to rekindle the sense of amazement that should always fill us when we gather for Mass. Why should we be so amazed and filled with a sense of joyful wonder? Because the Risen Christ is with us as he promised. “The Church draws her life from the Eucharist. This truth does not simply express a daily experience of faith, but recapitulates the heart of the mystery of the Church“.  We believe that the Eucharist, the Mass, contains the Church’s entire spiritual wealth, that is Christ himself, our Passover and our living bread. Receiving Jesus in Holy Communion unites us with Christ – with Christ in his death and resurrection and with Christ as Omega and End of history, the final goal of our life on earth. But it also at the end of Mass, the deacon or priest says “Go and announce the gospel of the Lord”. Like the apostles at the Last Supper, if we wish to be close to the Lord we must answer the command of Christ to wash the feet of others in humble service as signs of hope, signs of resurrection, to the world. In the Catechism of the Catholic Church we read: “the Eucharist commits us to the poor. To receive in truth the Body and blood of Christ given up for us, we recognise Christ in the poorest, his brother and sisters.” Receiving Christ’s presence in Holy Communion should flow into social action, into active love for the poor and oppressed, the sick and the sad. “Those who recognise and worship Christ in the breaking of bread must recognise and serve him also in the broken lives of those around them” (Bishop Michael Evans). 

This weekend at all Masses the Extraordinary ministers of Holy Communion have the opportunity to renew their commitment of service for another year. This takes place after the Lamb of God.

We receive the whole of Christ, body, blood, soul and divinity under the form of bread alone, or under the form of wine alone. The fullness of the grace of his presence is available to us under one kind or another.  However: “the meaning of communion is signified as clearly as possible when it is given under both kinds, and Catholics are encouraged to desire Communion under both kinds in which the meaning of the Eucharistic banquet is more fully signified.” Having Extraordinary ministers of Holy Communion makes it possible for us at St Thomas of Canterbury. Thank you for your ministry of service.