Dear Parish Family,

   Today we celebrate the Solemnity of the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ (i.e. Corpus Christi).  As Catholics, we believe that when unleavened bread is consecrated by the Priest in the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass, the substance of the bread becomes the Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity of Our Lord Jesus Christ.  The theological term is Transubstantiation.  In effect, what takes place is the conversion of the substance of the Eucharistic elements (i.e. bread and wine) into the Body and Blood of Christ at consecration, with only the appearances of bread and wine still remaining.

    This feast originated in France in the mid-thirteenth century and was extended to the whole Church by Pope Urban IV in 1264. This feast is celebrated on the Thursday following the Trinity Sunday or, as in the USA, on the Sunday following that feast (excerpt taken from https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/saint/solemnity-of-the-most-holy-body-and-blood-of-christ-270).

   As we celebrate Corpus Christi Sunday, may we be reminded of the awesome gift given to the Church by Our Blessed Lord at the Last Supper – the gift of the Eucharist.

May God bless you!
Fr. Dan Redmond