On The Feast of Corpus Christi ~ The Body and Blood of Christ

Today is the Solemnity of Corpus Christi - the Feast of the Body and Blood of Christ. The Eucharist is the centerpiece of Roman Catholic life. May our lived-understanding of Christ's Presence continually evolve and mature.

In a kind of  conversational prayer with the Eucharistic Christ, Brazilian Archbishop Helder Camara (1909-1999) said:

"Woe to the one who feeds on you,

 and later has no eyes to see you, 

to discern you foraging for food

 among the garbage." 

Intercessions ~ Solemnity of the Body and Blood of Christ

Vank Cathedral Manuscript ~ Isfahan, Iran

On this feast of recognizing Christ in the Bread and the Wine,/ may we discern his presence in the lives of the countless persons who are un-employed, homeless and hungry,/ who live in flight,/ insecurity,/ anxiety,/ pain and grief./ We pray to the Lord.

The cup Christ offers is poured out and emptied,/ the Bread is broken./ We pray for the sick,/ the exhausted,/ the ones who give themselves away in service to the needy and the helpless./ We pray to the Lord.

We join Pope Francis prayerfully in his recent heartfelt appeal to the international community/ to make every effort to favor dialogue and peace in the Middle East/ where tensions are once again very great./ We pray to the Lord.

We ask strength and courage for those who are with us at Mass today,/ and our families and friends./ For our own growth in humility and hope when we are tempted to discouragement./ We pray to the Lord.

For the President of the United States,/ our Congress and all who are in positions of authority./ May they be people of good conscience,/ authenticity and service./ We pray to the Lord.

However early,/ another election time has begun./ In our own thinking and deciding,/ may we keep alive an urgent and broad belief/ in what is best for others,/ and not just ourselves./ We pray to the Lord.

Intercessions ~ Feast of Corpus Christi

Corpus Christi Procession ~ Grodno, Belarus

As the new month of June begins,/ we pray for those who celebrate birthdays,/ anniversaries and other days of remembrance,/ asking for good health,/ safety and peace./ We pray to the Lord.

In the Eucharist,/ God continues to walk with us in our human vulnerability./ We pray for the weakest among us/ or who in their frailty/ are alone or without supports./ We pray to the Lord.

The month of June is traditionally dedicated to the Sacred Heart of Jesus./ We pray for those who have no love or friendship in their lives./ For those we do not love rightly or at all./ We pray to the Lord.

For those of good-heart who come to the rescue wherever there is fire,/ flood,/ terrorist attack,/ or disaster of any kind./ For those who staff hospitals/ or who rush to help others in emergencies./ We pray to the Lord.

For the safety of summer travelers./ For the well-being of our families and friends,/ especially those who are stressed,/ in any kind of trouble or difficulty,/ who live with addictions,/ pain or sickness./ We pray to the Lord.

Preserve us as a decent and good people,/ freed of racism and the phobias and hatreds that weaken the nation./ Grant that those who lead us/ would pattern honesty,/ service,/ solidarity/ progress for all/ and the healing of divisions./ We pray to the Lord.

Sunday Intercessions ~ Feast of Corpus Christi

On this Feast of Corpus Christi/ we remember that Jesus chose to stay with us as food./ We pray for those who have inadequate food - especially children./ And for the privileged world to stop wasting food./ We pray to the Lord.

We pray blessings for fathers around the world,/ and ask for strengthening where their parenting is especially difficult/ or where they fail their chidlren./ We pray too for those who graduate this month./  We pray to the Lord.

We pray for the safety of summer travelers and vacationers./ We ask for these months to be a time of restoration and renewal,/ mindful of those who get no time away/ or who suffer in the heat./ We pray to the Lord.

Tuesday was the feast of St. Anthony of Padua - patron of lost things./ We ask Anthony to help us find Jesus where we have lost him to bitterness or distracting fears./ And for the Church/ where it loses its Christ-center in defensiveness,/ exclusion and power./ We pray to the Lord. 

We pray for the conversion of hearts where there is injustice,/ indifference,/ lies and cover-ups./ And may we find Christ this week in some surprising new way./ We pray to the Lord.

For those who are chronically sick,/ pained or weak./ For those who care for the sick,/ the immigrant and the needy./ For the recovery of those who were injured in the Virginia attack this week/ and blessings for all who came to rescue and help./ We pray to the Lord.

Intercessions ~ Feast of the Body and Blood of Christ

Costa Rican Child: I am the Body of Christ too.

The once large Christian communities of the Middle East have steadily declined over the last century./ We pray for this terrorized remnant,/ asking consolation and restoration./ We pray to the Lord.

On the Feast of Corpus Christi/ we celebrate Christ coming to us as food./ And so we pray for a world of justice/ where all have food,/ not some./ We pray to the Lord.

As June begins/ we pray for all who celebrate birthdays,/ anniversaries/ and other days of remembrance,/ asking for health,/ faith/ and growth in goodness./ We pray to the Lord.

As Memorial Day marks the start of the summertime/ we pray for the safety of travelers and vacationers,/ mindful too of those who get no time away/ for rest and renewal./ We pray to the Lord.

Our world is full of suffering:/ the sick,/ the refugee,/ the prisoner,/ the victimized and the lonely./ Grant us a deepening awareness/ and hearts filled with charity for others./ We pray to the Lord.

We pray the blessings of strength and renewal for families in all their variety./ For families that are stressed financially or emotionally./ For parents and children separated from each other./ We pray to the Lord.

On Memorial Day/ while remembering prayerfully the many soldiers and sailors who have died in battles,/ we pray too for the millions of civilians killed in wars./ For a new world,/ eager to work hard at solving problems through dialogue./ We pray to the Lord.

Intercessions ~ Feast of the Body and Blood of Christ

The purpose of our lives on earth is union with God./ We ask for a renewal of faith which recognizes this God-intimacy in the reception of the Body and Blood of Christ/ under the veil of bread and wine./ We pray to the Lord.

On this Feast of Corpus Christi/ we remember Jesus chose to stay with us as food./ We pray for those who have inadequate or no food - especially children./ And the privileged world to stop wasting food./ We pray to the Lord.

As the Body of Christ we ask for an increase of love which forgives,/ heals/ and invites others to the recognition of God's love shared with the world in Jesus Christ./ We pray to the Lord.

We pray for the safety of summer travelers and vacationers./ We ask for these months to be a time of restoration and renewal/ mindful of those who get no time away./We pray to the Lord.

Next Saturday is the June-feast of Saint Anthony of Padua - patron of lost things./ We ask Anthony to help us find Jesus where we have lost him to bitterness and fears./ And for the Church/ where it loses its Christ-center in defensiveness,/ exclusion,/ and power claims./ We pray to the Lord.

We pray for the conversion of hearts where there is injustice,/ indifference,/ lies,/ selfish neglect and fear./ And that we would find Christ this week/ in the surprise of some new way of thinking./ We pray to the Lord.

For those who are chronically sick,/ pained and weak./ For those who care for the sick,/ the immigrant and the needy./ For the soul-repose of those who have died/ asking for them gifts of joy and light./ We pray to the Lord.

The Feast of the Body and Blood of Christ: The Little Bit

FOR THE FEAST OF THE BODY AND BLOOD OF CHRIST, we might recall the scene in the 6th chapter of St. John's Gospel. A very large crowd has gathered at Tiberius following Jesus at Passover time. Jesus tests the disciples as to how they will feed so many people.

Then there is verse nine, which I see in numerous bibles is translated: Andrew said (to Jesus) "There is a boy here who has five barley loaves and a couple of fish, but what is that among so many people?" But the New Jerusalem Bible has, I think, a better translation, Andrew said, "Here is a small boy who has..."

In the Jerusalem Bible translation Andrew is introducing Jesus to the boy, who is small, who we might refer to as a little boy. He is not a teen-aged boy, but a little guy. Everyone has something to do with and for Jesus. Everyone has a bit to play in the story of Jesus working out his promises in and for the world today.

But there is more. This little boy has a little bit of food to share, and when it is given willingly and utterly to Jesus, a wonder happens. In the 1960's and 70's it was all the rage to say the multiplication of the food happened because Jesus convinced everyone to share what they had brought with them. That's not a miracle. Any good motivational speaker can easily convince a crowd to share. That explanation leaves heaven out of the story. Let's be bold and believe - Jesus fed thousands with a little - miraculously.

At Mass, after the Homily, Creed and Intercessions, things get under way at the altar, and a procession forms, great or small, wherein people bring gifts to the sanctuary. Of course, it is the bread and the wine. But this bread and wine is just a little bit. The hosts are small, the wine is just a sip. But the priest receives them happily and makes the simple prayers of offering:

Blessed are you, Lord God of all creation, through your goodness there is bread - there is wine - to offer..."

And God accepts the simple gifts and transforms them, returning them to us, having made something new of them - life-giving and overflowing in every respect. 

Some priests disagree, but I think the Offertory (or Presentation of the Gifts) is still a good time to consciously make an offering of myself - in spirit standing next to the small boy of the gospels, standing in the little bit of who I am and what I have to give to Jesus:

• the little of bit of my energy
• the little bit of my talent
• the little bit of my consciousness
• the little bit of my creative possibilities
• the little bit of my accomplishments
• the little bit of my time and resources
• the little bit of my patient and understanding
• the little bit of this day

And I may offer as well all the ways in which I have come up short - Jesus accepting it all with gratitude. But as I give it, I am to give it like the boy, gladly, willingly and with the desire to let God do with it as God pleases.

It would be a silly to imagine the boy thinking, "I hope Jesus knows what he's doing and doesn't just use my bread and fish to feed his close friends." Perhaps the boy already knew something of Jesus and stood there full of anticipation, wide-eyed and trusting, knowing he'd have an amazing story to share with his family when he got home later that day.