Sunday, June 10, 2012
The Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ (Solemnity)

First Reading:
Psalm:
Second Reading:
Gospel:

Exodus 24:3-8
Psalm 116:12-13, 15-18
Hebrews 9:11-15
Mark 14:12-16, 22-26

Dismiss all anger and look into yourself a little. Remember that he of whom you are speaking is your brother, and, as he is in the way of salvation, God can make him a Saint, in spite of his present weakness.

-- St. Thomas of Villanova

The Angelus

The Angel of the Lord declared to Mary:
And she conceived of the Holy Spirit.

Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee; blessed art thou among women and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus.
Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners, now and at the hour of our death. Amen.

Behold the handmaid of the Lord: Be it done unto me according to Thy word.

Hail Mary . . .

And the Word was made Flesh: And dwelt among us.

Hail Mary . . .

Pray for us, O Holy Mother of God, that we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ.

Let us pray:

Pour forth, we beseech Thee, O Lord, Thy grace into our hearts; that we, to whom the incarnation of Christ, Thy Son, was made known by the message of an angel, may by His Passion and Cross be brought to the glory of His Resurrection, through the same Christ Our Lord.

Amen.

Office of Readings

INVITATORY

The Invitatory may be said for the first ‘hour’ recited in the day.

Lord, + open my lips.
– And my mouth will proclaim your praise.

Ant. Come, let us adore Christ the Lord, the bread of life.

Psalm 95
A call to praise God

Encourage each other while it is still today (Hebrews 3:13).

Come, let us sing to the Lord *
and shout with joy to the Rock who saves us.
Let us approach him with praise and thanksgiving *
and sing joyful songs to the Lord.

Ant. Come, let us adore Christ the Lord, the bread of life.

The Lord is God, the mighty God, *
the great king over all the gods.
He holds in his hands the depths of the earth *
and the highest mountains as well.
He made the sea; it belongs to him, *
the dry land, too, for it was formed by his hands.

Ant. Come, let us adore Christ the Lord, the bread of life.

Come, then, let us bow down and worship *
bending the knee before the Lord, our maker.
For he is our God and we are his people, *
the flock he shepherds.

Ant. Come, let us adore Christ the Lord, the bread of life.

Today, listen to the voice of the Lord: †
Do not grow stubborn, as your fathers did
in the wilderness, *
when at Meriba and Massah
they challenged me and provoked me, *
Although they had seen all of my works.

Ant. Come, let us adore Christ the Lord, the bread of life.

Forty years I endured that generation. *
I said, “They are a people whose hearts go astray
and they do not know my ways.”
So I swore in my anger, *
“They shall not enter into my rest.”

Ant. Come, let us adore Christ the Lord, the bread of life.

Glory to the Father, and to the Son, *
and to the Holy Spirit:
as it was in the beginning, is now, *
and will be for ever. Amen.

Ant. Come, let us adore Christ the Lord, the bread of life.

If the Invitatory is not said, then the following is used:

God, + come to my assistance.
– Lord, make haste to help me.

Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit:
– as it was in the beginning, is now, will be for ever. Amen. Alleluia.

HYMN

The Word of God from heaven came,
But did not leave the Father’s side;
Fulfilled his mission here on earth,
And for mankind was crucified.

The very night before he died
And to his passion he was led,
He gave to his disciples life,
His own true self in form of bread.

His body and his precious blood
He offered under either kind,
And in the fullness of his love
Gave food of life to all mankind.

Dear Savior, victim for our sins,
To lead us to eternal life:
Protect and guard us in your grace,
And keep us from all earthly strife.

To your great name be endless praise,
O ever-blessed Trinity.
We pray you, grant us perfect life
With you throughout eternity.

Melody: Verbum Supernum Prodiens L.M.
Music: Mechlin Antiphonarium Romanum, Mode VII
Text: Verbum supernum prodiens, Saint Thomas Aquinas, about 1225-1274
Translation: paraphrased by Anthony G. Petti

PSALMODY

Ant. 1 Tell those who are invited: Behold, the meal is ready; come to the marriage feast.

Psalm 23
The Good Shepherd

The Lamb himself will be their shepherd and will lead them to the springs of living waters (Revelation 7:16).

The Lord is my shepherd; *
there is nothing I shall want.
Fresh and green are the pastures *
where he gives me repose.
Near restful waters he leads me, *
to revive my drooping spirit.

He guides me along the right path; *
he is true to his name.
If I should walk in the valley of darkness *
no evil would I fear.
You are there with your crook and your staff; *
with these you give me comfort.

You have prepared a banquet for me *
in the sight of my foes.
My head you have anointed with oil; *
my cup is overflowing.

Surely goodness and kindness shall follow me *
all the days of my life.
In the Lord’s own house shall I dwell *
for ever and ever.

Glory to the Father, and to the Son, *
and to the Holy Spirit:
as it was in the beginning, is now, *
and will be for ever. Amen.

Psalm Prayer

Lord Jesus Christ, shepherd of your Church, you give us new birth in the waters of baptism, you anoint us with saving oil, and you call us to salvation at your table. Dispel the terrors of death and the darkness of error. Lead your people along safe paths, that they may rest securely in you and live for ever in your Father’s house.

Ant. Tell those who are invited: Behold, the meal is ready; come to the marriage feast.

Ant. 2 If anyone thirsts, let him come to me and drink from the ever-flowing streams.

Psalm 42
Longing for the Lord’s presence in his Temple

Let all who thirst come; let all who desire it drink from the life-giving water (Revelation 22:17).

Like the deer that yearns *
for running streams,
so my soul is yearning *
for you, my God.

My soul is thirsting for God, *
the God of my life;
when can I enter and see *
the face of God?

My tears have become my bread, *
by night, by day,
as I hear it said all the day long: *
“Where is your God?”

These things will I remember *
as I pour out my soul:
how I would lead the rejoicing crowd *
into the house of God,
amid cries of gladness and thanksgiving, *
the throng wild with joy.

Why are you cast down, my soul, *
why groan within me?
Hope in God; I will praise him still, *
my savior and my God.

My soul is cast down within me *
as I think of you,
from the country of Jordan and Mount Hermon, *
from the Hill of Mizar.

Deep is calling on deep, *
in the roar of waters;
your torrents and all your waves *
swept over me.

By day the Lord will send *
his loving kindness;
by night I will sing to him, *
praise the God of my life.

I will say to God, my rock: *
“Why have you forgotten me?
Why do I go mourning *
oppressed by the foe?”

With cries that pierce me to the heart, *
my enemies revile me,
saying to me all the day long: *
“Where is your God?”

Why are you cast down, my soul, *
why groan within me?
Hope in God; I will praise him still, *
my savior and my God.

Glory to the Father, and to the Son, *
and to the Holy Spirit:
as it was in the beginning, is now, *
and will be for ever. Amen.

Psalm Prayer

Father in heaven, when your strength takes possession of us we no longer say: Why are you cast down, my soul? So now that the surging waves of our indignation have passed over us, let us feel the healing calm of your forgiveness. Inspire us to yearn for you always, like the deer for running streams, until you satisfy every longing in heaven.

Ant. If anyone thirsts, let him come to me and drink from the ever-flowing streams.

Ant. 3 The Lord fed us with the finest wheat and filled us with honey from the rock.

Psalm 81
Solemn renewal of the covenant

See that no one among you has a faithless heart (Hebrews 3:12).

Ring out your joy to God our strength, *
shout in triumph to the God of Jacob.

Raise a song and sound the timbrel, *
the sweet-sounding harp and the lute;
blow the trumpet at the new moon, *
when the moon is full, on our feast.

For this is Israel’s law, *
a command of the God of Jacob.
He imposed it as a law on Joseph, *
when he went out against the land of Egypt.

A voice I did not know said to me: *
“I freed your shoulder from the burden;
your hands were freed from the load. *
You called in distress and I saved you.

I answered, concealed in the storm cloud; *
at the waters of Meribah I tested you.
Listen, my people, to my warning, *
O Israel, if only you would heed!

Let there be no foreign god among you, *
no worship of an alien god.
I am the Lord your God, †
who brought you from the land of Egypt. *
Open wide your mouth and I will fill it.

But my people did not heed my voice *
and Israel would not obey,
so I left them in their stubbornness of heart *
to follow their own designs.

O that my people would heed me, *
that Israel would walk in my ways!
At once I would subdue their foes, *
turn my hand against their enemies.

The Lord’s enemies would cringe at their feet *
and their subjection would last for ever.
But Israel I would feed with finest wheat *
and fill them with honey from the rock.”

Glory to the Father, and to the Son, *
and to the Holy Spirit:
as it was in the beginning, is now, *
and will be for ever. Amen.

Psalm Prayer

Lord God, open our mouths to proclaim your glory. Help us to leave sin behind and to rejoice in professing your name.

Ant. The Lord fed us with the finest wheat and filled us with honey from the rock.

Wisdom built herself a house, alleluia.
– She mixed her wine and set her table, alleluia.

READINGS

FIRST READING

From the book of Exodus
24:1-11

They saw God and they ate and drank

Moses himself was told, “Come up to the Lord, you and Aaron, with Nadab, Abihu, and seventy of the elders of Israel. You shall all worship at some distance, but Moses alone is to come close to the Lord; the others shall not come too near, and the people shall not come up at all with Moses.”

When Moses came to the people and related all the words and ordinances of the Lord, they all answered with one voice, “We will do everything that the Lord has told us.” Moses then wrote down all the words of the Lord and, rising early the next day, he erected at the foot of the mountain an altar and twelve pillars for the twelve tribes of Israel.

Then, having sent certain young men of the Israelites to offer holocausts and sacrifice young bulls as peace offerings to the Lord, Moses took half of the blood and put it in large bowls; the other half he splashed on the altar. Taking the book of the covenant, he read it aloud to the people, who answered, “All that the Lord has said, we will heed and do.” Then he took the blood and sprinkled it on the people, saying, “This is the blood of the covenant which the Lord has made with you in accordance with all these words of his.”

Moses then went up with Aaron, Nadab, Abihu, and seventy elders of Israel, and they beheld the God of Israel. Under his feet there appeared to be sapphire tilework, as clear as the sky itself. Yet he did not smite these chosen Israelites. After gazing on God, they could still eat and drink.

RESPONSORY
John 6:48, 49, 50, 51, 52

I am the bread of life.
Your forefathers ate manna in the desert,
and they died.
– This is the bread that comes down from heaven;
anyone who eats this bread will never die.

I am the living bread come down from heaven,
Anyone who eats this bread will live for ever.
– This is the bread that comes down from heaven;
anyone who eats this bread will never die.

SECOND READING

From a work by Saint Thomas Aquinas, priest
(Opusculum 57, in festo Corporis Christi, lect. 1-4)

O precious and wonderful banquet!

Since it was the will of God’s only-begotten Son that men should share in his divinity, he assumed our nature in order that by becoming man he might make men gods. Moreover, when he took our flesh he dedicated the whole of its substance to our salvation. He offered his body to God the Father on the altar of the cross as a sacrifice for our reconciliation. He shed his blood for our ransom and purification, so that we might be redeemed from our wretched state of bondage and cleansed from all sin. But to ensure that the memory of so great a gift would abide with us for ever, he left his body as food and his blood as drink for the faithful to consume in the form of bread and wine.

O precious and wonderful banquet that brings us salvation and contains all sweetness! Could anything be of more intrinsic value? Under the old law it was the flesh of calves and goats that was offered, but here Christ himself, the true God, is set before us as our food. What could be more wonderful than this? No other sacrament has greater healing power; through it sins are purged away, virtues are increased, and the soul is enriched with an abundance of every spiritual gift. It is offered in the Church for the living and the dead, so that what was instituted for the salvation of all may be for the benefit of all. Yet, in the end, no one can fully express the sweetness of this sacrament, in which spiritual delight is tasted at its very source, and in which we renew the memory of that surpassing love for us which Christ revealed in his passion.

It was to impress the vastness of this love more firmly upon the hearts of the faithful that our Lord instituted this sacrament at the Last Supper. As he was on the point of leaving the world to go to the Father, after celebrating the Passover with his disciples, he left it as a perpetual memorial of his passion. It was the fulfillment of ancient figures and the greatest of all his miracles, while for those who were to experience the sorrow of his departure, it was destined to be a unique and abiding consolation.

RESPONSORY

Know that in this bread is the body of Christ
which hung upon the cross,
and in this cup, the blood of Christ
which flowed from his side.
Take, therefore, and eat his body;
take and drink his blood,
– and you will become members of his body.

Eat this sacred food,
so that your bond of unity with Christ may never be broken.
Drink this sacred blood, the price he paid for you,
so that you may never lose heart because of your sinfulness.
– And you will become members of his body.

If the Optional Vigil is not celebrated, continue with the Te Deum.

OPTIONAL VIGIL

Ant. My flesh is real food, my blood, real drink. Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood will live for ever, says the Lord.

CANTICLES

Canticle I: Proverbs 9:1-6, 10-12
Wisdom calls children to her banquet

My flesh is real food, my blood, real drink. Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood will live for ever, says the Lord (Luke 14:16).

Wisdom has built her house, *
she has set up her seven columns;
She has dressed her meat, mixed her wine, *
yes, she has spread her table.

She has sent out her maidens; she calls *
from the heights out over the city:
“Let whoever is simple turn in here; *
to him who lacks understanding, I say,
Come, eat of my food, *
and drink of the wine I have mixed!
Forsake foolishness that you may live; *
advance in the way of understanding.

The beginning of wisdom is the fear of the Lord, *
and knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.
For by me your days will be multiplied *
and the years of your life increased.”
If you are wise, it is to your own advantage; *
and if you are arrogant, you alone shall bear it.

Glory to the Father, and to the Son, *
and to the Holy Spirit:
as it was in the beginning, is now, *
and will be for ever. Amen.

Canticle II: Jeremiah 31:10-14
The Lord will gather his people together with joy

Behold, the Lamb was standing upon Mount Zion, and with him were one hundred and forty-four thousand people (Revelation 14:1).

Hear the word of the Lord, O nations, *
proclaim it on distant coasts, and say:
He who scattered Israel, now gathers them together, *
he guards them as a shepherd his flock.
The Lord shall ransom Jacob, *
he shall redeem him from the hand of his conqueror.

Shouting, they shall mount the heights of Zion, *
they shall come streaming to the Lord’s blessings:
the grain, the wine, and the oil, *
the sheep and the oxen;
they themselves shall be like watered gardens, *
never again shall they languish.

Then the virgins shall make merry and dance, *
and young men and old as well.
I will turn their mourning into joy, *
I will console and gladden them after their sorrows.

I will lavish choice portions upon the priests, †
and my people shall be filled with my blessings, *
says the Lord.

Glory to the Father, and to the Son, *
and to the Holy Spirit:
as it was in the beginning, is now, *
and will be for ever. Amen.

Canticle III: Wisdom 16:20-21, 26; 17:1a
The Lord fed his people with the bread of angels

This is the bread of God come down from heaven to give life to the world (John 6:33).

You nourished your people with food of angels *
and furnished them bread from heaven, ready to hand, untoiled-for,
endowed with all delights *
and conforming to every taste.

For this substance of yours *
revealed your sweetness toward your children,
and serving the desire of him who received it, *
was blended to whatever flavor each one wished.

That your sons whom you loved might learn, O Lord, *
that it is not the various kinds of fruits that nourish man,
but it is your word that preserves those who believe you! *
For great are your judgments, and hardly to be described.

Glory to the Father, and to the Son, *
and to the Holy Spirit:
as it was in the beginning, is now, *
and will be for ever. Amen.

Ant. My flesh is real food, my blood, real drink. Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood will live for ever, says the Lord.

THE HOLY GOSPEL

+ A reading from the holy Gospel according to John
6:51-58

My flesh is true food, and my blood is true drink.

Jesus said to the Jewish crowds:
“I am the living bread that came down from heaven;
   whoever eats this bread will live forever;
   and the bread that I will give
   is my flesh for the life of the world.”
The Jews quarreled among themselves, saying,
   “How can this man give us his flesh to eat?”
Jesus said to them,
   “Amen, amen, I say to you,
   unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood,
   you do not have life within you.
Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood
   has eternal life, and I will raise him on the last day.
For my flesh is true food,
   and my blood is true drink.
Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood
   remains in me and I in him.
Just as the living Father sent me
   and I have life because of the Father,
   so also the one who feeds on me
   will have life because of me.
This is the bread that came down from heaven.
Unlike your ancestors who ate and still died,
   whoever eats this bread will live forever.”

Or:

+ A reading from the holy Gospel according to Luke
9:11b-17

They all ate and were satisfied.

Jesus spoke to the crowds about the kingdom of God,
   and he healed those who needed to be cured.
As the day was drawing to a close,
   the Twelve approached him and said,
   “Dismiss the crowd
   so that they can go to the surrounding villages and farms
   and find lodging and provisions;
   for we are in a deserted place here.”
He said to them, “Give them some food yourselves.”
They replied, “Five loaves and two fish are all we have,
   unless we ourselves go and buy food for all these people.”
Now the men there numbered about five thousand.
Then he said to his disciples,
   “Have them sit down in groups of about fifty.”
They did so and made them all sit down.
Then taking the five loaves and the two fish,
   and looking up to heaven,
   he said the blessing over them, broke them,
   and gave them to the disciples to set before the crowd.
They all ate and were satisfied.
And when the leftover fragments were picked up,
   they filled twelve wicker baskets.

A homily on the Gospel may be given

TE DEUM

You are God: we praise you;
You are the Lord: we acclaim you;
You are the eternal Father:
All creation worships you.

To you all angels, all the powers of heaven,
Cherubim and Seraphim, sing in endless praise:
   Holy, holy, holy Lord, God of power and might,
   heaven and earth are full of your glory.

The glorious company of apostles praise you.
The noble fellowship of prophets praise you.
The white-robed army of martyrs praise you.

Throughout the world the holy Church acclaims you:
   Father, of majesty unbounded,
   your true and only Son, worthy of all worship,
   and the Holy Spirit, advocate and guide.

You, Christ, are the king of glory,
the eternal Son of the Father.

When you became man to set us free
you did not shun the Virgin’s womb.

You overcame the sting of death,
and opened the kingdom of heaven to all believers.

You are seated at God’s right hand in glory.
We believe that you will come, and be our judge.

Come then, Lord, and help your people,
bought with the price of your own blood,
and bring us with your saints
to glory everlasting.

V. Save your people, Lord, and bless your inheritance.
R. Govern and uphold them now and always.
V. Day by day we bless you.
R. We praise your name for ever.
V. Keep us today, Lord, from all sin.
R. Have mercy on us, Lord, have mercy.
V. Lord, show us your love and mercy;
R. for we put our trust in you.
V. In you, Lord, is our hope:
R. and we shall never hope in vain.

The final part of the hymn may be omitted.

CONCLUDING PRAYER

Let us pray.

Lord Jesus Christ,
you gave us the eucharist
as the memorial of your suffering and death.
May our worship of this sacrament of your body and blood
help us to experience the salvation you won for us
and the peace of the kingdom
where you live and reign with the Father and the Holy Spirit,
one God, for ever and ever.
– Amen.

Or:

O God, who in this wonderful Sacrament
have left us a memorial of your Passion,
grant us, we pray,
so to revere the sacred mysteries of your Body and Blood
that we may always experience in ourselves
the fruits of your redemption.
Who live and reign with God the Father
in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God, for ever and ever.
– Amen.

ACCLAMATION

Let us praise the Lord.
– And give him thanks.

Lauds

INVITATORY

The Invitatory may be said for the first ‘hour’ recited in the day.

Lord, + open my lips.
– And my mouth will proclaim your praise.

Ant. Come, let us adore Christ the Lord, the bread of life.

Psalm 95
A call to praise God

Encourage each other while it is still today (Hebrews 3:13).

Come, let us sing to the Lord *
and shout with joy to the Rock who saves us.
Let us approach him with praise and thanksgiving *
and sing joyful songs to the Lord.

Ant. Come, let us adore Christ the Lord, the bread of life.

The Lord is God, the mighty God, *
the great king over all the gods.
He holds in his hands the depths of the earth *
and the highest mountains as well.
He made the sea; it belongs to him, *
the dry land, too, for it was formed by his hands.

Ant. Come, let us adore Christ the Lord, the bread of life.

Come, then, let us bow down and worship *
bending the knee before the Lord, our maker.
For he is our God and we are his people, *
the flock he shepherds.

Ant. Come, let us adore Christ the Lord, the bread of life.

Today, listen to the voice of the Lord: †
Do not grow stubborn, as your fathers did
in the wilderness, *
when at Meriba and Massah
they challenged me and provoked me, *
Although they had seen all of my works.

Ant. Come, let us adore Christ the Lord, the bread of life.

Forty years I endured that generation. *
I said, “They are a people whose hearts go astray
and they do not know my ways.”
So I swore in my anger, *
“They shall not enter into my rest.”

Ant. Come, let us adore Christ the Lord, the bread of life.

Glory to the Father, and to the Son, *
and to the Holy Spirit:
as it was in the beginning, is now, *
and will be for ever. Amen.

Ant. Come, let us adore Christ the Lord, the bread of life.

If the Invitatory is not said, then the following is used:

God, + come to my assistance.
– Lord, make haste to help me.

Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit:
– as it was in the beginning, is now, will be for ever. Amen. Alleluia.

HYMN

Lord, who at your first Eucharist did pray
That all your Church might be for ever one,
Grant us at every Eucharist to say
With longing heart and soul, “Your will be done.”
O may we all one bread, one body be,
Through this blest Sacrament of Unity.

For all your Church, O Lord, we intercede;
O make our lack of charity to cease;
Draw us the nearer each to each, we plead,
By drawing all to you, O Prince of Peace;
Thus may we all one bread, one body be,
Through this blest Sacrament of Unity.

We pray then, too, for wand’rers from your fold;
O bring them back, good Shepherd of the sheep,
Back to the faith which saints believed of old,
Back to the Church which still that faith does keep;
Soon may we all one bread, one body be,
Through this blest Sacrament of Unity.

So, Lord, at length when sacraments shall cease,
May we be one with all your Church above,
One with your saints in one unending peace,
One with your saints in one unbounded love;
More blessed still in peace and love to be
One with the Trinity in Unity.

Melody: Lord, who at Your First Eucharist Did Pray 10.10.10.D
Music: William Harry Turton, 1881, alt.
Text: William H. Monk, 1875, alt.

PSALMODY

Ant. 1 You fed your people with the food of angels; you gave them bread from heaven, alleluia.

Psalm 63:2-9
A soul thirsting for God

Whoever has left the darkness of sin yearns for God.

O God, you are my God, for you I long; *
for you my soul is thirsting.
My body pines for you *
like a dry, weary land without water.
So I gaze on you in the sanctuary *
to see your strength and your glory.

For your love is better than life, *
my lips will speak your praise.
So I will bless you all my life, *
in your name I will lift up my hands.
My soul shall be filled as with a banquet, *
my mouth shall praise you with joy.

On my bed I remember you. *
On you I muse through the night
for you have been my help; *
in the shadow of your wings I rejoice.
My soul clings to you; *
your right hand holds me fast.

Glory to the Father, and to the Son, *
and to the Holy Spirit:
as it was in the beginning, is now, *
and will be for ever. Amen.

Psalm Prayer

Father, creator of unfailing light, give that same light to those who call to you. May our lips praise you; our lives proclaim your goodness; our work give you honor, and our voices celebrate you for ever.

Ant. You fed your people with the food of angels; you gave them bread from heaven, alleluia.

Ant. 2 Holy priests will offer incense and bread to God, alleluia.

Canticle: Daniel 3:57-88, 56
Let all creatures praise the Lord

All you servants of the Lord, sing praise to him (Revelation 19:5).

Bless the Lord, all you works of the Lord. *
Praise and exalt him above all forever.
Angels of the Lord, bless the Lord. *
You heavens, bless the Lord.
All you waters above the heavens, bless the Lord. *
All you hosts of the Lord, bless the Lord.
Sun and moon, bless the Lord. *
Stars of heaven, bless the Lord.

Every shower and dew, bless the Lord. *
All you winds, bless the Lord.
Fire and heat, bless the Lord. *
Cold and chill, bless the Lord.
Dew and rain, bless the Lord. *
Frost and chill, bless the Lord.
Ice and snow, bless the Lord. *
Nights and days, bless the Lord.
Light and darkness, bless the Lord. *
Lightnings and clouds, bless the Lord.

Let the earth bless the Lord. *
Praise and exalt him above all forever.
Mountains and hills, bless the Lord. *
Everything growing from the earth, bless the Lord.
You springs, bless the Lord. *
Seas and rivers, bless the Lord.
You dolphins and all water creatures, bless the Lord. *
All you birds of the air, bless the Lord.
All you beasts, wild and tame, bless the Lord. *
You sons of men, bless the Lord.

O Israel, bless the Lord. *
Praise and exalt him above all forever.
Priests of the Lord, bless the Lord. *
Servants of the Lord, bless the Lord.
Spirits and souls of the just, bless the Lord. *
Holy men of humble heart, bless the Lord.
Hananiah, Azariah, Mishael, bless the Lord. *
Praise and exalt him above all forever.

Let us bless the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. *
Let us praise and exalt him above all forever.
Blessed are you, Lord, in the firmament of heaven. *
Praiseworthy and glorious and exalted above all forever.

Ant. Holy priests will offer incense and bread to God, alleluia.

Ant. 3 I will give to the one who is victorious the hidden bread and a new name, alleluia.

Psalm 149
The joy of God’s holy people.

Let the sons of the Church, the children of the new people, rejoice in Christ, their King (Hesychius).

Sing a new song to the Lord, *
his praise in the assembly of the faithful.
Let Israel rejoice in its maker, *
let Zion’s sons exult in their king.
Let them praise his name with dancing *
and make music with timbrel and harp.

For the Lord takes delight in his people. *
He crowns the poor with salvation.
Let the faithful rejoice in their glory, *
shout for joy and take their rest.
Let the praise of God be on their lips *
and a two-edged sword in their hand,

to deal out vengeance to the nations *
and punishment on all the peoples;
to bind their kings in chains *
and their nobles in fetters of iron;
to carry out the sentence pre-ordained; *
this honor is for all his faithful.

Glory to the Father, and to the Son, *
and to the Holy Spirit:
as it was in the beginning, is now, *
and will be for ever. Amen.

Psalm Prayer

Let Israel rejoice in you, Lord, and acknowledge you as creator and redeemer. We put our trust in your faithfulness and proclaim the wonderful truths of salvation. May your loving kindness embrace us now and for ever.

Ant. I will give to the one who is victorious the hidden bread and a new name, alleluia.

READING
Malachi 1:11

From the rising of the sun, even to its setting,
   my name is great among the nations;
And everywhere they bring sacrifice to my name,
   and a pure offering;
For great is my name among the nations,
   says the Lord of hosts.

RESPONSORY

You bring forth bread from the earth, alleluia, alleluia.
– You bring forth bread from the earth, alleluia, alleluia

And wine which gives warmth to men’s hearts,
– alleluia, alleluia.

Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
– You bring forth bread from the earth, alleluia, alleluia

CANTICLE OF ZECHARIAH

Ant. I am the living bread come down from heaven; anyone who eats this bread will live for ever, alleluia.

Luke 1:68-79
The Messiah and his forerunner

Blessed + be the Lord, the God of Israel; *
he has come to his people and set them free.

He has raised up for us a mighty savior, *
born of the house of his servant David.

Through his holy prophets he promised of old †
that he would save us from our enemies, *
from the hands of all who hate us.

He promised to show mercy to our fathers *
and to remember his holy covenant.

This was the oath he swore to our father Abraham: *
to set us free from the hands of our enemies,
free to worship him without fear, *
holy and righteous in his sight
   all the days of our life.

You, my child, shall be called the prophet of the Most High; *
for you will go before the Lord to prepare his way,
to give his people knowledge of salvation *
by the forgiveness of their sins.

In the tender compassion of our God *
the dawn from on high shall break upon us,
to shine on those who dwell in darkness and the shadow of death, *
and to guide our feet into the way of peace.

Glory to the Father, and to the Son, *
and to the Holy Spirit:
as it was in the beginning, is now, *
and will be for ever. Amen.

Ant. I am the living bread come down from heaven; anyone who eats this bread will live for ever, alleluia.

INTERCESSIONS

Brethren, let us pray to Jesus Christ, the bread of life, as we joyfully say:
Happy are those who are called to your heavenly banquet.

Priest of the new and eternal covenant, you offered perfect sacrifice to the Father on the altar of the cross,
– teach us to offer ourselves with you.
Happy are those who are called to your heavenly banquet.

King of justice and peace, you consecrated bread and wine as the sign of your offering,
– unite us as victims with you.
Happy are those who are called to your heavenly banquet.

True worshiper of the Father, your perfect offering is celebrated by the Church from the rising to the setting of the sun,
– unite in your body those who partake of the one bread.
Happy are those who are called to your heavenly banquet.

Manna from heaven, you nourish the Church with your body and blood,
– grant that we may walk strengthened by this food.
Happy are those who are called to your heavenly banquet.

Unseen host of our banquet, you stand at the door and knock,
– come to us, stay and share the evening meal with us.
Happy are those who are called to your heavenly banquet.

THE LORD’S PRAYER

(Gathering our prayer and praises into one, let us offer the prayer Christ himself taught us:)

Our Father, who art in heaven,
hallowed be thy name;
thy kingdom come;
thy will be done on earth
as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread;
and forgive us our trespasses
as we forgive those who trespass against us;
and lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from evil.

CONCLUDING PRAYER

Lord Jesus Christ,
you gave us the eucharist
as the memorial of your suffering and death.
May our worship of this sacrament of your body and blood
help us to experience the salvation you won for us
and the peace of the kingdom
where you live and reign with the Father and the Holy Spirit,
one God, for ever and ever.
– Amen.

Or:

O God, who in this wonderful Sacrament
have left us a memorial of your Passion,
grant us, we pray,
so to revere the sacred mysteries of your Body and Blood
that we may always experience in ourselves
the fruits of your redemption.
Who live and reign with God the Father
in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God, for ever and ever.
– Amen.

DISMISSAL

May the Lord bless + us,
protect us from all evil
and bring us to everlasting life.
– Amen.

Daytime Prayer

INTRODUCTION

God, + come to my assistance.
– Lord, make haste to help me.

Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit:
– As it was in the beginning, is now, and will be for ever. Amen. Alleluia.

HYMN

At Midmorning

Breathe on me, breath of God,
Fill me with life anew,
That I may love the things you love,
And do what you would do.

Breathe on me, breath of God,
Until my heart is pure,
Until with you I have one will,
To live and to endure.

Breathe on me, breath of God,
My soul with grace refine,
Until this earthly part of me
Glows with your fire divine.

Breathe on me, breath of God,
So I shall never die,
But live with you the perfect life
In your eternity.

Melody: Yattendon 64.66.86
Music: H. E. Woodbridge, 1845-1917
Text: Edwin Hatch, 1835-1889 adapted by Anthony G. Petti

At Midday

Almighty Ruler, God of truth,
Who guide and master all,
The rays with which you gild the dawn
With noonday heat now fall.

O quench the fires of hatred, Lord,
Of anger and of strife;
Bring health to every mind and heart
That peace may enter life.

Most holy Father, grant our prayer
Through Christ your only Son,
That in your Spirit we may live
And praise you ever one.

Melody: Ballerma C.M.
Music: F. Barthelemon, 1774-1808
Text: Ralph Wright, O.S.B.

At Midafternoon

Lord God and Maker of all things,
Creation is upheld by you.
While all must change and know decay,
You are unchanging, always new.

You are man’s solace and his shield
His rock secure on which to build;
You are the spirit’s tranquil home;
In you alone is hope fulfilled.

To God the Father, and the Son
And Holy Spirit render praise,
Blest Trinity, from age to age
The strength of all our living days.

Melody: Auctoritate Saeculi L.M.
Music: Poitiers Antiphoner, 1746
Text: © Stanbrook Abbey, used with permission.

PSALMODY

Antiphon

Midmorning: I have longed to eat this meal with you before I suffer, alleluia.

Midday: While they were at supper, Jesus took bread, said the blessing, broke the bread and gave it to his disciples, alleluia.

Midafternoon: They recognized the Lord Jesus in the breaking of the bread, alleluia.

Psalm 118
Song of joy for salvation

This Jesus is the stone which, rejected by you builders, has become the chief stone supporting all the rest (Acts 4:11).

I

Give thanks to the Lord for he is good, *
for his love endures for ever.

Let the sons of Israel say: *
“His love endures for ever.”
Let the sons of Aaron say: *
“His love endures for ever.”
Let those who fear the Lord say: *
“His love endures for ever.”

I called to the Lord in my distress; *
he answered and freed me.
The Lord is at my side; I do not fear. *
What can man do against me?
The Lord is at my side as my helper: *
I shall look down on my foes.

It is better to take refuge in the Lord *
than to trust in men:
it is better to take refuge in the Lord *
than to trust in princes.

Glory to the Father, and to the Son, *
and to the Holy Spirit:
as it was in the beginning, is now, *
and will be for ever. Amen.

II

The nations all encompassed me; *
in the Lord’s name I crushed them.
They compassed me, compassed me about; *
in the Lord’s name I crushed them.
They compassed me about like bees; †
they blazed like a fire among thorns. *
In the Lord’s name I crushed them.

I was hard-pressed and was falling *
but the Lord came to help me.
The Lord is my strength and my song; *
he is my savior.
There are shouts of joy and victory *
in the tents of the just.

The Lord’s right hand has triumphed; *
his right hand raised me.
The Lord’s right hand has triumphed;
I shall not die, I shall live *
and recount his deeds.
I was punished, I was punished by the Lord, *
but not doomed to die.

Glory to the Father, and to the Son, *
and to the Holy Spirit:
as it was in the beginning, is now, *
and will be for ever. Amen.

III

Open to me the gates of holiness: *
I will enter and give thanks.
This is the Lord’s own gate *
where the just may enter.
I will thank you for you have answered *
and you are my savior.

The stone which the builders rejected *
has become the corner stone.
This is the work of the Lord, *
a marvel in our eyes.
This day was made by the Lord; *
we rejoice and are glad.

O Lord, grant us salvation; *
O Lord, grant success.
Blessed in the name of the Lord *
is he who comes.
We bless you from the house of the Lord; *
the Lord God is our light.

Go forward in procession with branches *
even to the altar.
You are my God, I thank you. *
My God, I praise you.
Give thanks to the Lord for he is good; *
for his love endures for ever.

Glory to the Father, and to the Son, *
and to the Holy Spirit:
as it was in the beginning, is now, *
and will be for ever. Amen.

Psalm Prayer

Lord God, you have given us the great day of rejoicing: Jesus Christ, the stone rejected by the builders, has become the cornerstone of the Church, our spiritual home. Shed upon your Church the rays of your glory, that it may be seen as the gate of salvation open to all nations. Let cries of joy and exultation ring out from its tents to celebrate the wonder of Christ’s resurrection.

Antiphon

Midmorning: I have longed to eat this meal with you before I suffer, alleluia.

Midday: While they were at supper, Jesus took bread, said the blessing, broke the bread and gave it to his disciples, alleluia.

Midafternoon: They recognized the Lord Jesus in the breaking of the bread, alleluia.

At the other hours, the complemantary psalmody is used.

MIDMORNING

READING
Wisdom 16:20

You nourished your people with food of angels
   and furnished them bread from heaven, ready to hand,
      untoiled-for,
   endowed with all delights and conforming to every taste.

I will go to the altar of God, alleluia.
– My food is Christ who restores my youth, alleluia.

CONCLUDING PRAYER

Let us pray.

Lord Jesus Christ,
you gave us the eucharist
as the memorial of your suffering and death.
May our worship of this sacrament of your body and blood
help us to experience the salvation you won for us
and the peace of the kingdom
where you live for ever and ever.
– Amen.

Or:

O God, who in this wonderful Sacrament
have left us a memorial of your Passion,
grant us, we pray,
so to revere the sacred mysteries of your Body and Blood
that we may always experience in ourselves
the fruits of your redemption.
Who live and reign for ever and ever.
– Amen.

ACCLAMATION

Let us praise the Lord.
– And give him thanks.

MIDDAY

READING
Proverbs 9:1-2

Wisdom has built her house,
she has set up her seven columns;
She has dressed her meat, mixed her wine,
yes, she has spread her table.

You gave them bread from heaven to be their food, alleluia.
– And this bread contained all goodness, alleluia.

CONCLUDING PRAYER

Let us pray.

Lord Jesus Christ,
you gave us the eucharist
as the memorial of your suffering and death.
May our worship of this sacrament of your body and blood
help us to experience the salvation you won for us
and the peace of the kingdom
where you live for ever and ever.
– Amen.

Or:

O God, who in this wonderful Sacrament
have left us a memorial of your Passion,
grant us, we pray,
so to revere the sacred mysteries of your Body and Blood
that we may always experience in ourselves
the fruits of your redemption.
Who live and reign for ever and ever.
– Amen.

ACCLAMATION

Let us praise the Lord.
– And give him thanks.

MIDAFTERNOON

READING
Acts 2:42, 47

The brethren devoted themselves to the apostles’ instruction and the communal life, to the breaking of bread and the prayers, praising God and winning the approval of all the people.

Stay with us, Lord, alleluia.
– For darkness is almost upon us, alleluia.

CONCLUDING PRAYER

Let us pray.

Lord Jesus Christ,
you gave us the eucharist
as the memorial of your suffering and death.
May our worship of this sacrament of your body and blood
help us to experience the salvation you won for us
and the peace of the kingdom
where you live for ever and ever.
– Amen.

Or:

O God, who in this wonderful Sacrament
have left us a memorial of your Passion,
grant us, we pray,
so to revere the sacred mysteries of your Body and Blood
that we may always experience in ourselves
the fruits of your redemption.
Who live and reign for ever and ever.
– Amen.

ACCLAMATION

Let us praise the Lord.
– And give him thanks.

Vespers

INTRODUCTION

God, + come to my assistance.
– Lord, make haste to help me.

Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit:
– as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be for ever. Amen. Alleluia.

HYMN

Father, we thank thee who has planted
Thy holy Name within our hearts.
Knowledge and faith and life immortal
Jesus, thy Son, to us imparts.
Thou, Lord, didst make all for thy pleasure,
Didst give man food for all his days,
Giving in Christ the Bread eternal;
Thine is the power, be thine the praise.

Watch o’er thy Church, O Lord, in mercy,
Save it from evil, guard it still;
Perfect it in thy love, unite it,
Cleansed and conformed unto thy will.
As grain, once scattered on the hill sides,
Was in this broken bread made one,
So from all lands thy Church be gathered
Into thy kingdom by thy Son.

Melody: Rendez a Dieu 98.98 D
Music: Louis Bourgeois, 1543
Text: Didache, c. 110
Translation: F. Bland Tucker, 1941

PSALMODY

Ant. 1 Christ the Lord is a priest for ever in the line of Melchizedek; he offered up bread and wine.

Psalm 110:1-5, 7
The Messiah, king and priest

Christ’s reign will last until all his enemies are made subject to him (1 Corinthians 15:25).

The Lord’s revelation to my Master: †
“Sit on my right: *
your foes I will put beneath your feet.”

The Lord will wield from Zion †
your scepter of power: *
rule in the midst of all your foes.

A prince from the day of your birth †
on the holy mountains; *
from the womb before the dawn I begot you.

The Lord has sworn an oath he will not change. †
“You are a priest for ever, *
a priest like Melchizedek of old.”

The Master standing at your right hand *
will shatter kings in the day of his great wrath.

He shall drink from the stream by the wayside *
and therefore he shall lift up his head.

Glory to the Father, and to the Son, *
and to the Holy Spirit:
as it was in the beginning, is now, *
and will be for ever. Amen.

Psalm Prayer

Father, we ask you to give us victory and peace. In Jesus Christ, our Lord and King, we are already seated at your right hand. We look forward to praising you in the fellowship of all your saints in our heavenly homeland.

Ant. Christ the Lord is a priest for ever in the line of Melchizedek; he offered up bread and wine.

Ant. 2 I will take up the cup of salvation, and I will offer a sacrifice of praise.

Psalm 116:10-19
Thanksgiving in the Temple

Through Christ let us offer God a continual sacrifice of praise (Hebrews 13:15).

I trusted, even when I said: *
“I am sorely afflicted,”
and when I said in my alarm: *
“There is no one I can trust.”

How can I repay the Lord *
for his goodness to me?
The cup of salvation I will raise; *
I will call on the Lord’s name.

My vows to the Lord I will fulfill *
before all his people.
O precious in the eyes of the Lord *
is the death of his faithful.

Your servant, Lord, your servant am I; *
you have loosened my bonds.
A thanksgiving sacrifice I make; *
I will call on the Lord’s name.

My vows to the Lord I will fulfill *
before all his people,
in the courts of the house of the Lord, *
in your midst, O Jerusalem.

Glory to the Father, and to the Son, *
and to the Holy Spirit:
as it was in the beginning, is now, *
and will be for ever. Amen

Psalm Prayer

Father, precious in your sight is the death of the saints, but precious above all is the love with which Christ suffered to redeem us. In this life we fill up in our own flesh what is still lacking in the sufferings of Christ; accept this as our sacrifice of praise, and we shall even now taste the joy of the new Jerusalem.

Ant. I will take up the cup of salvation, and I will offer a sacrifice of praise.

Ant. 3 You are the way, the truth and the life of the world, O Lord.

Canticle: See Revelation 19:1-7
The wedding of the Lamb

The following canticle is said with the Alleluia when Evening Prayer is sung; when the Office if recited, the Alleluia may be said at the beginning and end of each strophe.

Alleluia.
Salvation, glory, and power to our God: *
(Alleluia.)
his judgments are honest and true. *
Alleluia (alleluia).

Alleluia.
Sing praise to our God, all you his servants, *
(Alleluia.)
all who worship him reverently, great and small. *
Alleluia (alleluia).

Alleluia.
The Lord our all-powerful God is King; *
(Alleluia.)
Let us rejoice, sing praise, and give him glory. *
Alleluia (alleluia).

Alleluia.
The wedding feast of the Lamb has begun, *
(Alleluia.)
and his bride is prepared to welcome him. *
Alleluia (alleluia).

Alleluia.
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, *
(Alleluia.)
and to the Holy Spirit: *
Alleluia (alleluia).

Alleluia.
as it was in the beginning, is now, *
(Alleluia.)
and will be for ever. Amen. *
Alleluia (alleluia).

Ant. You are the way, the truth and the life of the world, O Lord.

READING
1 Corinthians 11:23-24

I received from the Lord what I handed on to you, namely, that the Lord Jesus on the night in which he was betrayed took bread, and after he had given thanks, broke it and said, “This is my body, which is for you. Do this in remembrance of me.” In the same way, after the supper, he took the cup, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood. Do this, whenever you drink it, in remembrance of me.”

RESPONSORY

He gave them bread from heaven, alleluia, alleluia.
– He gave them bread from heaven, alleluia, alleluia.

Man has eaten the bread of angels,
– alleluia, alleluia.

Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
– He gave them bread from heaven, alleluia, alleluia.

CANTICLE OF MARY

Ant. How holy this feast in which Christ is our food; his passion is recalled; grace fills our hearts; and we receive a pledge of the glory to come, alleluia.

Luke 1:46-55
The soul rejoices in the Lord

My + soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord, †
my spirit rejoices in God my Savior *
for he has looked with favor on his lowly servant.

From this day all generations will call me blessed: †
the Almighty has done great things for me, *
and holy is his Name.

He has mercy on those who fear him *
in every generation.

He has shown the strength of his arm, *
he has scattered the proud in their conceit.

He has cast down the mighty from their thrones, *
and has lifted up the lowly.

He has filled the hungry with good things, *
and the rich he has sent away empty.

He has come to the help of his servant Israel *
for he has remembered his promise of mercy,
the promise he made to our fathers, *
to Abraham and his children for ever.

Glory to the Father, and to the Son, *
and to the Holy Spirit:
as it was in the beginning, is now, *
and will be for ever. Amen.

Ant. How holy this feast in which Christ is our food; his passion is recalled; grace fills our hearts; and we receive a pledge of the glory to come, alleluia.

INTERCESSIONS

Christ invites all to the supper in which he gives his body and blood for the life of the world. Let us ask him:
Christ, the bread of heaven, grant us everlasting life.

Christ, Son of the living God, you commanded that this thanksgiving meal be done in memory of you,
– enrich your Church through the faithful celebration of these mysteries.
Christ, the bread of heaven, grant us everlasting life.

Christ, eternal priest of the Most High, you have commanded your priests to offer your sacraments,
– may they help them to exemplify in their lives the meaning of the sacred mysteries which they celebrate.
Christ, the bread of heaven, grant us everlasting life.

Christ, bread from heaven, you form one body out of all who partake of the one bread,
– refresh all who believe in you with harmony and peace.
Christ, the bread of heaven, grant us everlasting life.

Christ, through your bread you offer the remedy for immortality and the pledge of future resurrection,
– restore health to the sick and living hope to sinners.
Christ, the bread of heaven, grant us everlasting life.

Christ, our king who is to come, you commanded the mysteries which proclaim your death to be celebrated until you return,
– grant that all who die in you may share in your resurrection.
Christ, the bread of heaven, grant us everlasting life.

THE LORD’S PRAYER

(Remember us, Lord, when you come to your kingdom and teach us how to pray:)

Our Father, who art in heaven,
hallowed be thy name;
thy kingdom come;
thy will be done on earth
as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread;
and forgive us our trespasses
as we forgive those who trespass against us;
and lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from evil.

CONCLUDING PRAYER

Lord Jesus Christ,
you gave us the eucharist
as the memorial of your suffering and death.
May our worship of this sacrament of your body and blood
help us to experience the salvation you won for us
and the peace of the kingdom
where you live and reign with the Father and the Holy Spirit,
one God, for ever and ever.
– Amen.

Or:

O God, who in this wonderful Sacrament
have left us a memorial of your Passion,
grant us, we pray,
so to revere the sacred mysteries of your Body and Blood
that we may always experience in ourselves
the fruits of your redemption.
Who live and reign with God the Father
in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God, for ever and ever.
– Amen.

DISMISSAL

May the Lord bless + us,
protect us from all evil
and bring us to everlasting life.
– Amen.

Compline

INTRODUCTION

God, + come to my assistance.
– Lord, make haste to help me.

Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit:
– as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be for ever. Amen. Alleluia.

Examination of conscience

A brief examination of conscience may be made. In the communal celebration of the office, a penitential rite using the formulas of the Mass may be inserted here.

[I confess to almighty God,
and to you, my brothers and sisters,
that I have sinned through my own fault
(They strike their breast)
in my thoughts and in my words,
in what I have done,
and in what I have failed to do;
and I ask blessed Mary, ever virgin,
all the angels and saints,
and you, my brothers and sisters,
to pray for me to the Lord our God.

The presider says the absolution. If a priest or deacon is present, he should preside.

May almighty God have mercy on us,
forgive us our sins,
and bring us to everlasting life.
– Amen.]

HYMN

God who made the earth and heaven,
    Darkness and light;
You the day for work have giv’n
    For rest the night.
May your angel guards defend us,
Slumber sweet your mercy send us,
Holy dreams and hope attend us,
    All through the night.

And when morn again shall call us
    To run life’s way,
May we still whate’er befall us,
    Your will obey.
From the pow’r of evil hide us,
In the narrow pathway guide us,
Never be your smile denied us
    All through the day.

Guard us waking, guard us sleeping,
    And, when we die,
May we in your mighty keeping
    All peaceful lie.
When the last dread call shall wake us,
Then O Lord, do not forsake us,
But to reign in glory take us
With you on high.

Melody: Ar Hyd Y Nos 84.84.88.84
Music: Welsh Carol
Text: st 1 Reginald Heber, 1783-1826; st. 2 William Mercer, 1811-1876; st. 3 Richard Whately, 1787-1863

PSALMODY

Ant. 1 Night holds no terrors for me sleeping under God’s wings.

Psalm 91
Safe in God’s sheltering care

I have given you the power to tread upon serpents and scorpions (Luke 10:19).

He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High *
and abides in the shade of the Almighty
says to the Lord: “My refuge, *
my stronghold, my God in whom I trust!”

It is he who will free you from the snare *
of the fowler who seeks to destroy you;
he will conceal you with his pinions *
and under his wings you will find refuge.

You will not fear the terror of the night *
nor the arrow that flies by day,
nor the plague that prowls in the darkness *
nor the scourge that lays waste at noon.

A thousand may fall at your side, *
ten thousand fall at your right,
you, it will never approach; *
his faithfulness is buckler and shield.

Your eyes have only to look *
to see how the wicked are repaid,
you who have said: “Lord, my refuge!” *
and have made the Most High your dwelling.

Upon you no evil shall fall, *
no plague approach where you dwell.
For you has he commanded his angels, *
to keep you in all your ways.

They shall bear you upon their hands *
lest you strike your foot against a stone.
On the lion and the viper you will tread *
and trample the young lion and the dragon.

Since he clings to me in love, I will free him; *
protect him for he knows my name.
When he calls I shall answer: “I am with you,” *
I will save him in distress and give him glory.

With length of life I will content him; *
I shall let him see my saving power.

Glory to the Father, and to the Son, *
and to the Holy Spirit:
as it was in the beginning, is now, *
and will be for ever. Amen.

Ant. Night holds no terrors for me sleeping under God’s wings.

READING
Revelation 22:4-5

They shall see the Lord face to face and bear his name on their foreheads. The night shall be no more. They will need no light from lamps or the sun, for the Lord God shall give them light, and they shall reign forever.

RESPONSORY

Into your hands, Lord, I commend my spirit.
– Into your hands, Lord, I commend my spirit.

You have redeemed us, Lord God of truth.
– I commend my spirit.

Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
– Into your hands, Lord, I commend my spirit.

GOSPEL CANTICLE

Ant. Protect us, Lord, as we stay awake; watch over us as we sleep, that awake, we may keep watch with Christ, and asleep, rest in his peace.

Luke 2:29-32
Christ is the light of the nations and the glory of Israel

Lord, + now you let your servant go in peace; *
your word has been fulfilled:

my own eyes have seen the salvation *
which you have prepared in the sight of every people:

a light to reveal you to the nations *
and the glory of your people Israel.

Glory to the Father, and to the Son, *
and to the Holy Spirit:
as it was in the beginning, is now, *
and will be for ever. Amen.

Ant. Protect us, Lord, as we stay awake; watch over us as we sleep, that awake, we may keep watch with Christ, and asleep, rest in his peace.

CONCLUDING PRAYER

Let us pray.

Lord,
we have celebrated today
the mystery of the rising of Christ to new life.
May we now rest in your peace,
safe from all that could harm us,
and rise refreshed and joyful,
to praise you throughout another day.
We ask this through Christ our Lord.
– Amen.

BLESSING

May the all-powerful Lord
grant us a restful night
and a peaceful death.
– Amen.

Antiphon or song in honor of the Blessed Virgin Mary

Hail, holy Queen, mother of mercy,
our life, our sweetness, and our hope.
To you do we cry,
poor banished children of Eve.
To you do we send up our sighs
mourning and weeping in this vale of tears.
Turn then, most gracious advocate,
your eyes of mercy toward us,
and after this exile
show us the blessed fruit of your womb, Jesus.
O clement, O loving,
O sweet Virgin Mary.

Or:

Hail Mary, full of grace,
the Lord is with you!
Blessed are you among women,
and blessed is the fruit of your womb, Jesus.
Holy Mary, Mother of God,
pray for us sinners,
now and at the hour of our death.

Or:

Salve, Regina, mater misericordiae;
vita, dulcedo et spes nostra, salve,
Ad te clamamus, exsules filii Evae.
Ad te suspiramus, gementes et flentes
in hac lacrimarum valle.

Eia ergo, advocata nostra,
illos tuos misericordes occulos
ad nos converte.
Et Iesum, benedictum fructum verntris tui,
nobis post hoc exilium ostende.
O clemens, o pia, o dulcis Virgo Maria.

Or:

Loving mother of the Redeemer,
gate of heaven, star of the sea,
assist your people who have fallen yet strive to rise again.
To the wonderment of nature you bore your Creator,
yet remained a virgin after as before.
You who received Gabriel’s joyful greeting,
have pity on us poor sinners.

Solemnity of The Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ -- Corpus Christi

Solemnity of
The Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ

Corpus Christi

Second Sunday after Pentecost or
Thursday after Trinity Sunday

The High Feast of the Lamb ((detail) Ghent altarpiece - Jan Van Eyck 16th c

"Truly, truly, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of man and drink His blood, you have no life in you; he who eats My flesh and drinks My blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day." -- John 6:53, 54

Corpus Christi Introduction | Catechism excerpt | Directory on Popular Piety excerpt | Readings for Corpus Christi | Family Activities | The Holy Eucharist: Resources for Devotion - Adoration - Benediction - Doctrine - Study - Link to order Holy Eucharist Booklets [the Adoremus Website] | Corpus Christi Novena [EWTN Website] | MYSTICI CORPORIS CHRISTI, Encyclical of Pope Pius XII on the Mystical Body of Christ [Vatican Website] | Homily of Pope Benedict XVI 2005 | Homily of Pope Benedict XVI 2006

Corpus Christi
The Solemnity of Corpus Christi commemorates the institution of the Holy Eucharist, paralleling Maundy Thursday (Holy Thursday) commemorating Our Lord's institution of the Eucharist. Corpus Christ was introduced in the late 13th century to encourage the faithful give special honor to the institution of the Holy Eucharist to the Blessed Sacrament. The official title of this Solemnity was changed in 1970 to The Body and Blood of Christ (Latin: Sollemnitas Sanctissimi Corporis et Sanguinis Christi); and it is still on the Roman Missal’s official Calendar for the universal Church on Thursday after Trinity Sunday; however, where it is not a day of obligation (as in the United States) it is usually celebrated on the Sunday following Trinity Sunday.
Corpus Christi became a mandatory feast in the Roman Church in 1312. But nearly a century earlier, Saint Juliana of Mont Cornillon, promoted a feast to honor the Blessed Sacrament. From early age Juliana, who became an Augustinian nun in Liége, France, in 1206, had a great veneration for the Blessed Sacrament, and longed for a special feast in its honor. She had a vision of the Church under the appearance of the full moon having one dark spot, which signified the absence of such a solemnity. She made known her ideas to the Bishop of Liége, Robert de Thorete, to the Dominican Hugh who later became cardinal legate in the Netherlands, and to Jacques Panaléon, at the time Archdeacon of Liége and who later became Pope Urban IV. Bishop Robert de Thorete ordered that the feast be celebrated in his diocese.
Pope Urban IV later published the Bull Transiturus (September 8, 1264), in which, after having extolled the love of Our Savior as expressed in the Holy Eucharist, ordered the annual celebration of Corpus Christi on the Thursday after Trinity Sunday. More than four decades later, Pope Clement V published a new decree which embodied Urban IV's decree and ordered the adoption of the feast at the General Council of Vienna (1311). Pope John XXII, successor of Clement V, urged this observance.
The processions on Corpus Christi to honor the Holy Eucharist were not mentioned in the decrees, but had become a principal feature of the feast's celebration by the faithfl, and became a tradition throughout Europe. These processions were endowed with indulgences by Popes Martin V and Eugene IV.
(Principal source - Catholic Encyclopedia - 1913 edition, )

Catechism of the Catholic Church - The Eucharist §§ 1322 - 1419
1324 The Eucharist is "source and summit of the Christian life." "The other sacraments, and indeed all ecclesiastical ministries and works of the apostolate, are bound up with the Eucharist and are oriented toward it. For in the blessed Eucharist is contained the whole spiritual good of the Church, namely Christ himself, our Pasch."
1325 "The Eucharist is the efficacious sign and sublime cause of that communion in the divine life and that unity of the People of God by which the Church is kept in being. It is the culmination both of God's action sanctifying the world in Christ and of the worship men offer to Christ and through him to the Father in the Holy Spirit."
1326 Finally, by the Eucharistic Celebration we already unite ourselves with the heavenly liturgy and anticipate eternal life, when God will be all in all.
1327 In brief, the Eucharist is the sum and summary of our faith: "Our way of thinking is attuned to the Eucharist, and the Eucharist in turn confirms our way of thinking."
Directory on Popular Piety and the Liturgy Excerpt:
Solemnity of the Body and Blood of Christ
160. The Solemnity of the Body and Blood of Christ is observed on the Thursday following on the solemnity of the Most Blessed Trinity. This feast is both a doctrinal and cultic response to heretical teaching on the mystery of the real presence of Christ in the Eucharist, and the apogee of an ardent devotional movement concentrated on the Sacrament of the Altar. It was extended to the entire Latin Church by Urban IV in 1264.
Popular piety encouraged the process that led to the institution of the feast of Corpus Christi, which reciprocally inspired the development of new forms of Eucharistic piety among the people of God.
For centuries, the celebration of Corpus Christi remained the principal point of popular piety's concentration on the Eucharist. In the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries, faith, in reaction to various forms of protestantism, and culture (art, folklore and literature) coalesced in developing lively and significant expressions Eucharistic devotion in popular piety.
161. Eucharistic devotion, which is so deeply rooted in the Christian faithful, must integrate two basic principles:
* the supreme reference point for Eucharistic devotion is the Lord's Passover; the Pasch as understood by the Fathers, is the feast of Easter, while the Eucharist is before all else the celebration of Paschal Mystery or of the Passion, Death and Resurrection of Christ;
* all forms of Eucharisit devotion must have an intrinsic reference to the Eucharistic Sacrifice, or dispose the faithful for its celebration, or prolong the worship which is essential to that Sacrifice.
Hence, the Rituale Romanum states "The faithful, when worshipping Christ present in the Sacrament of the Altar, should recall that this presence comes from the Sacrifice of the Eucharist, and tends towards sacramental and spiritual communion"(169).
162. The Corpus Christi procession represents the typical form of an Eucharistic procession. It is a prolongation of the celebration of the Eucharist: immediately after Mass, the Sacred Host, consecrated during the Mass, is borne out of the Church for the Christian faithful "to make public profession of faith and worship of the Most Blessed Sacrament"(170).
The faithful understand and appreciate the values inherent in the procession: they are aware of being "the People of God", journeying with the Lord, and proclaiming faith in him who has become truly "God-amongst-us".
It is necessary however to ensure that the norms governing processions be observed(171), especially those ensuring respect for the dignity and reverence of the Blessed Sacrament(172). It is also necessary to ensure that the typical elements of popular piety accompanying the procession, such as the decoration of the streets and windows with flowers and the hymns and prayers used during the procession, truly "lead all to manifest their faith in Christ, and to give praise to the Lord"(173), and exclude any forms of competition.
163. The Eucharistic procession is normally concluded by a blessing with the Blessed Sacrament. In the specific case of the Corpus Christi procession, the solemn blessing with the Blessed Sacrament concludes the entire celebration: the usual blessing by the priest is replaced by the blessing with the Blessed Sacrament.
It is important that the faithful understand that this blessing is not an independent form of Eucharistic piety, but the end of a prolonged act of worship. Hence, liturgical norms prohibit "exposition of the Blessed Sacrament for the purpose of giving the blessing"(174).
(Link to complete Directory on Popular Piety andthe Liturgy on Vatican web site)

Readings for Corpus Christi
Collect:
O God, who in this wonderful Sacrament
have left us a memorial of your Passion,
grant us, we pray,
so to revere the sacred mysteries of your Body and Blood
that we may always experience in ourselves
the fruits of your redemption.
Who live and reign with God the Father
in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God, for ever and ever. +Amen.
Readings for Mass
Year A
First Reading: Deuteronomy 8:2-3, 14b-16a
Moses said to the people: "Remember all the way which the Lord your God has led you these forty years in the wilderness, that He might humble you, testing you to know what was in your heart, whether you would keep His commandments, or not. And He humbled you and let you hunger and fed you with manna, which you did not know, nor did your fathers know; that he might make you know that man does not live by bread alone, but that man lives by everything that proceeds out of the mouth of the Lord. Do not forget the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage, who led you through the great and terrible wilderness, with its fiery serpents and scorpions and thirsty ground hwere there was no water, who brought you water out of the flinty rock, who fed you in the wilderness with manna which your fathers did not know."

Second Reading: 1 Corinthians 10:16-17
The cup of blessing which we bless, is it not a participation in the Blood of Christ? The Bread which we break, is it not a participation in the Body of Christ? Because there is one bread, we who are many are one body, for we all partake of the one bread.

Gospel Reading: John 6:51-58
Jesus said to the Jews, "I am the living bread which came down from heaven; if any one eats of this bread, he will live for ever; and the bread which I shall give for the life of the world is My flesh." The Jews them disputed among themselves, saying, "How can this man give us his flesh to eat?" So Jesus said to them, "Truly, truly, I say to you unless you eat the flesh of the Son of man and drink His blood, you have no life in you; he who eats My flesh and drinks My blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day. For My flesh is food indeed, and My blood is drink indeed. He who eats My flesh and drinks My blood abides in Me, and I in him. As the living Father sent Me, and I live because of the Father, so he who eats Me will live because of Me. This is the bread which came down from heaven, not such as the fathers ate and died; he who eats this bread will live for ever."
Year B
First Reading: Exodus 24:3-8
Second Reading: Hebrews 9:11-15
Gospel Reading: Mark 14:12-16,22-26

Year C
First Reading: Genesis 14:18-20
And Melchizedek king of Salem brought out bread and wine; he was priest of God Most High. And he blessed him and said, "Blessed be Abram by God Most High, maker of heaven and earth; and blessed be God Most High, who has delivered your enemies into your hand!" And Abram gave him a tenth of everything.

Second Reading: 1 Corinthians 11:23-26
For I received from the Lord what I also delivered to you, that the Lord Jesus on the night when he was betrayed took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it, and said, "This is my body which is for you. Do this in remembrance of me." In the same way also the cup, after supper, saying, "This cup is the new covenant in my blood. Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me." For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord's death until he comes.

Gospel Reading: Luke 9:11-17
When the crowds learned it, they followed him; and he welcomed them and spoke to them of the kingdom of God, and cured those who had need of healing. Now the day began to wear away; and the twelve came and said to him, "Send the crowd away, to go into the villages and country round about, to lodge and get provisions; for we are here in a lonely place." But he said to them, "You give them something to eat." They said, "We have no more than five loaves and two fish--unless we are to go and buy food for all these people." For there were about five thousand men. And he said to his disciples, "Make them sit down in companies, about fifty each." And they did so, and made them all sit down. And taking the five loaves and the two fish he looked up to heaven, and blessed and broke them, and gave them to the disciples to set before the crowd. And all ate and were satisfied. And they took up what was left over, twelve baskets of broken pieces.
Family Activities:

It would be great to revive the Corpus Christi procession -- in your parish, parish school or home-schooling group. Children love processions, and this would be an excellent way to demonstrate to them the meaning and the importance of this feast of the Church year. (In some places, this was a yearly feature of parish life until about forty years ago. Your parents or grandparents might describe these festive processions.)
Attend Eucharistic adoration with children today, if possible. -- or at least make a prayer "visit" to the Blessed Sacrament in your own church. Explain why we fall on our knees in worship before the Blessed Sacrament of our Salvation -- that the word "Eucharist" means "thanks-giving" for the Sacrifice of Christ on the Cross. (Adults would do well to review the entire section on the Holy Eucharist in the Catechism of the Catholic Church. (See links page for a web version of the Catechism on the Vatican web site.)
Review religious vocabulary. Today presents a good opportunity to review or explore the specifically religious meaning of the words "Sacrifice", "Salvation", "Righteousness", "Redemption", "Sacrament", "Consecrate", "Feast", "Blessed".
If you did not have a chance to do the Christian Seder Meal for Holy Thursday you may want to consider this for today.
Pray for a priest. Talk to your children about vocations -- that is, about dedicating our lives to the service of Our Lord Jesus Christ as priests or in consecrated religious life.
Novena Honoring the Body and Blood of Christ --
I thank You, Jesus, my Divine Redeemer, for coming upon the earth for our sake, and for instituting the adorable Sacrament of the Holy Eucharist in order to remain with us until the end of the world.
I thank You for hiding beneath the Eucharistic species Your infinite majesty and beauty, which Your Angels delight to behold, so that I might have courage to approach the throne of Your Mercy.
I thank You, most loving Jesus, for having made Yourself my food, and for uniting me to Yourself with so much love in this wonderful Sacrament that I may live in You.
I thank You, my Jesus, for giving Yourself to me in this Blessed Sacrament, and so enriching it with the treasures of Your love that You have no greater gift to give me.
I thank You not only for becoming my food but also for offering Yourself as a continual sacrifice to Your Eternal Father for my salvation.
I thank You, Divine Priest, for offering Yourself as a Sacrifice daily upon our altars in adoration and homage to the Most Blessed Trinity, and for making amends for our poor and miserable adorations.
I thank You for renewing in this daily Sacrifice the actual Sacrifice of the Cross offered on Calvary, in which You satisfy Divine justice for us poor sinners.
I thank You, dear Jesus, for having become the priceless Victim to merit for me the fullness of heavenly favors. Awaken in me such confidence in You that their fullness may descend ever more fruitfully upon my soul.
I thank You for offering Yourself in thanksgiving to God for all His benefits, spiritual and temporal, which He has bestowed upon me.

In union with Your offering of Yourself to Your Father in the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass, I ask for this special favor: (Mention your request). If it be Your holy Will, grant my request. Through You I also hope to receive the grace of perseverance in Your love and faithful service, a holy death, and a happy eternity with You in Heaven. Amen.

O Lord, You have given us this Sacred Banquet, in which Christ is received, the memory of His Passion is renewed, the mind is filled with grace, and a pledge of future glory is given to us.
You have given them bread from Heaven.
Having all sweetness within.

Let us pray. God our Father, for Your glory and our salvation You appointed Jesus Christ eternal High Priest. May the people He gained for You by His Blood come to share in the power of His Cross and Resurrection by celebrating His Memorial in this Eucharist, for He lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, forever. Amen.

O Jesus, since You have left us a remembrance of Your Passion beneath the veils of this Sacrament, grant us, we pray, so to venerate the sacred mysteries of Your Body and Blood that we may always enjoy the fruits of Your Redemption, for You live and reign forever. Amen.

Hymns
Saint Thomas Aquinas was given the task of composing hymns for the celebration of Corpus Christi by Pope Urban IV. These are among the best known (and beloved) of all Latin hymns, because they were traditionally sung by the people during regular Eucharistic Devotions, as well as by the choir on Holy Thursday and Corpus Christi. (Catholics over 50 can probably sing these by heart even yet.) The hymns are Lauda Sion - Pange Lingua - Tantum Ergo

BENEDICT XVI, GENERAL AUDIENCE
Wednesday, 17 November 2010
Saint Juliana of Cornillon
Dear Brothers and Sisters,
Our catechesis today deals with Saint Juliana of Cornillon, better known as Saint Juliana of Liège. Born at the end of the twelfth century, Juliana was orphaned young and became an Augustinian nun. Intelligent and cultured, she was drawn to contemplative prayer and devotion to the sacrament of the Eucharist. As the result of a recurring vision, Juliana worked to promote a liturgical feast in honour of the Eucharist. The feast of Corpus Christi was first celebrated in the Diocese of Liège, and began to spread from there. Pope Urban IV, who had known Juliana in Liège, instituted the solemnity of Corpus Christi for the universal Church and charged Saint Thomas Aquinas with composing the texts of the liturgical office. The Pope himself celebrated the solemnity in Orvieto, then the seat of the papal court, where the relic of a celebrated Eucharistic miracle, which had occurred the previous year, was kept. As we recall Saint Juliana of Cornillon, let us renew our faith in Christ’s true presence in the Eucharist and pray that the “springtime of the Eucharist” which we are witnessing in the Church today may bear fruit in an ever greater devotion to the Sacrament of Christ’s Body and Blood.
© Copyright 2010 - Libreria Editrice Vaticana

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Information: St. Getulius & Companions

Feast Day:	June 10
Died:	120 AD
Major Shrine:	Sant'Angelo in Pescheria, Rome

Saints Days are superseded by the Sunday Liturgy.

Interactive Saints for Kids

Blessed Henry of Treviso

Feast Day: June 10
Died: 1315

Henry was born at Bolzano, in the Tyrol region of Italy. Henry's family was very poor, and they could not send him to school, so he did not learn how to read and write. But he studied earnestly the ways of God.

When he was a teenager, he went to Treviso looking for work and became a day laborer. Not many people knew that he kept only what money he absolutely needed for the day and gave the rest away to the poor. He never saved any money for the next day.

He went to Mass daily, confessed his sins and received communion. Henry loved the sacrament of Reconciliation and found this sacrament of a forgiving God very encouraging.

People began to notice what a good Christian Henry was. As penance he worked very hard, however difficult the job he was given and he did it cheerfully. He put aside enough time every day for private prayer, usually at church, trying hard not to draw attention to himself.

Henry was known for his calm and gentle ways. People teased him because he was so simple. And as he got older, children made fun of him because he looked so shabby and stooped. But Henry didn't mind. He realized that they did not know they were hurting him and answered them with kind words and a prayer.

When Henry was too old and frail to work, a friend James Castagnolis, brought him into his own home. Mr. Castagnolis gave Henry a room, and food whenever he would accept it. Blessed Henry insisted that he live on the alms of the people of Treviso.

They were generous in their donations of food because they knew he shared their gifts with many people who were poor and homeless. Henry as always, only kept what he needed and gave the rest away to those more needy than himself.

By the end of his life, Henry could barely walk. People watched with awe as the old man dragged himself to morning Mass. Often he would visit other local churches as well, painfully moving toward each destination. What a mystery this good man was.

When he died on June 10, 1315, people crowded into his little room. They wanted a relic, a keepsake. They found his treasures: a prickly hair-shirt, a log of wood that was his pillow, some straw that was the mattress for his bed.

His body was moved to the cathedral so that all the people could pay their tribute. Two hundred and seventy six miracles were reported within a few days after his death.

Reflection: Simplicity and generosity marked the life of this holy man. How do I live my life as a Christian?

Catholic

Almanac:

Sunday, June 10
Liturgical Color: White
Today is the Solemnity of the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ. "Truly I say to you unless you eat the flesh of the Son of man and drink His blood; you have no life in you." (John 6:53)

Catholic Culture

Daily Readings for: June 10, 2012
(Readings on USCCB website)

Collect: O God, who in this wonderful Sacrament have left us a memorial of your Passion, grant us, we pray, so to revere the sacred mysteries of your Body and Blood that we may always experience in ourselves the fruits of your redemption. Who live and reign with God the Father in the unity of the Holy Spirit, on God, for ever and ever.

Ordinary Time: June 10th

Solemnity of the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ Old Calendar: Second Sunday after Pentecost

"While they were eating, he took bread, said the blessing, broke it, gave it to them, and said, 'Take it; this is my body.' Then he took a cup, gave thanks, and gave it to them, and they all drank from it. He said to them, 'This is my blood of the covenant, which will be shed for many.'"

Where the Solemnity of the Body and Blood of Christ is not observed as a holy day, it is assigned to the Sunday after Trinity Sunday, which is then considered its proper day in the calendar.

Please see this special section on Corpus Christi.

Click here for commentary on the readings in the Extraordinary Form of the Roman Rite.

Corpus Christi Sunday
Corpus Christi (Body and Blood of Christ) is a Eucharistic solemnity, or better, the solemn commemoration of the institution of that sacrament. It is, moreover, the Church's official act of homage and gratitude to Christ, who by instituting the Holy Eucharist gave to the Church her greatest treasure. Holy Thursday, assuredly, marks the anniversary of the institution, but the commemoration of the Lord's passion that very night suppresses the rejoicing proper to the occasion. Today's observance, therefore, accents the joyous aspect of Holy Thursday.

The Mass and the Office for the feast was edited or composed by St. Thomas Aquinas upon the request of Pope Urban IV in the year 1264. It is unquestionably a classic piece of liturgical work, wholly in accord with the best liturgical traditions. . . It is a perfect work of art.

— Excerpted from The Church's Year of Grace, Pius Parsch.

In the words of St. Thomas:

"How inestimable a dignity, beloved brethren, divine bounty has bestowed upon us Christians from the treasury of its infinite goodness! For there neither is nor ever has been a people to whom the gods were so nigh as our Lord and God is nigh unto us.

"Desirous that we be made partakers of His divinity, the only-begotten Son of God has taken to Himself our nature so that having become man, He would be enabled to make men gods. Whatever He assumed of our nature He wrought unto our salvation. For on the altar of the Cross He immolated to the Father His own Body as victim for our reconciliation and shed His blood both for our ransom and for our regeneration. Moreover, in order that a remembrance of so great benefits may always be with us, He has left us His Body as food and His Blood as drink under appearances of bread and wine.

"O banquet most precious! O banquet most admirable! O banquet overflowing with every spiritual delicacy! Can anything be more excellent than this repast, in which not the flesh of goats and heifers, as of old, but Christ the true God is given us for nourishment? What more wondrous than this holy sacrament! In it bread and wine are changed substantially, and under the appearance of a little bread and wine is had Christ Jesus, God and perfect Man. In this sacrament sins are purged away, virtues are increased, the soul is satiated with an abundance of every spiritual gift. No other sacrament is so beneficial. Since it was instituted unto the salvation of all, it is offered by Holy Church for the living and for the dead, that all may share in its treasures.

"My dearly beloved, is it not beyond human power to express the ineffable delicacy of this sacrament in which spiritual sweetness is tasted in its very source, in which is brought to mind the remembrance of that all-excelling charity which Christ showed in His sacred passion? Surely it was to impress more profoundly upon the hearts of the faithful the immensity of this charity that our loving Savior instituted this sacrament at the last supper when, having celebrated the Pasch with His disciples. He was about to leave the world and return to the Father. It was to serve as an unending remembrance of His passion, as the fulfillment of ancient types — this the greatest of His miracles. To those who sorrow over His departure He has given a unique solace."

Symbols: The usual symbol for the Holy Eucharist is a chalice, with a host rising out of it.

The chalice is shown with a hexagonal base, as a rule, symbolizing the Six Attributes of the Deity (power, wisdom, majesty, mercy, justice and love), and with a richly wrought stem of gold, studded with precious stones. The host is shown as the typical circular wafer, upon which may be imprinted the letters I. N. R. I., from which proceed rays of light, symbolical of the Real Presence, the substantial presence of Christ under the species of bread and wine.

An altar, upon which is set a cross, two or more candles in their tall candlesticks, a chalice and a ciborium, is another symbol often seen.

Things to Do:

The Directory on Popular Piety explains Eucharistic devotion and Eucharistic adoration.
Encourage your pastor to have a Eucharist Procession on the Feast of Corpus Christi.
Freshly baked bread would be a key dish at your celebratory Sunday dinner, as bread has always been symbolic for life giving and nourishment, as is the Eucharist. We have also highlighted a Christmas cookie recipe called Lebkuchen (life cake), which is rich in symbolism.
Two newer church documents to read:

The fourteenth encyclical letter of Pope John Paul II Ecclesia de Eucharistia (On the Eucharist in Its Relationship to the Church) released on Holy Thursday, April 17, 2003. The focus of the papal encyclical is the celebration of the Eucharist; the Pope reminds us that the Eucharist is the center of Catholic spiritual life.

Redemptionis Sacramentum (On certain matters to be observed or to be avoided regarding the Most Holy Eucharist), an Instruction released by the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments on March 25, 2004.

The Word Among Us

Meditation: Mark 14:12-16,22-26

The Body and Blood of Christ

Take it; this is my body. (Mark 14:22)

Have you ever had the experience of recalling a past event, or a person whom you once knew, and having that memory be so vivid that it’s as if you were reliving the event, or encountering that person all over again? This is how powerful our capacity for memory can be, and it gives us a glimpse into what can happen whenever we celebrate the Eucharist.

Jesus promised that anyone who eats his flesh and drinks his blood abides in him, just as he abides in them (John 6:56). But this “abiding” isn’t automatic. It comes as we remember at Mass, bringing to the forefront of our minds who Jesus is and all he did for us on the cross. But to remember in this way is not just an activity of the mind, it is an act of the will and of the heart.

So what are we to remember? First and foremost, we are to recall the great love Jesus has for us. It’s a personal love, a love in which he sees all our strengths and weaknesses—all our goodness and failures—and treasures us as his very own. We remember that this is the same Jesus who was with the Father from the beginning, the exact representation of the Father’s being who sustains all things by his word. We remember that he was sent by the Father to rescue us and to bring us the precious gift of salvation. We remember that in his death he has destroyed the power of sin forever.

We also remember that in Christ, there is no condemnation, because through him we have been set free from the law of sin and death. And we remember that as we eat of his body and drink his blood, we are healed, transformed, strengthened, comforted, and united with the entire body of Christ, throughout the world—and even in heaven itself. Truly, our God has given us a precious gift in his own body and blood!

“Lord Jesus, let me never forget you! May my celebration of your death and resurrection bring your power into my life in a new way this day.”

Questions for Reflection or Group Discussion

(Exodus 24:3-8: Psalm 116:12-13,15-18; Hebrews 9:11-15; Mark 14:12-16,22-26)

1. In today’s first readings, we are presented with Old Testament rituals of the sacrificial blood of animals. In what ways do these rituals pre-figure the Blood of Christ and the new covenant?

2. In the Responsorial Psalm, we are called to offer the Lord a “sacrifice of thanksgiving” as a “return to the Lord for all the good he has done for me.” What are the ways you give this “offering of thanksgiving” to the Lord in your own life? What more can you do to “increase” you offering?

3. In the second reading, no longer are there to be sacrifices of animals. God’s new covenant with us, a covenant of love and intimacy has been sealed with the Body and Blood of Christ. How would you explain the Father’s great love for us in allowing his Son to suffer and shed his blood for us? In what ways can we lay down our lives more fully for Jesus Christ and for one another?

4. In the Gospel, we learn that the Body and Blood of Christ is really present in the Eucharist. It is the symbol and bond of unity between Christ and his faithful followers who feed on it. How can you further your unity with Christ, and with your fellow Catholics, who also partake of the body and blood of Christ through the Eucharist?

5. In the meditation, we hear these words: “Jesus promised that anyone who eats his flesh and drinks his blood abides in him, just as he abides in them (John 6:56). But this ‘abiding’ isn’t automatic. It comes as we remember at Mass, bringing to the forefront of our minds who Jesus is and all he did for us on the cross.” The meditation goes on to describe some of the things we ought to remember. In your own words, how would you describe the things to remember?

6. What steps can you take to better prepare yourself to receive Christ in the Eucharist? How can you use the Eucharist to draw nearer to Jesus? To the Holy Spirit? To the Father?

7. Take some time now to pray for the grace to experience more deeply the Lord’s life and power in your life at Mass and when you receive the Eucharist. Use the prayer at the end of the meditation as the starting point.

A Christian Pilgrim

EUCHARISTIC FAITH

(A biblical reflection on SUNDAY AFTER TRINITY SUNDAY: THE BODY AND BLOOD OF CHRIST – June 10, 2012)

Gospel Reading: Mark 14:12-16,22-26

First Reading: Ex 24:3-8; Psalms: Ps 116:12-13,15-18, Second Reading: Heb 9:11-15

The Scripture Text

And on the first day of Unleavened Bread, when they sacrificed the Passover lamb, His disciples said to Him, “Where will You have us go and prepare for You to eat the Passover?” And He sent two of His disciples, and said to them, “Go into the city, and a man carrying a jar of water will meet you; follow him, and wherever he enters, say to the householder, ‘The teacher says, Where is My guest room, where I am to eat the Passover with My disciples?’ And he will show you a large upper room furnished and ready, there prepare for us.” And the disciples set out and went to the city, and found it as He had told them; and they prepared the Passover.

And as they were eating, He took bread, and blessed, and broke it, and give it to them, and said, “Take; this is My body.” And He took a cup, and when He had given thanks He gave it to them, and they all drank of it. And He said to them, “This is My blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many. Truly, I say to you, I shall not drink again of the fruit of the vine until that day when I drink it new in the Kingdom of God.”

And when they had sung a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives. (Mk 14:12-16,22-26 RSV)

In New York City in 1985, Brigitte Gerney got pinned beneath a fallen construction crane. For six torturous hours, paramedics struggled frantically to keep her alive until she could be rescued.

During that ordeal Brigitte was given not only blood transfusions, fluids and painkillers, but also the Eucharist which she specifically asked for. Brigitte was then taken to a hospital where doctors operated on her for another five hours.

The crane accident was only the most recent of a whole series of mishaps Brigitte has suffered. During the previous fifteen years, her first child had drowned accidentally at age 18 months, her husband died of cancer, her father was killed in an automobile accident, she had two operations to remove cancer and she had suffered multiple injuries in a cable car crash in Switzerland in 1982.

And yet, after all that, Brigitte Gerney did not curse Christ when she was under the crane. She asked for Him in the Eucharist. She did not blame God for her bad luck. She asked her rescuers to pray with her. No wonder Dr. Tom Fahey, Jr. said of her: “She has indomitable spirit and a strong faith in God.”

Do we have that kind of faith? Do we believe that strongly in Christ’s presence in the Eucharist? On this Feast of Corpus Christi we have an opportunity to reaffirm our faith in the Eucharist. Today we can take our stand with the people of Exodus and accept God’s covenant with us: “Lord, all you’ve said at the Last Supper about the Eucharist, we will believe. All you have commanded about it, we will do.”

During the Exodus journey God gave the Israelites manna from heaven to feed them. On the strength of that food they were able to travel forty years through the desert.

During her excruciating ordeal Brigitte Gerney requested and received the Eucharist. On the strength of that bread she was able to survive the six hours she was pinned under the crane and another five hours of surgery.

During our own personal journey through life we sometimes have to cross deserts, encounter accidents, endure disappointments or suffer tragedies. By ourselves we could never survive. Left to our own strength we would give up. That is why we need the Eucharist and the strength that comes from this bread to energize our spirits. This is why we need God’s special presence and power.

In Mark’s Gospel we read how our Lord left the upper room and walked out to the Mount of Olives. What He left was the Last Supper during which He instituted the sacrament of the Eucharist. His walking out to theMount of Olives was also something very sacramental and symbolic. Jesus was showing that He was ready for His rendezvous with destiny and that He was resolved to lay down His life for us on the cross.

May this often be our own experience after celebrating the Eucharist. Coming in we may be afraid of what we have to face in the future. But when we leave, may we be ready and resolved to take up our cross. Coming in we may have serious doubts about how to deal with certain difficulties. But when we leave, may we be filled with determination to do what God expects of us.

Do we believe that this is possible? Brigitte Gerney did. Otherwise how can we explain her indomitable spirit in the face of all the tragedies she experienced?

As we continue the Eucharistic celebration, pray for Brigitte’s kind of faith in the Eucharist; a faith which firmly believes that Christ is always present in the Eucharist, regardless of how absent He may seem to be at times; a faith which believes that Christ’s power is always available to us, regardless of how helpless we may feel at times; a faith which enables us to walk with our Lord to our own Mount of Olives and to rise with Him in glory.

Short Prayer: Lord Jesus, thank You for feeding and strengthening me with Your body and blood. Thank You for filling my hunger. Light my way as I seek to bring Your life to others. Amen.

A Christian Pilgrim

LOVE WITHOUT LIMIT

LOVE WITHOUT LIMIT

THE HOLY EUCHARIST is pre-eminently the Sacrament of God’s love, by which He gives Himself to me as food. “Taste and see how the Lord is sweet.”

The Holy Eucharist is the very heart of our Faith, the infinite source of piety and devotion, the bond of union with God, the chief means of attaining Christian perfection. Let me try to understand in some way what is the breadth and length and height and depth of the love of Jesus for me in this most Blessed Sacrament.

No matter how I look at His presence in the Sacrament of the Altar, I see that His love for me is without limit. It is simply infinite, boundless, and therefore beyond the reach of my limited understanding. But let me try to grasp what I can, that I might return some love for love.

Oh, the depth, the profoundness of this love: that God should abase Himself to me who am dust and ashes, with sin alone entirely mine! Surely there is no limit of Christ’s love for me in the Eucharist, from which His Life speaks: “Learn of Me, for I am meek and humble of Heart.”

Am I afraid to humble myself frequently for the love of Christ who humbles Himself constantly for love of me?

Marriage = One Man and One Woman

Til' Death Do Us Part

Daily Marriage Tip for June 10, 2012:

“(T)his is my body…This is my blood.” (Mk. 14:23-24) The marriage covenant calls us to give our body to our spouse and endure suffering on our beloved’s behalf – just as Christ did for us. Bless and caress each other’s bodies today. They are holy.

Sunday Scripture Study

The Solemnity of the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ (Corpus Christi) - Cycle B

June 10, 2012

Click here for USCCB readings

Opening Prayer

First Reading: Exodus 24:3-8

Psalm: 116:12-13, 15-18

Second Reading: Hebrews 9:11-15

Gospel Reading: Mark 14:12-16, 22-26

This Sunday’s Gospel reading takes place in Jerusalem on Holy Thursday, the night Jesus was betrayed. It is on the first day of the Jewish feast of Passover.

Rather cryptically, Jesus instructs his disciples to prepare for the Passover meal in a certain place in the city. According to tradition, the mother of St. Mark, the writer of this gospel, owned this room. She was also thought to own the Garden of Gethsemane.

In words identical to those he uses when he multiplied the loaves and fed the 5000 (Mark 6:41, CCC 1335), Jesus accomplishes three things: (1) He changes the Passover bread and wine into his Body and Blood—the same Body and Blood that will be sacrificed for the sins of the world on the Cross. (2) Since a sacrifice requires priests, he establishes the priesthood. His apostles, and their successors the bishops, will comprise that priesthood. (3) He establishes the Holy Eucharist, so that in receiving Communion his people for all time and places may participate in his once-for-all sacrifice until he comes again in glory.

Thus, just as the Old Covenant was sealed by sacrifice and blood on Mt. Sinai (Exodus 24:3-8), the New Covenant is sealed in Christ’s blood on Calvary (Romans 5:9; Hebrews 9:22), anticipated at the Last Supper, and perpetuated in the Sacrifice of the Mass (John 6:53; CCC 610, 1392-93).

QUESTIONS:

Read the other, parallel, accounts of the Last Supper found in the New Testament (Matthew 26:26-28; Luke 22:17-20; 1 Corinthians 11:23-26). What other interesting and enlightening details about the institution of the Eucharist do you find there?

Why would secrecy be needed as this meal was planned? What risk was involved?

How does the Last Supper relate to the Passover (see Exodus 12)? To this Sunday’s first reading (Exodus 24:3-8)?

What new meaning does Jesus give to the unleavened Passover bread (see John 6:51-58)? The wine?

How much do you think the disciples understood when Jesus spoke about his Body and Blood? What might they have been thinking? How would you have felt had you been there?

What is your focus when you receive Holy Communion? What should it be?

Catechism of the Catholic Church: §§ 1323, 1328, 1339-1344, 1403

In all He did from the Incarnation to the Cross, the end Jesus Christ had in mind was the gift of the Eucharist, his personal and corporal union with each Christian through Communion. He saw in It the means of communicating to us all the treasures of His Passion, all the virtues of His Sacred Humanity, and all the merits of His Life. -St. Peter Julian Eymard

Jesus Died in My Place

Pastor’s Column

Corpus Christi, 2012

This past week I read an incredible and true story of a pilot who tells of the time when he signed up to work a trans-continental trip. He then waited for a confirmation call from crew scheduling to tell him that his bid to work was accepted and that he would in fact be flying this trip. Later that evening, he realized to his surprise that a confirmation call never came. When he looked it up on the computer, he discovered that another pilot, with just a little bit more seniority than he, had outbid him and bumped him off the job that day.

It was only the next morning, watching the news that he realized what had happened. In case you haven’t guessed the secret, the flight he was bumped off of was American Airlines flight 11; the day, Sept 11, 2001; the plane, one that never made it to its destination because it flew into the World Trade Center. This extraordinary experience is recounted in a book called: In My Seat: A Pilot's Story from Sept. 10th-11th by Megan Ann Scheibner.

The pilot went on to say: I should have died that day. That was my flight, but someone else took my place; someone else died instead of me. Have you ever had someone die in your place? Or narrowly avert death because someone saved your life? Actually, we all have --- someone else took our seat and died in our place to save us from the eternal death of sin, and this is Jesus. This was the extraordinary insight of this pilot.

Without Jesus, I risk being on a flight going ultimately nowhere, leading in the end to disaster. I need Jesus to “take my seat.” In the Holy Eucharist, we see Jesus who has taken our place die for our sins to save us from eternal death.

It is not an accident that Jesus gives us his Body and Blood on the night before he died, the night before he entered into death and paid the price for us, the night before he took your seat. Jesus was to become weak, and vulnerable, and able to be hurt. As God, Jesus was none of those things, but he took a frail human body in order that he might be vulnerable. What Jesus asks of us is faith.

Jesus in the Eucharist does not speak, but he is not silent. If you come to him and believe in him, he can work mighty powers in your life. Jesus in the Eucharist appears to be weak and vulnerable, easily crumbled and violated, but he does this in order to be loved and believed in. One cannot offer oneself for love unless one is willing to be vulnerable.

The Eucharist is also vulnerable. Jesus has taken this form in our own time that we might allow him, even now, to be vulnerable for him and allow him to be vulnerable to us. He is vulnerable to our lack of faith, to our indifference, to our sins. Some people don’t realize that they need someone to die in their place; that heaven requires someone to pay the price; that the plane we are on will not land there unless Jesus takes over the flight for us.

Father Gary

Sunday - A Divine Blood Transfusion

Bouveret

Sunday readings: http://usccb.org/bible/readings/061012.cfm

Blood donations and reminders of shortages are not at all uncommon. The Red Cross, for example, will never turn away any healthy individual willing to donate a pint of blood for whoever may be in need. If you’ve done so yourself, you know how rewarding it can be. And someday, we may be in need of one of those donations ourselves. Blood is life and through proper testing, our doctors can be given a picture of our health. Everything from your blood pressure, to sugar level, conditions of certain vital organs, cholesterol numbers, vitamin efficiencies or deficiencies and a host of other life indicators can be measured through our blood.

This Sunday’s Solemnity of the Body and Blood of Christ is likewise the remembrance of a life poured out for us, literally upon the cross 20 centuries ago, by the one who called each of us to life.

Some may wonder why the Eucharist needs a Feast of its own. After all, we have Holy Thursday during the Sacred Triduum in preparation for Easter which remembers the institution of the Eucharist during the Last Supper of Jesus. While this Sunday’s remembrance does not stand in the Church Year as the greatest of Feasts we could never lose by reflecting more specifically on the mystery of Christ’s presence in the Eucharist.

As a young child in Catholic Schools I remember distinctly the description of the Mass by the good Dominican Sisters: “The Mass is the unbloody sacrifice of the Cross.” I wasn’t quite sure what that meant to begin with. It sounded a little strange to a seven year old child preparing for Holy Communion. What is “the unbloody sacrifice of the Cross?”

Fr. Tim

Obviously, the good Sisters took time to connect the sacrifice of Jesus in his death on the cross where he shed his blood, with the Mass as a remembrance of that same event. Not too much attention, however, was given to the Last Supper, although there was clearly a connection with that fateful event the night before. However, the emphasis, at least as I remembered it, was more on Jesus’ death event than it was on the life giving gift of the Eucharist itself. Was it wrong to do so? No, of course not. Our readings this Sunday do make a connection with the early blood sacrifices of the ancient Jews at the Temple of Jerusalem.

In the Book of Exodus 24: 3-8 we hear of, “. . . the Israelites to offer holocausts (burnt offerings) and sacrifice young bulls (kill them upon the altar) as peace offerings . . .” Then we hear that Moses, “took half the blood and put it in large bowls, the other half he splashed upon the altar . . . then he took the blood and sprinkled it upon the people . . .” Clearly, to the ancient Jews such slaughter, done with faith intent – a life for lives in atonement for the sins of those who were “sprinkled” was seen as a way of appeasing God. All this is tied to the ancient covenant offered by God to his people. Faithfulness to God’s Law is our constant goal and that of the Covenant between us and God but unfaithfulness may be more the experience of everyday life. So, some sort of sacrifice is offered to seek forgiveness and mercy from God.

The Gospel of Mark 14: 12-16, 22-26 finds Jesus before his Apostles at the last supper. He eats with them the lamb of sacrifice in remembrance of the Hebrews’ flight from Egypt and the spreading of blood upon the lintels where the angel of death passed over those households and spared the Hebrews. So here too blood figures as a life savior as it spared the lives of those ancient peoples making it possible for them to flee to the desert where they were formed by God.

At that supper with his Apostles Jesus shared a cup of wine, part of the Passover ritual dinner, but forever changed its meaning. “This is my blood of the covenant, which will be shed for many . . .” Just before that he had done similar with the bread of the meal, “Take it; this is my body . . .” The connection between the blood of animals in the Jerusalem Temple, the Covenant between God and his people, the power of sacrifice to appease sin, Jesus who became the ultimate lamb of sacrifice and the giving of his own body and blood upon the cross which formed the new Covenant, is the very foundation and meaning of the Mass and the Eucharist. At its very root it is and will always be a mystery to us for God himself is at work in this “unbloody sacrifice of the cross.”

The Church Fathers of the Second Vatican Council recognized the central place of the Liturgy in our life and especially the Liturgy of the Eucharist. “Full, conscious and active” participation, in the words of that document, is a clarion call to all who attend the Mass that what formally for 400 years since the Council of Trent was rather passive participation (the Tridentine Latin Mass).

I have no doubt that the Temple worship of ancient times was not a silent event. The very cry of young bulls, the messy blood being poured and sprinkled, the cleanup and the smell of roasting animal flesh was not exactly neat and tidy worship service as we experience in the more antiseptic surroundings of our parish Churches. But a far greater mystery is at work in the Eucharist where we consume the very presence, body and blood, of the risen Lord. All we do, our posture, our dress, our gestures, our singing and our overall disposition have a place on how the grace of the Eucharist will affect us.

He, Jesus, is not sprinkled on us; he becomes the food we eat for our spiritual life. So, our present day celebration of the Mass, done well with proper reverence but without a distance from the people, can be and should be a transformative experience.

The Eucharist calls us to faith in action, to holiness and to prayer, to imitate Christ Jesus himself as the food we eat. But it is not a private devotion. While prayer before the Eucharist in Adoration has great value, even if one is alone in the Church or Chapel, we kneel before a great mystery of Christ’s presence who came, “for many.”

Blessed Henry of Treviso

Daily Readings for: June 10, 2012
(Readings on USCCB website)

RECIPES

ACTIVITIES

PRAYERS

Ordinary Time: June 10th

Solemnity of the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ Old Calendar: Second Sunday after Pentecost

Meditation: Mark 14:12-16,22-26

Questions for Reflection or Group Discussion

LOVE WITHOUT LIMIT

The Solemnity of the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ (Corpus Christi) - Cycle B

Jesus Died in My Place

Pastor’s Column

Corpus Christi, 2012

Sunday - A Divine Blood Transfusion

Blessed Henry of Treviso

Daily Readings for: June 10, 2012(Readings on USCCB website)

RECIPES

ACTIVITIES

PRAYERS

Ordinary Time: June 10th

Solemnity of the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ Old Calendar: Second Sunday after Pentecost

Meditation: Mark 14:12-16,22-26

Questions for Reflection or Group Discussion

LOVE WITHOUT LIMIT

The Solemnity of the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ (Corpus Christi) - Cycle B

Jesus Died in My Place

Pastor’s Column

Corpus Christi, 2012

Sunday - A Divine Blood Transfusion

Daily Readings for: June 10, 2012
(Readings on USCCB website)