This weekend the Catholic Church celebrates the feast of Corpus Christi, the Sacred Body and Blood of Jesus Christ. As Catholics, this belief is central to our faith, that is, Jesus is truly present in the Eucharist. At the Last Supper, Jesus told His Apostles: “This is My Body . . . This is My Blood.” He never said that this is only a symbol of My Body, nor did He say that this is merely a sign of My Blood. He said emphatically: “This IS My Body . . . This IS my Blood.” Each time we receive Him in the Eucharist we are receiving His Flesh and Blood, given for the life and salvation of the world. This is why we approach the Holy Eucharist with such love, respect, and devotion. However, according to a recent study, only 31% of Catholics believe in the real presence of Christ in the Eucharist; only one out of every three Catholics believe that what is received at Holy Mass truly is Jesus.
This is a staggering study by any standard. I encourage each of you to foster your devotion to Eucharistic Adoration, make specific preparations for the reception of the Eucharist at Holy Mass, and deepen your love for Jesus’ true presence in the Eucharist.
Sincerely Yours in Christ,
Fr. Wayne