Corpus Christi 2023

 

Corpus Christi 2023

 

You may recall that last year, on Corpus Christi Sunday, there was a large Eucharistic Procession from the Cathedral in Indianapolis, down to St. John’s Catholic Church, and that Corpus Christi Procession kicked off the diocesan-level year of the National Eucharistic Revival.

 

Today, with our Corpus Christi processions, we begin the parish year for the Eucharistic Revival.

 

Often in my work as a priest I hear from those who I am speaking with some version of “Father, I don’t FEEL anything happening at Mass”.  I too struggle with that doubt when I first entered the seminary and started going to daily Mass every day.  I would sit there during the Mass and pray and receive the Eucharist, but I didn’t feel anything.  And so I am relieved to share that story with those who also struggle with wanting to see or feel something at every Mass.

 

I have learned that Jesus’ presence at each Mass, after the priest prays the words of consecration over the bread and wine, is a quiet, calming presence, and not loud nor dramatic.

 

But there have been time throughout the 2,000 year history of the Catholic Church where the bread and wine, after the priest prayed the words of consecration over them, became actual human flesh, often because of the priest doubting.

 

And there is actually a young millennial who has been beatified, who created a website chronicling all of these Eucharistic miracles.  He was born in 1991, and live only until 2006 when he died of Leukemia.  His name is Blessed Carlo Acutis.  Blessed Carlo Acutis recognized that many in his generation were walking away from the Catholic Faith, and so he created a website documenting what he rightly believed was one of the best ways to draw his generation BACK to Catholicism…Eucharistic Miracles.  His website can still be viewed here: http://www.miracolieucaristici.org/en/Liste/list.html

 

As we begin this parish year of trying to strengthen both our own awareness of Jesus’ Real Presence in the Eucharist, and all of those around us in our community, I would propose that we seek the intercession of Blessed Carlo Acutis this year in a special way!