Corpus Christi (C)

Solemnity of the Body and Blood of Christ

Introduction

There used to be an advice column in the Philippine Star that I used to read. In one of her columns I was surprised to read a statement to the effect that the Eucharist is merely a symbol of the presence of Jesus Christ. She probably was not a Catholic. Or if she were, her ignorance is appalling.

If indeed the Eucharist is merely a symbol, how would explain the death of St. Tarcisius? He has been called the martyr of the Eucharist. In those days when being a Christian was a capital crime, Tarcisius was tasked to being the Eucharist to those Christians who were about to be executed. On the way he was accosted by some Roman youths who noticed he was carrying something inside his tunic. They wanted him to hand over the Eucharist. He refused. Angered by his refusal, they beat him up and left him dying. If the Eucharist was merely a symbol, why would he defend the Eucharist with his life?

Theology

How can bread and wine become changed into Jesus Christ? This question is similar to the question of the Jews in John 6 who complained: “How can this man give us his flesh to eat and his blood to drink?”

Jesus demanded faith. He wanted his hearers to accept what he said because he was the one who said it. In fact, he did not stop his disciples from leaving him when they couldn’t understand how he could give his flesh and blood as food and drink.

Nevertheless theologians have tried to use philosophy to gain some under-standing. But our acceptance of the Eucharist is not based on the explanation of theologians but on Jesus Christ. By the way, theology has been described as faith seeking understanding (fides quaerens intellectu).

The change from bread and wine to the Person of Jesus Christ is called transubstantiation. Substance is defined as that which makes a thing what it is. At the moment of consecration the substance of bread and wine is transformed into the Divine Substance of Jesus Christ.

Why does it still look like bread and wine and taste like bread and wine? Because the consecration does not alter the accidents of bread and wine. ‘Accident’ does not mean ‘mishap’. In philosophy accident is that which is not essential. Color is an accident. The color of your skin, for example, is an accident. Whether you are white, black, red, yellow or brown does not make you less human.

But there is a reason why the accidents of bread and wine do not change. Jesus said that his flesh and blood is to be food and drink. Consequently, the appearance of the Eucharist must remain that of food and drink, that is, the appear-ance of bread and wine.

The Spirituality of St. John Bosco

In simple terms spirituality is the way we nourish and live our faith. One characteristic of Don Bosco’s spirituality is that it is sacramental. He gave importance to confession and communion. He used to say: Confession and communion are the two wings with which you fly to heaven.

Don Bosco said that it is important that God should be the first one ahead of the devil to take possession of our heart. That is why Don Bosco insisted that when a child is able to distinguish between ordinary bread and communion, he should be allowed make his first communion. Of course, the child should have a serious preparation. He also said that you should not force the young to receive communion. But you should give him the possibility of doing so. Also, the young will develop the love for the Eucharist from the example of his parents.

When Don Bosco faced some difficulty, he would ask his boys to go and pray for his intentions before the tabernacle. He used to say: “Do you want many graces? Visit the Blessed Sacrament often. Do you want only a few graces? Visit the Blessed Sacrament only a few times. The adoration chapel in our parishes are sacred spaces that are so conducive to prayer.

Don Bosco said that communion is the bread that makes us strong. How many of us here want to be bad people? And yet are we always good? Do we always do the right thing? Why is it that now and then we find ourselves committing sin? Is it because we are bad people? Or is it because we are weak? Don Bosco believed that communion is not only for saints. It is for us who want to be good but fail because we are week. By the way, if we have committed a mortal sin we should go to confession first before receiving communion. If we only have venial sins we can receive communion. Of course, we should be sorry for the venial sins we have committed.

Conclusion

In summary
- Parents, encourage your children to receive communion as often as possible. But be examples yourselves.
- Are you worried? Are you afraid? Are you carrying a heavy burden. Bring all of them to Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament.
- Gusto kong bumaet pero di ko magawa. Go to communion as often as you can because communion is the bread that makes us strong.

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The Salesians of Don Bosco is a religious congregation of priests and brothers dedicated to he welfare of the young. If you feel called by God to give your life for the good of the young, you may want help in discovering if this is really God's will for you. Please get in touch with the Vocation Director (Don Bosco North Province, Philippines) - 0917-7930112 - Bro. MON CALLO SDB.