Corpus Christi (C)

(Edited) Sunday Reflections (from) Liturgical Years 2011 (A), 2012 (B), and 2013 (C)

Feast of Corpus Christi (C), June 2, 2013

Liturgical readings
Genesis 14:18-20
Psalm 110
1 Corinthians 11:23-26
Luke 9:11-17

"Jesus raised his eyes to heaven and pronounced a blessing over the loaves."

The multiplication of the loaves is one gospel passage the Church refers to when she teaches about the Eucharist and the solemnity of Corpus Christi. This miracle story in the life of our Lord is not only in Luke 9:11-17 but has its gospel parallel in Matthew 14:13-21 and in Mark 6:30-44. There are distinct differences among the three versions of this miracle story. Theology can teach those differences. But for purposes of reflection, what can impress us among these three presentations of the miracle of the loaves, is what is common among the three gospel versions: the manner by which Christ fed the crowd

• 1 "he looked up to heaven"
• and 2 "blessed, broke and gave the loaves to his disciples", for distribution to the people.
• (The second quote contains the same words used in the Last Supper story, and also the same words spoken by the priest-presider during the consecration in the Mass).

Now, from Scriptural tradition, we go to traditional Catholic spirituality. And one classic reflection given by an important teacher of the Church is from St. Thomas Aquinas. St. Thomas of Aquinas wrote about the feast of Corpus Christi:

"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 forever, he left his body as food
and his blood as drink for the faithful to consume
in the form of bread and wine."

The Body and Blood of the Lord is a sacrament of charity. It nourishes the soul and fills him with God's love - ennobling his human spirit to be aware beyond his usual routines, and see the people around him who not only lack the opportunity to be nourished in spirit, but also lack the means to purchase food and medicines. There are two ways to put this Sacrament of charity to practice: if pressed for time because of profession or business, he can donate to charitable causes; if time is abundant because of retirement, volunteering to any of the pastoral works of a parish or mission is making the Eucharist a force for good. We see that as the Body and Blood of Jesus is received in the Eucharist, the community that gathered makes that Body of Christ alive in the very circumstances they will be working and living. Just as Jesus multiplied the loaves, so the Eucharist multiplies the presence of Jesus for our time. Just as Jesus is the Bread of Life, the Eucharist makes us the bread of life for others as well.

Scripture quotes:

• "Melchizedek, king of Salem, brought out bread and wine...he blessed Abram." (Genesis 14)
• "Before the daystar, like the dew, I have begotten you." (Psalm 110)
• "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.'" (1 Corinthians)

Disclaimer

Trinity Sunday (C)

(Edited) Sunday Reflections (from) Liturgical Years 2011 (A), 2012 (B), and 2013 (C)

Trinity Sunday (C), May 26, 2013

Liturgical readings
Proverbs 8:22-31
Psalm 8
Romans 5:1-5
John 16:12-15

"The Spirit of truth will guide you to all truth."

The gospel passage for the feast of the Holy Trinity is comprised of only four verses in chapter 16 of St. John's gospel. In the Jerusalem bible, this gospel passage is part of a paragraph with the subtitle, "The coming of the Advocate". The Advocate referred to in this gospel passage is the Holy Spirit. Though the focus of the gospel passage seems to be on the Person of the Holy Spirit, if we read the gospel passage more closely, we can notice how Jesus relates His Person with the Person of the Holy Spirit (verse 14), and with the Person of the Father (verse 15).

The Catholic doctrine of the Holy Trinity is an ancient doctrine. If by chance you are able to find the Athanasian Creed in a Catholic prayer book (specifically Handbook of Prayers by Charles Belmonte and James Socias), you will see how intricately detailed the doctrine is, and how it is excellently interwoven into a prayer. Here is an excerpt of that prayer:

"For the Father is a distinct person; the Son is a distinct
person; and the Holy Spirit is a distinct person. Still the Father
and the Son and the Holy Spirit have one divinity, equal glory,
and coeternal majesty. What the Father is, the Son is, and the
Holy Spirit is.....Glory be to you, equal Trinity, one God-head,
both before all time, and now and for ever, Alleluia." [1]

The truth about God as a Person can breathe new life to spirits broken by the difficulties of family life and work (especially those who endure stresses from a series of disruptive events). God as a Person is always ready to hear our prayer. With the Lord before us in prayer, "there are no impossible expectations; no loss of self-esteem; no humiliations; no rejections; only unconditional love..." (from Sister Joan Chittister, OSB's, meditation tapes). God accepts and loves us as we are: broken or healed. When we bring our broken or healed selves in prayer, and are renewed in strength in the Sacraments, the life of the Trinity becomes more real in us - in ourselves and in relation to others in the Church. When the life of the Trinity leads us, we become a healing instrument for others.

Scripture quotes:

• "What is man that you should be mindful of him." (Psalm 104)
• "The love of God has been poured out in our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us." (Romans)

Reference

[1] Quicumque vult AI Overview, Google.com, June 17, 2025:

The Athanasian Creed is traditionally attributed to St. Athanasius of Alexandria, a doctor of the Church in the first millenium of the Christian faith. Because of the use of socio-historical tools, it is not believed to have been authored by him by modern scholars. It is generally known that the creed was composed in the Western Church, likely in southern France, centuries after St. Athanasius's death.

Disclaimer

Novena Prayer to the Holy Spirit

Short Novena in Honor of the Holy Spirit

Opening Prayer for every day:

Come, Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of Your faithful
and enkindle in them the fire of Your love. Send forth
Your Spirit and they shall be created, and You shall
renew the face of the earth.

Prayer for the 1st, 4th, and 7th day

O divine Spirit, Spirit of light and love, we implore
Your special assistance and guidance for our Holy Father,
our Bishops, Priests and Religious, and for the Laity,
the people of God. Unite us all in true love and
understanding, so that in everything we may seek only
the greater glory of God and our own sanctification, as
the Ecumenical Council Vatican II reminds us. Let us all
be guided by the love of God, our Father, and teach us
to love our neighbor as we love ourselves. May we all
be one family under the guidance of the Holy Father
and our Bishops, the successors of the Apostles, and
seek to please God in everything. Amen.

May You be blest, O divine Spirit, one true God with
the Father and the Son! Amen.

Closing Prayer for every day:

O Holy Spirit, Divine Spirit, of light and love,
we consecrate to You our understanding, heart and
will; our whole being for time and eternity. May
our understanding be always submissive to Your
heavenly inspirations and to the teachings of the
Catholic Church, of which You are the infallible
Guide. May our hearts be ever inflamed with love
with God and neighbor; may our will be ever
conformed to the divine will; and may our whole
life be a faithful imitation of the life and
virtues of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ,
to Whom, with the Father and You be honor and
glory forever. Amen.

O Spirit of Wisdom, preside over all my
thoughts, words and actions, from this day
till the end of my life.

Spirit of Understanding, enlighten and
teach me.

Spirit of Counsel, direct my inexperience.

Spirit of Fortitude, strengthen my weakness.

Spirit of Knowledge, instruct my ignorance.

Spirit of Piety, make me fervent in good works.

Spirit of Fear, restrain me from all evil. Amen.

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son...

Say the Opening Prayer for Every Day

Prayer for the 2nd, 5th, and 8th day

O Divine Spirit, Spirit of light and love, continue
to guide Your Church and all its members as You have
guided the Council Fathers in such a marvelous and
visible manner. Enlighten all of us so as to
understand the teachings of Christ, our Lord and
Saviour, better and better every day and conform
our lives entirely to things eternal and to find,
through this kind of life, the peace which the world
cannot give. Teach the whole world that lasting
peace is to be found only in the true and unselfish
love of God and neighbor. Amen.

May You be blest, O divine Spirit, one true God with
the Father and the Son! Amen.

Say the Closing Prayer for every day

Say the Opening Prayer for Every Day

Prayer for the 3rd, 6th, and 9th day

O Divine Spirit, Spirit of light and love,
through the Ecumenical Council, Vatican II,
You have presented the Catholic Church in all
her beauty and splendor, as the Mystical Body
of Christ; give us strength and courage to carry
out all the resolutions of Vatican II. Shed the
brightness of Your light on all nations, their
rules and people, that all may become one in
Faith and Love, and always please the one
Triune God, and bring us all together in one
family of God where there will be understanding,
peace and happiness. Bring about, O Spirit of
light and love, a new and lasting Pentecost. Amen.

May You be blest, O Divine Spirit, one true
God with the Father and the Son! Amen.

Say the Closing Prayer for every day