Dear friends in Christ
This weekend we celebrate the Feast of Feasts—the Solemnity of the Body and Blood of Christ. Each year the Church gives us this beautiful Feast to celebrate in an unrestrained way the Mystery of Faith. Because the events around the institution of the Holy Eucharist are clouded by the events of Holy Week, the Church initiated a special day by which we can give thanks to God for the Eucharistic Gift of His Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity. In the Holy Mass Jesus offers Himself to the Father for our salvation. The fruit of this Sacrifice is the Blessed Eucharist which is not only a gift to be consumed, but also one which we worship. All of the mysteries of the Christian life begin and end with the Eucharist. St Thomas Aquinas was given the task by Pope Urban IV in 1264 of composing suitable texts for this Feast; we still pray and sing them today. In fact, the prayers of the Mass of Corpus Christ remain essentially the same prayers which St Thomas composed in Latin. We are familiar with his hymns for Benediction such as O Salutaris and Tantum Ergo. It is the antiphon written for Vespers on this Feast that most beautifully and succinctly encapsulates the mystery we celebrate: O sacrum convivium…O sacred banquet, in which Christ is received; the memory of His Passion is renewed; the soul is filled with grace, and a pledge of future glory is given to us.
This Day is characterised by Eucharistic processions which in some regions of the Catholic world are elaborate affairs in which whole cities and towns take part. We shall have our own procession this Sunday afternoon beginning in the church at 4pm and with our First Communion children leading the procession. Benediction is given in the Memorial Garden where our beloved dead are at rest and then finally a Benediction in the church. It is followed by a Tea in the Parish Centre. As usual the Tilbury Brass Band will accompany us—please pray for fine weather!
May the heart of Jesus, in the Most Blessed Sacrament, be praised, adored, and loved with grateful affection, at every moment, in all the tabernacles of the world, even to the end of time!
God bless you!
Msgr kevin Hale