Corpus Christi Sunday - Eucharistic Revival

 

Today, I’m giving an explanatory homily, which is longer than usual to highlight, the Eucharist, as we celebrate the Solemnity of Corpus Christi. The words “Corpus Christi” mean “Body of Christ”. Many parishes have a Eucharistic Procession following one of their Masses this weekend. The Eucharist is processed through the streets as a public witness in our belief it is truly the risen Jesus in the Sacred Host. Since, last week was our parish feast of the Most Holy Trinity, we had a Eucharistic Procession after the 8am Mass and had a Pizza Breakfast with Mr. Dold’s famous Cinnamon Rolls.

At the Last Supper, Jesus instituted the Eucharist, when He took the bread, blessed it, broke it and said, “Take this, all of you, and eat of it, for this is my body, which will be given up for you. Then He took the chalice saying, “Take this, all of you, and drink from it, for this is the chalice of my blood, the blood of the new and eternal covenant, which will be poured out for you and for the many, for the forgiveness of sins, do this in memory of me.”

With these words, at the Last Supper, Jesus changed bread and wine into His body and blood and today through the priest, Jesus makes this happen at every Holy Mass.

In His Eucharistic discourse, in John Chapter 6, Our Lord said, “Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise Him on the last day.” Some disciples responded saying, “How can this man give us His flesh to eat?” We know they took His words literally, because in John 6:66, after He said these words, it states many no longer followed Him. Jesus didn’t stop them from leaving because He meant His words literally. If He meant it symbolically, He would have had an obligation to tell them. He then turned to the Apostles, and said, “Will you also leave me?” But, Peter said, “But Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life.”

John chapter 6 verse 66, have the three 6’s. They are numbers associated with the devil. It was at this point many no longer followed Jesus because they didn’t believe.

We are in a three year Eucharistic Revival in the United States. In 2019, a research study indicated 70% believe the Eucharist is only a symbol, but a 2023 survey suggests that 2/3 actually do believe the Eucharist is truly Jesus.

In our diocese of Wichita, many truly believe Jesus is present in the Eucharist as can be seen by the many adoration chapels. Three years ago, here at Holy Trinity parish, over 90% of the families signed up for an hour and others signed up as substitutes, which makes adoration so successful. If your not a substitute and don’t have an hour, you can do either. By spending your time with Jesus in silent adoration, you receive untold hidden graces for you, your family, the parish, and the world. I am so impressed by the love and devotion of many people here at Holy Trinity. Many of you receive Holy Communion reverently.

In order to increase faith in the Eucharist, over the centuries, the Lord has worked Eucharistic miracles. Blessed Carlo Acutis, a 15 yr. old boy from Italy, who died of Leukemia, created an International Eucharistic Miracle Display. Many of the miracles, Hosts began to bleed.

Carlo once said, "the Eucharist is the highway to heaven." When people sit in the sun, they become tan, "but when they sit before Eucharistic Jesus, they become saints.”

Over a span of 2 and ½ years, Carlo documented 187 Church approved Eucharistic miracles. One such miracle was in Tumaco, Columbia in 1902. Due to an earthquake a Tsunami was about to destroy the island, but the local priest took the Blessed Sacrament to the shore and made the sign of the Cross with the Host causing the giant tidal wave to immediately halt, sparing the island from destruction.

Carlo recorded a miracle in 1412, when a priest in Italy was assailed by doubts while offering Mass. Just as he consecrated the wine, into the blood of Jesus, the wine literally turned into blood and overflowed from the chalice falling upon the white cloth (a corporal) on the altar. Many witnessed the miracle and the priest repented of his doubt.

While not considered a Eucharistic miracle, a priest from our diocese felt the Sacred Host beat between his fingers after the consecration, as though he was holding the beating Heart of Jesus.

The meaning of Eucharistic Revival is to revive the faith in the true presence of the Eucharist, and to do that, we need to examine how we treat Jesus in the Sacred Host.

If we don’t have faith in the Eucharist, we think we ought, we can make acts of faith to increase it. Such as, “O Jesus, I believe you are really and truly present in the Sacred Host.” or when the Host is elevated at Mass, we can use the words of St. Thomas the Apostle, after he touched the wounds of Jesus, “My Lord and my God.”

We can read books about the Eucharist, such Jesus, Our Eucharistic Love, Or we can read about Eucharistic Miracles approved by the Church and collected by Blessed Carlo Acutis. We can get on a plane and fly to see a Eucharistic miracle. We can attend Mass more often and receive Jesus in Holy Communion, praying to Him, whom comes to dwell in our heart. St. Alphonsus Ligouri states Holy Communion lasts at least 15 min or until the Sacred Host is assimilated in our body. Consequently, after receiving Holy Communion, we can spend longer time in prayer.

The time we spend with Jesus adoring Him in Eucharistic Adoration, or before the tabernacle, where Jesus abides, helps us to grow in our faith. We can also increase our exterior reverence, as a sign of what we believe interiorly. For example, we can be more intentional when genuflecting. As we genuflect, we can gaze upon the tabernacle, and say, “I love you Jesus.” or “Jesus I worship you, truly present in the tabernacle.” When at home before going to bed, we can face the direction of the church, and genuflect towards the tabernacle saying a short prayer.

Fr. Don Calloway in his Eucharistic Revival talk said, we need to dress properly for church and said, “At many weddings, the bridesmaids dresses make them look like hookers.” He said, women should keep veiled, that which is sacred.

About a month ago, I went to the monastery with the incorrupt nun, Sister Wilhelmina. For daily Mass, everyone dressed up and received Communion on the tongue. Women and young girls wore dresses and veils and men and boys, wore dress shirts with ties.

In the 1970s’, women and girls almost never wore pants, but some began to wear dress paints. My grandmother always wore a dress and for years refused to wear dress pants. Then later, women and girls began to wear jeans, that only boys used to wear. As a culture women need to return to examine how we view our appearance and how we dress for Holy Mass. We dress up for funerals, so should we not dress up for Mass, where we are in the presence of the death of Christ on Calvary.

At the Congregational church here in town, at times, in their bulletin, they encourage causal clothes. That’s up to them how they do things, because they don’t have the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass. They don’t have the true presence of Jesus in the Eucharist. They don’t believe what we believe.

Our ancestors, who lived before air-conditioning, dressed up for Mass. The women wore dress hats or veils, men wore suits, and children wore their Sunday best. And many lived a life of poverty. Families were willing to sacrifice comfort because they understood the Mass is Sacred.

At Sacred Heart in Halstead, we initiated a dress code by using the diocesan policy for lectors, ushers, & extraordinary Eucharistic ministers. One lector wore shorts and flip flops. She didn’t like the new code and started to attend Mass in Newton. A few weeks later, while attending Mass at Our Lady of Guadalupe parish, the pastor preached on dressing up for Mass and encouraged his parishioners to avoid wearing shorts. When she heard his homily, she apologized and began to dress up for Mass every week.

Perhaps, the reason why there is a lackadaisical way of treating the Mass, may have to do with how priests offer it.

When the priest faces the people there is a temptation for the priest to make himself the center of attention. He may use his personality to walk around sanctuary, or change the rubrics of the Mass, or allow non-sacred music, or the priest may rush the Mass, because he thinks if he has a short Mass people will like him. But, it cheapens the sacredness of the Mass. Consequently, some priests only use the shortest Eucharistic Prayer- 2. Its believed it was created in bar by several priests. There is nothing wrong with Eucharistic Prayer 2 or 3, they are approved by the Church.

Eucharistic prayer 2 is used by priests often times at Sunday Mass, to hurry up and get on with the Mass, but is not intended to be used for Sunday Masses, unless for pastoral reasons.

I use Eucharistic Prayer 1, at most every Mass. During Eucharistic Prayer 1, we ask many saints to pray for us, we pause to pray for others and pause to pray for specific deceased. It’s the oldest Eucharistic prayer and dates back to almost 1,600 years ago.

The Mass is the most holy action on the face of the earth. On the altar, the re-presentation of Calvary occurs. That’s why the Mass is called the Holy Sacrifice. The bread and wine are truly changed into the body and blood of Christ. The risen and resurrected Jesus is physically present in the Eucharist. During Mass, heaven and earth are united and we join the angels and saints worshiping God in heaven. According to a mystic, during the Holy Holy Holy, angels come down from heaven to surround the altar. If some have never heard these things, they don’t see the Mass as sacred.

Because the Mass is so holy, and so sacred, and because people who come to Mass desire to enter into the mystery of it, it can be difficult to pay attention due to distractions, such as phones ringing, or children screaming or hard toys or other objects dropped in the pews. A fussing child is difficult for parents. But, they find creative ways to control them: rocking them in the pew, or standing up, distracting them with a soft toy, or giving them a bottle. But if these don’t work, out of respect for others trying to enter into the mystery of the Mass or hear the Word of God or the homily, you may want to stand at the entrance of the church or use the rocker downstairs to watch the Mass on TV.

We are all family and we feel like family when we are together with children. Personally, I love when children are at Mass. Jesus said, “Let the little children come to me.” They receive graces from God, by being present during the consecration. The bells rung by altar servers cause children to pay attention to see what is happening on the altar. When children are present, it reminds us-- we are family. We need to balance shushing the child and yet to be considerate of others, who desire to enter into the mystery of the Mass.

If you get distracted easy, sit closer to the front. You will be surprised at how much more you can get out of Mass.

Some parishes have Ad Orientem Masses (to face East), meaning the people and the priest face the same direction. Placed like the Cathedral or Church of the Blessed Sacrament have them weekly.

As pastor, I did several Ad Oritentem Masses every week, including a Sunday Mass. I was surprised that the majority of the people enjoyed it. There were a few who preferred the priest facing the people, but they had the opportunity to go to other weekend Masses.

When the priest and the people face God together, there is less distractions for the priest. I found it easier for me to pray the Mass and people were more in awe of the Mass.

Some think, you need to know Latin, to go a Traditional Latin Mass or need to respond in Latin, but it’s not necessary. In fact, the silence and reverence of the Traditional Mass causes one to enter into the mystery of the Holy Mass and its sacrifice. It is truly awe inspiring. The priest and the people face the same direction while the people follow along in the Missal as they watch the priest’s gestures. At the TLM Mass, everyone receives Communion at an altar rail and on the tongue. It reminds us, who we are receiving at Mass. A person, who is God, and not a thing.

When Sr. Wilhelmina made her first Holy Communion, Jesus spoke to her, saying, “Will you be mine?” She later understood Jesus wanted her as his bride, as a religious sister. This summer, when you go on vacation, I encourage you go to Mass at Gower, Missouri and see the incorrupt nun and attend their Traditional Latin Mass. Or you can go to St. Joseph’s church in Wichita, for their 11:30am Latin Mass.

Before we receive Holy Communion, the Church requires us to make a sign of reverence, such as to bow, or make the sign of the Cross, or genuflect or kneel. The US bishops Conference suggest we bow, but we are permitted to do as we desire. Fr. Brungardt gave us permission to use a kneeler during weekday Masses.

Did you know, the ordinary manner the Church desires we receive Holy Communion is on the tongue? But, each bishop can give permission to receive on the hand, called an indult.

It is a priest’s sacred duty to protect and guard the Holy Eucharist. You need to know there are problems with receiving Communion on the hand. For example, Hosts are more easily stolen, which I witnessed in other parishes. At St. Elizabeth in Wichita, when I was an associate there, someone kept putting Hosts in missalettes. One was found on the floor and one outside in the parking lot on Christmas day.

Another problem is tiny particles fall from Hosts, as can be seen in the bottom of a ciboria. Few pay attention to the particles on their hand, and so, Jesus is dropped on the floor. The Council of Trent states every particle no matter how small is the whole and entire person of Jesus.

When receiving Communion in the hand, people begin to treat the Eucharist as ordinary food, but it’s not. Its truly the risen and resurrected Jesus in the Sacred Host. Receiving Communion on the hand, over a period of time can cause a decrease in faith in the Eucharist.

If you receive Communion in the hand, after you receive the Host, look for particles and pick them up and place them in your mouth. The US Bishops Conference has said, if you receive Communion in the hand, the Host is to be immediately placed in your mouth before walking away.

Recently, in the news, a priest bit a woman during Holy Communion. The media made it appear as some crazy priest bit a woman for no reason. However, a Catholic news story, stated, the woman with her lesbian girlfriend, grabbed Hosts out of the ciboria, the priest was holding. To prevent her from grabbing Hosts, the priest bit her arm. She broke the host into pieces causing particles to scatter on the floor.

When the woman was interviewed by police she said, “He wouldn’t give me the cookie.” She accused the priest of not giving it to her because she’s lesbian. The priest admitted to biting her, because he wanted to protect the Blessed Sacrament and didn’t know she was lesbian.

No one as the right to receive the Eucharist. It’s a privilege. Communicants must be Catholic. They must be in the state of grace, and must believe the Eucharist is the true body of Christ. They must also believe everything we believe. Anyone who calls the Eucharist a “cookie”, doesn’t believe the Eucharist is the true Body of Christ. The bishop of the diocese of Orlando defended the priest saying he was protecting the Eucharist, he is bound to do.

The priest has an obligation to be sure all Hosts are consumed and not stolen and he is not to give the next person Communion, until the Host is placed in your mouth. By receiving Communion on the tongue, it displays a greater act of humility. It is more reverent. It is safer for the Host and prevents particles from falling to the ground. When we die and go to our judgment, the Lord will show us the particles that fell to the ground, by us being careless. I encourage you to pray and ask Jesus, if He wants you to receive on the tongue or on the hand.

A true Eucharistic revival is not just about listening to talks about the Eucharist. It’s not just even singing praise and worship songs during a Holy Hour. It’s not just about Eucharistic processions. All of these are good.

But, especially we will fall in deeper love with the Eucharistic Jesus, and if we do, we will want to receive Him often in Communion and come before Him in adoration and give Him the greatest reverence possible, because He is God.

Eucharistic revival is about proclaiming the whole truth about the Eucharist. Its about being sure we receive the Eucharist worthily and with reverence and helping others to do the same. Its about bishops and priests standing up to defend the Eucharist and even at times denying Communion to notorious obstinate sinners, such as pro-abortion politicians or denying non-Catholics Holy Communion.

To receive the Eucharist worthily, we need to be in the state of grace, with no serious sin on our soul. We need to receive the Eucharist only after fasting an hour, from every thing except water and medicine. Chewing gum, drinking coffee or tea or eating other foods, etc.. breaks the Eucharistic fast, and if one receives Communion after breaking the fast, the person commits a sacrilegious Communion, which is a mortal sin. If you come to Mass chewing gum, you can’t receive Holy Communion. If you accidentally break the fast, don’t receive Jesus. You can receive a dispensation before Mass by talking to the priest.

Or I can give you Communion after Mass, after the hour is complete.

Those who regularly use birth control and have no intention of giving it up, and if they receive Holy Communion, are doing so sacrilegiously. Rather than receiving graces from God during Communion, they seriously offend Jesus and receive absolutely no graces what-so ever.

St. Paul in his letter to the Corinthians states those who don’t receive the Eucharist worthily are guilty of profaning the body of Christ and will bring condemnation to oneself.

After committing a mortal sin, if we are sorry and have the intention of avoiding the sin, go to Confession right away, to receive graces from Jesus to help you overcome the sin.

There is no greater time on earth than when we worthily receive Holy Communion, asking Jesus for favors, praying for others, thanking Him and just loving Him by keeping our attention and focus on Him, who comes within our heart.

A true Eucharistic revival will lead us to go to Confession often, to attend daily Mass to receive Communion as often as possible and never receive the Eucharist while in mortal sin.

A true Eucharistic revival will mean we become more reverent to Jesus in the tabernacle, when we receive Holy Communion and when we adore Our Lord in Adoration.

Once, our faith in the Eucharist has revived, we will want to draw others to do the same, by encouraging fallen away Catholics to go to Confession, so they can receive Holy Communion again. Your witness to your faith in the Eucharist, to your love of Jesus and the graces you receive, will help others in grow in their faith.

Let us pray through Mary’s intercession we will grow in our faith believing the Eucharist is truly Her risen Son, who we want to adore, and give our utmost reverence and respect, out of love for Him, who is God and King of heaven and earth, and who the angels and saints worship.