The Feast of Corpus Christi was celebrated in Rome by Pope Francis on Thursday past. This feast is moved to Sunday in many places in North America to involve more people than would be able to attend during a weekday. We were very fortunate to have celebrated this event with Pope Francis in Rome this year. When I read the account of our experience I can hardly believe we were really there. The action of Corpus Christi which is visible to the world is the procession of the Blessed Sacrament. Friar Jude Winkler links the account of the institution of the Eucharist from the Gospel of Mark to the tradition of cutting a Covenant, described in Exodus, which is traditionally sealed in blood as the mediating agent which brings life to the people of the Covenant by extinguishing sins. The Book of Hebrews proclaims Jesus as the mediator of the New Covenant with God. The body and blood of Jesus in the Eucharist is the life for the Body of Christ which is present to the world in the participants in the Corpus Christi procession. The qualities of the people we encountered in the celebration in Rome were exemplified by our hosts from the Franciscan community there; kindness and generosity and graciousness (gentile e generoso e gentile). The development of men and women in the practice of kindness, generosity and graciousness to others leads to development of discipline and self sacrifice. The food for the practice of these virtues is a personal relationship with Jesus, enfleshed in the Eucharist, which resonates with the Spirit to nourish Love, forgiveness and service. Preparation of people by the Church for ordained service is a formation in loving service which will be the means whereby the aspirations of Pope Francis for a world living with kindness, generosity and grace can be supported by the Church.
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