The feast of Corpus Christi gives us the chance to re-examine and to celebrate the 'source and summit of our faith' - the Eucharist. While we celebrate the gift of the Eucharist with the Mass of the Lord's Supper on Holy Thursday, the focus of Holy Thursday is on the Last Supper and Jesus' teaching and washing of the feet of the Apostles. This feast is dedicated to help us remember the gift of the Eucharist. We remember that the Eucharist is the self-gift of Jesus to His Church. It is our entrance into the saving act of Jesus Christ on the cross, in fact, of course, our Catholic Theology teaches that the Eucharist re-presents Calvary for us, and in the Eucharist, we are made present to Calvary. In the Eucharist, we receive Jesus Christ, Body and Blood, Soul and Divinity, who gave himself for the life of the world.
We offer gifts of bread and wine, which are fully transformed into the Body and Blood of Christ. As St. Augustine wrote, when we receive the Eucharist we become what we receive. We are transformed ourselves in Christ, and we are nourished to be Christ's presence in the world, to bring His saving power wherever we go, and especially wherever His presence is especially needed.
As a priest, I know that my priesthood is only as strong as my Eucharistic devotion, and my pastoral effectiveness is only as potent as my commitment to and 'performance' of the dignified and prayerful Mass. As a priest, and especially as a diocesan priest, I am more profoundly aware that my highest duty and greatest privilege is to celebrate Mass. Everything I do and say leads to and comes from the Eucharist.
For anyone considering a vocation, we need to spend time in present to Jesus by Eucharistic Adoration. We need to receive Him worthily and frequently, to grow in grace.
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