This weekend we celebrate the Solemnity of The Body and Blood of Christ (Corpus Christi). We celebrate that great gift Jesus left us at the Last Supper. We strengthen our faith that the Holy Eucharist is truly the very Body and Blood, Soul and Divinity of Christ.
It is the priest who consecrates bread and wine into this wondrous gift. He acts in the person of Christ.
“It is the same priest, Christ Jesus, whose sacred person his minister truly represents. Now the minister, by reason of the sacerdotal consecration which he has received, is truly made like to the high priest and possesses the authority to act in the power and place of the person of Christ himself (virtute ac persona ipsius Christi).
“Christ is the source of all priesthood: the priest of the old law was a figure of Christ, and the priest of the new law acts in the person of Christ.” (Catechism of the Catholic Church #1548)
If we are to have the Eucharist, we need priests. When I was in Peru there were remote villages that had Mass only once or twice a year for lack of priests. (We sometimes complain that the Mass schedule isn’t to our liking.)
We need to pray for and foster vocations to the priesthood. Pray also for priests, Pray also for those discerning a vocation and studying for the priesthood.
A friend wrote to me that some have described the anatomy of a priest as follows:
- Brains – to know the faith and doctrines.
- Ears – to listen to us.
- Shoulders – to carry the cross with Christ.
- Heart – to love us like Jesus.
- Eyes – to our thirst for God,
- Hands – to bless and consecrate.
- Mouth – to preach the Good News.
- Knees – to bend and pray.
- Feet – to go where God sends them.
The Vocations Office will sponsor Summer Discernment Day at St. Bridget Parish, Loves Park, on Thursday, July 18th. Information is available on the Diocese of Rockford website, Vocations Office, Events. A few information cards are available in the sacristy. There is no cost.
I hope we have a good turnout from St. James.
Saint James Catholic Church 