Corpus Christi Miracle/Ordinary Time

Q We just recently celebrated the feast of The Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ (also known as Corpus Christi).  I understand this feast was inspired by a eucharistic miracle.  Can you give me some details on this feast and the miracle?

A In 1263, German priest Father Peter of Prague was traveling to Rome when he stopped in the town of Bolsena, Italy.  Even though he was a good and pious priest, Father Peter was struggling with his faith regarding the holy Eucharist.  Just like those in the Gospel, he asked himself “How can this be?  How can Jesus share with us his body and blood?”  

He prayed that his faith would be increased.  While celebrating Mass, the host began to bleed as he was praying the words of consecration.  Blood fell on his hands and onto the corporal on the altar.  He was awestruck and began to cry.  At first, he tried to hide the blood but finally announced to those present what had happened. He reported this to Pope Urban IV who was residing at the nearby town of Orvieto.  After investigating the facts, the pope declared what had happened to be a miracle.  

This eucharistic miracle confirmed the visions given to a Belgium nun, Sister Juliana of Liège.  She had seen visions of a full moon, brilliantly lit, except for one part that was black.  In a vision, Christ explained:  “the moon was the church year; the black spot represented the lack of a feast honoring the blessed sacrament.”  Sister Juliana was to tell church  authorities God wanted such a feast established.  

After many years of trying, in 1246 a feast honoring the Eucharist was established in Liège, Belgium.  In 1264, six years after Sister Juliana’s death, and only one year after the miracle in Bolsena, Pope Urban IV extended the feast to the whole church.   

The feast has two purposes:  to focus our attention on the real presence of Jesus Christ in the Eucharist  body, blood, soul and divinity; and, secondly, to focus on the church, which is the body of Christ.  In many parts of the world, this feast is a holy day of obligation and celebrated on the Thursday after the feast of the Most Holy Trinity, which was the previous Sunday.  In the United States, it is not a holy day of obligation, so it was celebrated on June 19 this year.  It is interesting to note: this feast is one of only five occasions in the year on which a diocesan bishop cannot be away from his diocese, except for a grave and urgent reason.  

The miracle of Bolsena is one of more than 100 eucharistic miracles.  Even today, the Cathedral of Orvieto houses the blood-stained corporal, as well as the fragments of the miraculous host.  Jesus is truly present in the consecrated host.

 Q What is Ordinary Time in the church’s calendar?

A Ordinary Time is one of the seasons of the liturgical year, even though it is celebrated two different times each year.  The first segment begins the Monday after the feast of the Baptism of the Lord in January and goes through the Tuesday before Ash Wednesday.  The second segment runs from Pentecost Monday to the First Sunday of Advent.   

Because of its name many believe this is a dull part of the liturgical year but it is certainly not “ordinary” or common or unimportant.  The word “ordinary” comes from a Latin word that refers to numbers in a series; that is why each of the weeks are numbered denoting a passage of time (for instance: The First Sunday in Ordinary Time, The Second Sunday in Ordinary Time, etc.).  

This is the time of the liturgical year when Jesus walks among us, teaching us, performing his miracles and good works, transforming us.  Ordinary Time does not include the great feasts of the year (such as Christmas or Easter) or the times of penance and waiting (such as Lent and Advent), but it is certainly not “ordinary.”

According to the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, Ordinary Time is a time for growth and maturation, a time in which the mystery of Christ is called to penetrate ever more deeply into history until all things are finally caught up in Christ. The goal, toward which all of history is directed, is represented by the final Sunday in Ordinary Time, the solemnity of Our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe.”

During Ordinary Time the priests and the deacons wear green vestments.  Green is the color of life and hope.  Msgr. John Walsh, in “The Mass and Vestments of the Catholic Church” explains: “Green bespeaks hope. As pilgrims and soldiers we walk through a weary life, struggling as we walk, and we should not faint on the way because we are sustained by our Lord, who in person hath visited us, and by the grace of his Holy Spirit, and, therefore, like the living branch whose life is renewed, we should journey with an indestructible hope toward our true country (heaven).”

Deacon Hooper is a deacon assistant at Immaculate Conception Church in Denham Springs. He can be reached at [email protected].