Corpus Christi from a Portuguese perspective

Last weekend the Church celebrated the solemnity of the Body and Blood of Christ, also known as “Corpus Christi.” This feast makes me nostalgic for a summer I spent in Portugal as a young priest. There, the feast in honor of the Eucharist was held on a Thursday, not on Sunday as it is in the United States. Also noteworthy is that the solemnity is called “Corpo de Deus,” or “Body of God.” This underscores the Incarnation, that moment in time when the eternal Son of God became man. Since Christ’s person is divine, we very well could label this holyday “The Body of God.” Some might argue that this would cause some confusion among the faithful. I believe that “Body and Blood of Christ” is a better name for the feast because this accentuates that that this solemnity is all about the Eucharist, as the object of our devotion.

What impressed me most about the observance of Corpus Christi in Portugal was the great devotion that the people demonstrated toward the Blessed Sacrament. In fact, as the Eucharist was carried through the streets of the city where I lived, people lined the roads with their foyer carpets because they wanted the monstrance bearing the Eucharist to bless the thing that symbolized “welcome in their homes” – a simple rug. I also noticed that many people showered rose pedals from their second fl oor windows onto the procession path-

way. Just as John the Baptist, who told his disciples “I must decrease while he must increase,” [Jn. 3:30] pointing to the

Lord – so this cascade of fl ower pedals was meant to pay homage to the glorifi ed

Christ present in the Eucharist. Clearly, this was a public manifestation of faith. Without doubt,the Portuguese people were proud to display their love for the Eucharist.The procession through

the streets served to remind people that Jesus, whose coming as Messiah had been proclaimed by John the Baptizer, is still present to his people in a tangible way, in the Eucharist. Although we are guaranteed freedom of religion in the Constitution, some Americans would argue that a public display of faith in our country would be seen by some as propaganda, as an attempt to proselytize, that is, to attempt toconvert others to Catholicism.Throughout our nation, myriad parishes display their faith through a yearly procession on Corpus Christi. “Are they forcing their faith on others?” No! That would not be in keeping with the biblical Jesus. “Why?” Because conversion is something, which only God can effect. No matter how much we try – no matter what techniques we might employ – nobody but God can convert people. While it is true that the religious processions of yesteryear are rare, the same Jesus who told his friends to “do this in memory of me” is still in our midst. This is why we, Catholics, continue to escort the Blessed Sacrament through the streets of our communities year after year. Even though the feast has passed, may we always remember that the mission of the new evangelization is not to convert but to awaken and renew the faith of believers. As such, we who believe give thanks and praise to the God who chose to sanctify matter through his Spirit, in the Body and Blood of his only Son!

Father Comandini is managing editor of “The Catholic Spirit”

...the mission of the new evangelization is not to convert but to awaken and renew the faith of believers.

By Father Glenn J. Comandini, STD