The Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ
No fixed feast day in the calendar
Flip the card and scan the QR code on the back to open it in the app
Jesus truly stays with us in the Sacrament of the Eucharist, as his Body and Blood
What is this feast?
The feast of the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ (also called Corpus Christi) celebrates the Sacrament of the Eucharist, the greatest gift Jesus left to the Church. At Mass, through the priest’s words of consecration and the power of the Holy Spirit, the bread and wine become the Body and Blood of Christ. The appearances of bread and wine remain, but Jesus himself is truly present.
The story
On the night he was handed over, Jesus ate supper with his disciples. He took bread, gave thanks, broke it and gave it to them as his Body. After supper, he took the cup of wine and said it was the New Covenant in his Blood (cf. 1 Cor 11:23-26). He told them to do this in memory of him.
Before that, Jesus had promised: “I am the living bread that came down from heaven; whoever eats this bread will live forever” (Jn 6:51). That promise comes true at every Mass.
This card does not show a scene from the Gospel. It is the familiar picture found on First Communion holy cards: Jesus holding the Host and the Chalice, to say that the Eucharist is Jesus himself.
Why does the Church celebrate this feast?
Holy Thursday already remembers how the Lord instituted the Eucharist, in connection with his Passion, death and Resurrection. The Church also sets aside a special solemnity to rejoice, give thanks and adore the Eucharist. Many parishes hold a solemn procession of the Blessed Sacrament, with children scattering flowers for the Lord. In Vietnam, this feast is celebrated on a Sunday so that everyone can take part.
A lesson for you
- Go to Sunday Mass regularly and pay attention, because the Lord is truly present.
- Before receiving Communion, fast for one hour, and go to confession if you have a mortal sin.
- When you walk past a church, stop in to greet Jesus in the tabernacle.
Identifying marks
- A white Host marked with a cross, shining in the Lord’s hand: this is the Body of Christ; it looks like bread, but it is truly Jesus himself.
- A golden chalice just below the Host: the chalice of the Lord’s Blood, the Blood of the New Covenant poured out for the forgiveness of sins (cf. 1 Cor 11:25; Mt 26:28).
- Ears of wheat and a bunch of grapes below: wheat makes bread, grapes make wine; the Lord uses these simple gifts to become food for you.
- Lit candles on the altar behind: on the altar, at Mass, the bread and wine become the Body and Blood of the Lord; the consecrated Hosts that remain are kept in the tabernacle so that everyone can come and adore.
- A red mantle over a white robe: red recalls the Blood the Lord poured out out of love; white recalls the new life he gives.
The text on this page is the card in the Catholic Information app, word for word.
Compiled by i-Catholic · About