Before the Angelus
After the Angelus
At midday today, Solemnity of the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ, the Holy Father Francis appeared at the window of his study in the Vatican Apostolic Palace to pray the Angelus with the faithful and pilgrims gathered in Saint Peter’s Square.
The following is the Pope’s introduction to the Marian prayer:
Before the Angelus
Dear brothers and sisters, good morning!
Today in many countries – including Italy – we celebrate the Solemnity of the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ or, according to the better-known Latin expression, of Corpus Domini. The Gospel tells us Jesus’ words, pronounced during the Last Supper with His disciples: “Take, this is my body”. And then: “This is my blood of the Covenant, which is poured out for many” (Mk 14: 22.24). It is precisely because of that testament of love that the Christian community gathers today, Sunday, and every day, around the Eucharist, the Sacrament of Christ’s redeeming Sacrifice. And, attracted by His real presence, Christians adore and contemplate Him through the humble sign of bread that has become His Body.
Every time we celebrate the Eucharist, through this very sober and at the same time solemn Sacrament, we experience the New Covenant, which realizes in fullness the communion between God and us. And, inasmuch as we are participants in this Covenant, although small and poor we collaborate in building history as God wills. Therefore, every Eucharistic celebration, while it constitutes a public act of worship of God, refers us back to the life and concrete events of our existence. As we are nourished by the Body and Blood of Christ, we are assimilated to Him; we receive in us His love, not to retain it jealously, but rather to share it with others. This logic is inherent in the Eucharist: we receive in ourselves His love and we share it with others. This is the Eucharistic logic. Indeed, in it we contemplate Jesus as broken and given bread, blood poured out for our salvation. It is a presence that, like fire, burns away in us our egotistic attitudes, purifies us of the tendency to give only when we have received, and enkindles in us the desire that we too be in union with Jesus, as broken bread and blood shed for our brothers.
Therefore, the feast of Corpus Domini is a mystery of attraction to Christ and of transformation into Him. And it is a school of concrete, patient and sacrificed love, like Jesus on the cross. It teaches us to be more welcoming and available to all those who are in search of understanding, help and encouragement, and who are marginalized and alone. The presence of Jesus alive in the Eucharist is like a door, an open door between the temple and the street, between faith and history, between the city of God and the city of man.
The processions with the Most Holy Sacrament are an expression of popular Eucharistic piety, which in today’s Solemnity are taking place in many countries.
This evening at Ostia, I too – as Blessed Paul VI did fifty years ago – will celebrate Mass, which will be followed by a procession with the Most Holy Sacrament. I invite you all to take part, also spiritually, via radio and television. May Our Lady accompany us on this day.
After the Angelus
Dear brothers and sisters, good morning!
Yesterday in Naples, Sister Maria Crocifissa of Divine Love (née Maria Gargani), founder of the Sisters Apostles of the Sacred Heart, was proclaimed blessed. Spiritual daughter of Padre Pio, she was a true apostle in the scholastic and parish fields. May her example and her intercession sustain her spiritual daughters and all educators. An applause for the new Blessed, all of us: let us greet her!
I join my brother bishops of Nicaragua in expressing grief for the grave violence, causing deaths and injuries, carried out by armed groups to suppress social protests. I pray for the victims and their families. The Church is always for dialogue, but this requires active commitment to respect freedom and, first of all, life. I pray that all violence may cease and that the conditions may be ensured to resume dialogue as soon as possible.
I greet all pilgrims from Italy and from various countries, in particular, those from Helsinki, Huelva (Spain), Peuerbach (Austria) and from Croatia. I greet the faithful of Caturano and Palermo, as well as the “Siderinox” society of Abbiategrasso and confirmands from Corridonia.
A special greeting goes to the faithful gathered today at Sotto il Monte, with the bishop of Bergamo, on the anniversary of Saint John XXIII’s death. May the peregrinatio to Bergamo, land of the mortal remains of this Pontiff who was so beloved by the people, inspire generous good intentions in you all.
And I wish you all a good Sunday and please, do not forget to pray for me. Have a good lunch, and goodbye.
