There is a short Eucharistic hymn from the 14th century, composed by an unknown author, possibly Pope Innocent VI, the fifth of the Avignon Popes. The hymn is called Ave Verum Corpus. It was sung often during benediction, when the host would be elevated in the monstrance for our adoration. While gazing upon, what appears to be ordinary bread, in the ornate golden monstrance, the choir would sing Ave Verum Corpus— Hail true flesh born of the Virgin Mary who having truly suffered, was sacrificed on the cross for mankind, whose pierced side flowed with water and blood: Be for us a foretaste of the Heavenly banquet in the trial of death.
St. Thomas Aquinas maintained that believing that bread is transformed—trans-substantiated—into the flesh of the Savior is a difficult doctrine. The Eucharist does not look like Christ, nor his flesh; thus it tests our faith—the doctrine requires faith. But we believe it because this teaching comes from the Lord himself.
"The bread I will give is my flesh, for the life of the world"
The flesh and blood offered on the cross for our salvation becomes present on the altar under the appearance of bread and wine. And as the Lord purchased our salvation—our eternal life—with his pierced flesh and outpoured blood, that same flesh and blood continues to be the life of the Church.
Every Christian is called to imitate Christ’s outpoured love, his self-sacrifice for the life of the world. Therefore, the Eucharist is the necessary food for our Easter mission: to proclaim, courageously Christ’s love, in all of our day-to-day encounters.
As Pope Benedict writes, “The Eucharist, since it embraces the concrete, everyday existence of the believer, makes possible, day by day, the progressive transfiguration of all those called by grace to reflect the image of the Son of God. There is nothing authentically human – our thoughts and affections, our words and deeds – that does not find in the sacrament of the Eucharist the form it needs to be lived to the full. (Sacramentum Caritatis, 72).”
May our thoughts and affections, words and deeds, our bodies and souls, continue to be transformed by this saving Sacrament, the True Flesh given for the life of the world, for the glory of God and salvation of souls.
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That the Church will deepen in her devotion to the Eucharistic sacrifice which is the source and summit of our Christian life. We pray to the Lord.
That the redemptive power of Christ’s Eucharistic sacrifice will extend to the hearts and minds of all those who govern peoples and nations. We pray to the Lord.
That the Eucharist will be for priests the source of their joy and their deeper configuration to Jesus Christ. We pray to the Lord.
That the Christ’s Eucharistic Self-Sacrifice will be experienced in all marriages, in all business relations, in all daily encounters, among friends, strangers, and enemies. We pray to the Lord.
For those who live in want: that Jesus the Bread of Life will be their sustenance, and that Christians may bring the justice and mercy of Christ to all those in need. We pray to the Lord.
For all those who have died, for all of the poor souls in purgatory, for all who have fought and died for our country’s freedom, and for [intention below], for whom this Mass is offered.
Incline your merciful ear to our prayers, we ask, O Lord, and listen in kindness to the supplications of those who call on you. Through Christ our Lord.
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