Light from the Altar - Corpus Christi Day

This is a day of flowers and incense and lights and singing; a day of praise, of love and reparation; a day like a birthday put apart for showing the affection we always feel. But, unlike a birthday, it is a day of faith. Here we have no dear face to gaze upon, no dear hands into which to lay our presents, no lips from' which to hear words of praise and thanks. But what then? We have faith that raises us above the senses, and we need no sight, no touch, no hearing to know; our Guest is with us, receiving our homage, rejoicing in our praise, returning our love. And who is our Guest today? Who but our own Master, our patient Friend, the Guest of the whole year round, Jesus Christ in the Blessed Sacrament of the altar. And it is He whom we try to honor on Corpus Christi. How shall we do it? When Aman was asked by King Assuerus what should be done to him whom the king desired to honor, he answered: that a crown be placed upon his head, a royal robe around him, and that the greatest man in the kingdom lead his horse through the streets and declare his worth. When the Romans of old had done great deeds in battle they asked for a triumphal procession through the streets of Rome with the captives, the trophies, and the spoils they had taken. Throughout history, ancient and modem, processions always formed special means of showing honor and gladness and just appreciation. Perhaps it is the enthusiastic cheering, the undivided attention of the panting crowds, the gay decorations in unwonted places, and the stately movement, the solemn music, the heart-to-heart beating of thousands that make a procession such a popular award of merit. Be that as it may, popular, long-lived, and universal it certainly is.

And so the Church sanctifies this procession of honor and offers it to our Lord today. Throughout Catholic lands, and in our little measure in Protestant lands too, bishops and priests and children, religious men and women, schoolboys and seminarians, and a mixed crowd of poor and rich and old and young accompany their Lord and King through the flower-strewn roads and decorated streets. But no sound is heard the whole length of the way. Only the chant of the "Pange Lingua" and the "Lauda Sion" breaks the stillness. The hushed silence and awe proclaim better than ringing voices that "a greater than Solomon is here." The canopy passes, one by one the long file lining the streets drop upon their knees and remain kneeling with bowed, uncovered heads till the sound of the bell ceases. This is our hour of faith. Spontaneously the "Credo" goes up from our hearts, and with it Thomas' cry, "My Lord and my God!" More blessed than Thomas, we believe and do not see. There is no external sign of our King's approval. "We shall see no smile, hear no word, receive no external acknowledgment. "We are asked to live by faith, to act from faith. And so we do, trying our best to combat the senses, to see beyond our sight, to hear things other than by our ears. And so we bend our knee and bow our head as the Sacred Host passes us, and we speak in our hearts to Him it veils, as truly and to Him as audibly as the shouting multitude to the popular hero.

"What conqueror or hero or king has ever had homage to be compared to this? Hidden under sacramental veils, without voice or attraction, helpless in the hands of men, Jesus captivates the hearts of millions in every part of the world: He commands reverence from an unrevering age, love from a self-seeking generation, homage from an unyielding people. Jesus, Thou art known and loved! Men may talk and write and scoff, but Thou art known and loved above thousands; Thou art served, even in these lukewarm days, as never man was. Be glad, then, dear Master, and rejoice with us; pardon the defects of our childlike homage; gather up the loving words that are sung and the humble prayers of the dumb lips unheard but by Thee. Look down and bless with Thy dear hands Thy loving subjects. We can wait for Thy smile, for Thy rewarding word, but we cannot wait for Thy blessing. Give it today, dear Master, as Thou passest on Thy way. Give it to the little ones, to their mothers, to thy priests and prelates, to the lonely and the sad. The eyes of all are upon Thee, for to whom could they turn if Thou didst forsake them? When Thou wast in the way Thou didst go about doing good; Thou art in the way now, Jesus. Stretch forth Thy hand and do us good.

- taken from Light from the Altar, edited by Father James J McGovern, 1906