The feast of the Body and Blood of Jesus Christ, more commonly known as "Corpus Christi," was instituted to highlight the Catholic Church's teaching on the Real Presence of Jesus in the Eucharist.
It is celebrated each year either on the Thursday or Sunday after Trinity Sunday (depending on local custom).
This particular celebration happens to coincide with recent statements by dioceses and bishops around the world inviting Catholics back to Sunday Mass.
One way to honor this great mystery of faith is to pray a special Corpus Christi Novena. It consists of nine days of prayer in preparation for this joyous feast.
To make it easier to participate, Ascension is providing a novena that will be sent out in an e-mail newsletter. You can sign-up at their website and then receive the novena prayers each day.
Along with the novena Ascension is also premiering a special Celebrating the Feast of Corpus Christi video, featuring biblical scholar Dr. Edward Sri, on Ascension Facebook and YouTube channels. It will air on June 3, 2021 at 8 p.m. ET.
Dr. Edward Sri recently worked with Ascension to release the new 10th Anniversary Edition of A Biblical Walk Through the Mass: Understanding What We Say and Do in the Liturgy.
The study seeks to help Catholics understand the"profound significance of what we say and do at every Mass—and you will see its words and gestures in a new light, helping to deepen your participation in the Sacred Liturgy."
As Catholics return to Mass, now is a perfect time to renew our belief in the Eucharist and draw closer to Jesus in an intimate relationship.
