Pope's Intentions
Universal: Immigrants and refugees -- That immigrants and refugees may find welcome and respect in the countries to which they come.
Evangelization: Vocations -- That the personal encounter with Jesus may arouse in many young people the desire to offer their own lives in priesthood or consecrated life.
The Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ - Solemnity - Year B
Commentary of the day
An ancient hymn for Holy Saturday
Borgia, Frammenti eucaristici antichissimi, p. 46-50 (DDB 1981, p. 162)
"This is my blood of the covenant, which will be shed for many"
Today we have gazed upon our Lord Jesus Christ on the altar.
Today we have been fed with the burning coal in whose shadow sing the Cherubim (Is 6,2).
Today we have heard the sweet and powerful voice saying to us:
This body burns away the thorns of sin; it gives light to men's souls.
This body the woman with the issue of blood touched and was delivered of her infirmity.
This body, the Canaanite woman's daughter was cured at the sight of it.
This body was approached with all her heart by the sinful woman and she was rescued from the mire of her sins.
This body Thomas touched; he acknowledged it, crying aloud: “My Lord and my God”.
This body, so great and so high, is the foundation of our salvation.
In former times he who is Word and Life declared:
“This blood has been shed for you and given up for the remission of sins”.
We have drunk, my beloved, the holy and immortal blood.
We have drunk, beloved, the blood flowing from the Savior's side
that heals all ills, that frees all souls.
We have drunk the blood by which we have been redeemed.
We have been bought and we have been taught; we have been enlightened.
Behold, my brethren, what body it is that we have eaten!
Behold, my children, what blood has inebriated us!
Behold the covenant sealed with our God lest we should be ashamed on that terrible day, the day of judgement (cf. 1Cor 11,29).
Who is equal to giving glory to the mystery of grace?
We have been accounted worthy of participating in this gift.
Let us keep ourselves to the end that we may hear his blessed, sweet and holy voice:
“Come you who are blessed by my Father. Inherit the kingdom prepared for you” (Mt 25,34)...
Beloved, we will celebrate the wonders of Jesus' baptism (cf. Mk 10,38),
his holy and life-giving resurrection,
through which salvation has been given to the world.
All of us are awaiting its happy fulfilment,
in the grace and happiness of our Lord Jesus Christ:
to him be glory, honor and adoration.