Solemnity of the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ
By creating man with a need for food, God established nutrition as the sustenance of natural life. This reality is an image of the life of grace, which is sustained by a heavenly food: the Eucharist.
See also:
Mass Readings
First Reading – Gn 14:18-20
In those days, Melchizedek, king of Salem, brought out bread and wine, and being a priest of God Most High, he blessed Abram with these words: “Blessed be Abram by God Most High, the creator of heaven and earth; and blessed be God Most High, who delivered your foes into your hand.” Then Abram gave him a tenth of everything.
Responsorial Psalm – Ps 110:1, 2, 3, 4 (R.4b)
R. You are a priest for ever, in the line of Melchizedek.
The LORD said to my Lord: “Sit at my right hand
till I make your enemies your footstool.” R.
The scepter of your power the LORD will stretch forth from Zion:
“Rule in the midst of your enemies.” R.
“Yours is princely power in the day of your birth, in holy splendor;
before the daystar, like the dew, I have begotten you.” R.
The LORD has sworn, and he will not repent:
“You are a priest forever, according to the order of Melchizedek.” R.
Second Reading – 1 Cor 11:23-26
Brothers and sisters: I received from the Lord what I also handed on to you, that the Lord Jesus, on the night he was handed over, took bread, and, after he had given thanks, broke it and said, “This is my body that is for you. Do this in remembrance of me.” In the same way also the cup, after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood. Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me.” For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the death of the Lord until he comes.
Gospel – Lk 9:11b-17
Jesus spoke to the crowds about the kingdom of God, and he healed those who needed to be cured. As the day was drawing to a close, the Twelve approached him and said, “Dismiss the crowd so that they can go to the surrounding villages and farms and find lodging and provisions; for we are in a deserted place here.” He said to them, “Give them some food yourselves.” They replied, “Five loaves and two fish are all we have, unless we ourselves go and buy food for all these people.” Now the men there numbered about five thousand. Then he said to his disciples, “Have them sit down in groups of about fifty.” They did so and made them all sit down. Then taking the five loaves and the two fish, and looking up to heaven, he said the blessing over them, broke them, and gave them to the disciples to set before the crowd. They all ate and were satisfied. And when the leftover fragments were picked up, they filled twelve wicker baskets.
Featured Saints
St. Romuald, abbot (+1027) Anchorite and founder of the Camaldolese Order. Born to the noble family of the duchy of Ravenna, he withdrew to a Benedictine monastery, where he discerned his vocation for hermitic life.
St. Juliana Falconieri, virgin (†circa 1341). Founder of the Sisters of the Third Order of Servites, in Florence, Italy, dedicated to contemplation and charity.
Sts. Remy Isore and Modeste Andlauer, priests and martyrs (†1900). French Jesuits killed at the altar at which they were praying, during religious persecution waged in connection with the Boxer Revolution in the province of Hebei, China.
Bl. Thomas Woodhouse, sacerdote e mártir (+1573). Secular parish priest from Lincolnshire, England, he was arrested for celebrating the Catholic Mass. During his twelve years of imprisonment, he became a Jesuit. He was put to death at Tyburn, Inglaterra, during the reign of Elizabeth I.
Blessed Gerlandus, religious (†circa 1271). Knight of the Order of St. John of Jerusalem; protector of widows and orphans.
Blessed Elena Aiello, virgin (†1961). Foundress of the Congregation of the Sister Minims of the Passion of Our Lord Jesus Christ in Cosenza, Italy.
Blessed Michelina, widow (†1356). She entered the Franciscan Third Order in Pesaro (Italy), sold all her goods, gave the money to the poor and dedicated herself to a life of prayer.
Image gallery
