"Make We Bread & Wine Provided, A Saving Victim from Above!"

©2010, Randall A. Beeler

the Cross is something far greater and more mysterious than it at first appears. It is indeed an instrument of torture, suffering and defeat, but at the same time it expresses the complete transformation, the definitive reversal of these evils: that is what makes it the most eloquent symbol of hope that the world has ever seen. (Pope Benedict XVI, in Nicosia, Cyprus, June 6, 2010)

How can the slain be a sign of salvation? How can blood and torn flesh be a means of life?

The Feast of the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ—Corpus Christi—answers that the worst plans and thoughts of evil God turns into good (Gen 50:20). Indeed, what Joseph's brothers intend to be the selling into slavery of their flesh-and-blood, God transforms into a way that Joseph saves them from the seven-year famine, that they "may be preserved upon the earth, and may have food to live"(Gen 45:7, DRE) … which also foreshadows how Christ is the Flesh-and-Blood that is the Food by which we live.

Extraordinary as it may seem, the Cross is our Chalice and Paten. What we hack out of splintered wood, God forges into gold. What we inflict in pain and suffering, God serves as Himself—the Bread of Life (John 6).

Does that mean that we should therefore plot evil so "that Grace may abound? God forbid!" (Rom 6:1-2a, DRE), says Saint Paul.

Rather, this revelation that God is powerful enough to lay down all power, strong enough to be powerless on the Cross, and patient enough to be our heavenly food, demonstrates that only God can heal us.

Pope Benedict praises the Cross in wounded, blood-spattered Cyprus on the Solemnity of Corpus Christi to proclaim a truth that the world runs from and that Christ's Body, the Church, embraces, even as Jesus Himself embraces the Cross …

… evil is a reality … but not the end of our story …

… we both suffer and inflict evil … but our sin is not our last supper before the gallows …

… Satan seeks to crush us … but wine flows and bread bakes only when the fruit is crushed and harvest ground for the Feast of Heaven:

The Lamb that was slain is worthy to receive power and divinity and wisdom and strength and honour and glory and benediction … To him that sits on the throne and to the Lamb, benediction and honour and glory and power, for ever and ever. (Rev 5:12-13, DRE)

Pope Benedict today speaks not only to Cyprus, but to all of us, who battle, as every age has, this present darkness. He encourages us to lift high the Cross … not as a weapon … but as an emblem that evil has already been defeated.

May you have a blessed Corpus Christi Sunday!

Praise thou, Sion, praise thy Saviour!
Praise thy Prince with all thy fervour!
Anthems to thy Shepherd sing.

All thou canst, do thou endeavour,
Yet thy praise can equal never
Such as merits thy great King.

Duty this today thou'rt owing,
Bread the living, life-bestowing,
Full to honour with Thy praise.

Same the bread that Christ in leaving
To the twelve, each one receiving,
Gave, no one doubt can raise.

Let thy praise be loud and swelling,
Be it joyous, loud and welling
From a full, exulting heart.

Mem'ry of that feast we render,
Keeping rites in solemn splendour,
When Christ did first Himself impart.

This new Feast, the old repeating,
Newer King and Pasch revealing,
Usher in a newer rite.

What is new to age succeedeth:
Place to Truth the shadow cedeth;
Radiance puts the gloom to flight.

What He did, that eve reclining,
Done anew He willed, assigning
This a token of His love

By His sacred precepts guided,
Make we bread and wine provided,
A saving victim from above.

Christian truth uncontroverted
Is that bread and wine converted
Sacred flesh and blood become.

Mind and eye whilst unperceiving
What's beyond their own conceiving
Strenuous faith to them brings home.

Hidden under varied species,
Signs, not things, the untold riches,
Choice and rare beyond conceit.

Flesh and Blood our life sustaining,
Christ intact in both remaining,
'Neath each sign we greet.

Christ, to whomsoever given,
By Him is neither rent nor riven
Each unparted Christ receives.

Come there one, come there many,
Each partakes as much as any,
Nor the less for other leaves.

Good and bad this banquet sharing
Are an unlike lot preparing,
Life or death to either falls.

Life to those, to these perdition,
Though to both the same fruition,
How unlike the fate that calls.

When the host in pieces breakest,
If thou waver, thou mistakest,
For each fragment thou partakest
Holds no less than does the whole

Of the substance no division,
Signs alone admit partition,
Whence unlessened the condition
Of the symboled Body and Soul.

Lo! angelic bread reviving
Pilgrims worn to heaven striving,
Children from it strength deriving,
Sacred bread to dogs denied.

This the ancient types saluted,
Isaac victim constituted,
And the lamb for pasch deputed,
Manna to our sins supplied.

Jesu, bread of life, protect us!
Shepherd kind, do not reject us!
In Thy happy fold collect us,
And partakers of the bliss elect us
Which shall never see an end.

Thou the wisest and the mightiest,
Who us here with food delightest,
Seat us at Thy banquet brightest,
With the blessed Thou invitest,
An eternal feast to spend.

Amen. Alleluia.
—Saint Thomas Aquinas
(for an alternate translation, click here)