On the Most Blessed Sacrament
Around the year 750, a Basilian Monk was celebrating Mass at the Church of St. Longinus in Lanciano, Italy, and as he had said the words of consecration, the host and wine physically changed into flesh and blood. That monk was more into science than faith and had doubts on the doctrine of Transubstantiation and the Real Presence of Jesus in the Eucharist. Until the present time, the flesh and blood have remained incorrupt even without refrigeration and preservatives. The flesh, which is of human cardiac tissue, and the type AB blood, are placed in a beautiful silver and glass monstrance at the Church of San Francesco in Lanciano.
The dogma of the Real Presence of Jesus in the Eucharist states that at the words of consecration during the Holy Mass, Jesus becomes truly present, flesh and blood, in the eucharisted bread and wine. Not just symbolically nor metaphorically, but Real Presence. Not that the presence of Jesus in a congregation gathered in His name or in the liturgy of the word is not ‘real’, but it is Real Presence par excellence. Thus, the Eucharist is the Sacrament of sacraments which means it is raised above all other sacraments. That is why it is called the Most Blessed Sacrament.
As Jesus Christ, the God-Man, is truly present in the Eucharist, we are duty bound to offer latria, the highest form of worship and adoration, to the Most Blessed Sacrament. That is why the proper gesture during consecration is to kneel. Also, we genuflect towards the Most Blessed Sacrament when we enter or exit the church. When the Most Blessed Sacrament is in exposition, we adore by double genuflection meaning both knees to the floor.
In the early Church, deacons would bring communion to the sick and those absent at the breaking of the bread. The early Christians would even bring home the Eucharist for their daily communion. When churches were built for the Christians to gather, Tabernacles were made as the proper repository for the Eucharist reserved for the sick. A candle or a lamp is lit beside the Tabernacle to signify Divine Presence. Because of the Real Presence of Jesus in the Eucharist, people began coming to the Church to pray and adore Jesus in the Most Blessed Sacrament. San Isidro Labrador for one, would visit the Blessed Sacrament before going to work at the farm of his master. Many Saints too have found strength from their habit of spending an hour daily before the Blessed Sacrament. In Monasteries and later on in Churches, the tradition of Exposition, when the Blessed Sacrament is placed in a monstrance for public adoration, and Benediction, when the minister blesses the people with the Blessed Sacrament, have evolved into a devotion. Also, during the Solemnities of Corpus Christi and Cristo Rey, the Blessed Sacrament is venerated in a procession.
The Thursday, or Sunday in the case of the Philippines, after the Trinity Sunday is dedicated to the Solemnity of Corpus Christi. May our love and devotion to the Most Blessed Sacrament truly grow and sanctify all our thoughts and actions in our daily life. Amen.
Sources: Catechism of the Catholic Church, Mysterium Fidei.
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