ROME (CNS): The Eucharist has the power to unite people, strengthen them and remind them that only God is worthy of worship, Pope Benedict XVI said at a Mass marking the feast of the Body and Blood of Christ.
The May 22 Mass at Rome’s Basilica of St John Lateran was followed by a traditional Corpus Christi procession through the streets of Rome to the Basilica of St Mary Major for eucharistic adoration and Benediction.
The Pope rode in a canopied flatbed truck to St Mary’s, kneeling in front of a monstrance with the Eucharist.
Thousands of priests, seminarians, religious, altar servers, members of Catholic sodalities and the faithful accompanied the Pope on foot.
In his homily at the Mass, the Pope said the rites and rituals of the feast day explained what the feast is about: “First, we are gathered around the altar of the Lord to be together in his presence; second, there will be the procession, which is walking with the Lord”; and, finally, all the faithful will kneel before the Eucharist, honouring Jesus Christ who gave his life for the salvation of all.
Pope Benedict said the celebration of the Mass, gathering everyone around the same altar, is a reminder that all the faithful have been united into the body of Christ despite all their differences.
Pope Benedict said Catholics must always be vigilant to ensure that at every celebration of the Eucharist all Catholics are welcome, no matter their “differences of nationality, profession, social class or political ideas”.
By walking in procession and following Jesus present in the Eucharist, he said, Catholics remind themselves that “the Lord Jesus liberates us from our paralysis, he makes us get up and proceed, he helps us take a step forward, then another”.
