Pope Francis reminded the faithful on June 3, 2018, the Feast of Corpus Christi, that every mass is an experience of the New Covenant.
His remarks came before praying the noonday Angelus with a crowd of some 15,000 gathered in St. Peter’s Square.
“The Gospel reports Jesus’ words to us, pronounced during the Last Supper with His disciples: ‘Take, this is my body’,” the Holy Father recounted. “Then: ‘This is my blood of the Covenant, which is poured out for many’ (Mark 14:22.24).
“Every time we celebrate the Eucharist, through this very sober and at the same time solemn Sacrament, we experience the New Covenant, which realizes in fullness the communion between God and us,” the Holy Father continued. “And, in as much as participants in this Covenant, we, though little and poor, collaborate to build history as God wills. Therefore, every Eucharistic celebration, while constituting a public act of worship of God, refers us back to the life and concrete events of our existence.”
The Pope noted the popularity of Corpus Christi processions in many countries around the world. He will lead a process on this day in Ostia — and he invited people around the world to join him via television and radio.
Francis concluded by reminded those listening that “the presence of Jesus alive in the Eucharist is like a door, an open door between the church and the street, between faith and history, between the city of God and the city of man.”
Full Text of Pope’s Remarks
