Bishop Edward M. Rice's homliy from the Mass at the Eucharistic Congress

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Bishop Edward Rice gave a homily during outdoor mass at SLU High School during the Eucharisitc Congress.

Corpus Christi
Alive! In the Body of Christ

Alive! In the Body of Christ. What a beautiful vision put forth for the Archdiocese of St. Louis, to be Alive, in the Body of Christ.

Of course, as you hear of this vision, two thoughts hopefully come to mind. First, the great treasure we have in the Eucharist, the Body and Blood of Christ, which is what we celebrate this weekend on this Feast of Corpus Christi.

Second, the challenge for each of us, to be a part of the Body of Christ, to build up the body of
Christ, to be fully alive in the Body of Christ, which is the Church! These two beautiful dynamics compliment each other and challenge us as believers to understand who we are and what we can be.

Who are we? As a Church, we are a Eucharistic People. Of the 7 sacraments of the Church, it is only the Eucharist which is called the Blessed Sacrament. It is the Sacrament Most Holy, the Sacrament Divine. The Catechism of the Catholic Church (1324) tells us that the other (6) sacraments are bound up with the Eucharist and are oriented toward it. All the sacraments connected to and lead us to the Eucharist.

Therefore, to be "Alive, In the Body of Christ," we must recognize the great treasure we have in the Eucharist and the value of the Mass. Again, the Catechism (1364) teaches that when the Church celebrates the Eucharist...the sacrifice of Christ on the Cross is the made present and remains present forever."

In my years of promoting Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament, going from parish to parish, I would often share the details of a story, which I will now share with all of you, a true story, told by a Catholic Priest, a chaplain, in World War II. It involves a group of American Prisoners of War who were held captive by the Japanese for 3 years in a prisoner of war camp in the islands of the South Pacific. Three years of imprisonment, poor food, no medical attention and tropical diseases. We can only imagine their condition.

When the Japanese realized they would not win the war, they began to withdraw from the islands and one morning, the Americans woke up to discover the Japanese abandoning the camp and they were free. They were informed that the closest Allied Base, a British base, was on the other side of the island. If they wanted to get there, they would have to walk. And so they did. Sick, starving, exhausted, many with bare feet, they walked. It was so difficult, that some died along the way.

As they drew near to the British Base, they were recognized, the base commander was notified of their approach and so he ran out to meet them. He was horrified at what he saw and said they looked like the "walking dead." In his pity he cried out to them, "What should I do for you first?" thinking they would ask for food, or medical attention or a hot shower and clean clothes. What should I do for you first? And from their midst a young soldier spoke up, "Sir, we would like to go to Mass." The Commander, not Catholic, did not understand the request, so the soldier repeated himself, "Sir, we would like to go to Mass."

As it was, all the POW's were Catholic, and along with poor food and scant medical attention, they had been deprived of the Sacraments for over three years. And so, before a morsel of food passed their lips, before any medical care was administered, before they even changed clothes, a Catholic priest was sent for and they participated in Holy Mass.

Those men were starving and sick, yes, but they were Alive in the Body of Christ. They knew well, the significance and the meaning of the Mass, the importance of receiving the Eucharist. The Catechism refers to the Mass as the "Mass of all Ages." From the beginning of the Church in the catacombs down the ages to today, the Mass is the one, perfect sacrifice of Christ. Though the externals have changed, the essence of the Mass is the same. Jesus offers Himself for us, Jesus gives Himself to us, so that each of us can be Alive in the Body of Christ. Then, nourished by His Body and Blood, we go forth to build up the Body of Christ, the Church.

And so to our young people – so easily the target of our materialistic culture that places value on things over people, a culture that promote a distorted sense of sexuality and selfishness, to you I say, seek holiness and purity by drawing close to the Body of Christ.

To our couples in the sacrament of marriage, embracing family life – facing the challenges of today – stay committed to each other, for better or worse, for richer or poorer, in sickness and in health, draw close to the Body of Christ and live out the sacrament of marriage and family life.

To those in the generous single life – draw close to the Body of Christ and discover how you can be of service to others.

To those burdened with loneliness and sickness, draw close to the Body of Christ and discover His consolation.

To our priests and consecrated religious, to our seminarians, and those considering a vocation to the priesthood and religious life – draw close to the Body of Christ that you may be His witness in the world.

What a beautiful vision put forth from the Archdiocese of St. Louis. Let us be Alive, In the Body of Christ.