| Reflection on the Painting
Today is Corpus Christi Sunday, when we celebrate the real presence of the Body and Blood, Soul and Divinity of Jesus Christ in the Eucharist. The feast of Corpus Christi was initially proposed by Saint Thomas Aquinas to Pope Urban IV, to create a feast focussed solely on the Holy Eucharist. It is also a day where normally processions would take place cities and villages throughout the world where the blessed sacrament would be displayed in a monstrance. Our painting shows such a procession, this one taking place through the wheat fields of Artois, France. We see people genuflecting; children carrying a four pole baldacchino; village officials praying, etc…
In 1551, the Council of Trent described the Feast of Corpus Christi as a 'triumph over heresy'. They meant by this that when Catholics celebrated this day, they affirmed their belief in the doctrine of transubstantiation of bread and wine into the actual body and blood of Christ during Mass. It was thus seen as a true celebration of the core Catholic belief over those heretics who denied that the consecrated host became the real body of Christ during the Mass.
The Anima Christi Prayer:
Soul of Christ, sanctify me.
Body of Christ, save me.
Blood of Christ, inebriate me.
Water from the side of Christ, wash me.
Passion of Christ, strengthen me.
O good Jesus, hear me.
Within your wounds, hide me.
Let me never be separated from you.
From the malignant enemy, defend me.
In the hour of my death, call me,
And bid me come to you,
That with your saints I may praise you
Forever and ever. Amen.
— attributed to Saint Ignatius of Loyola (1491–1556)
by Patrick van der Vorst | | |
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