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The Origins of Corpus Christi: A Feast for the Body of Christ
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Jun 19, 2025
Corpus Christi is Latin for “The Body of Christ”—and no, we’re not talking about the beach town in Texas (though shoutout to them too).
We’re talking about one of the most beautiful feast days in the Catholic Church, rooted in Eucharistic love, divine visions, and a miracle that changed everything.
Let’s dive into the story behind the Solemnity of Corpus Christi—a feast all about honoring the real, true, actual presence of Jesus Christ in the Eucharist.
It Started with a Vision
The origins of this feast begin in the heart of a quiet, holy woman: St. Juliana of Liège, a 13th-century Augustinian nun in Belgium. She had a deep love for Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament and spent hours in Eucharistic adoration.
Over the years, St. Juliana received several visions of Jesus, who asked her to advocate for a new feast—one dedicated solely to His Body and Blood in the Eucharist. The Church already had Holy Thursday, but Jesus wanted more: a day of adoration and celebration focused entirely on His real presence in the Sacrament of the Altar.
At first, Juliana kept it to herself. She didn’t want attention or drama—but Jesus was persistent. Eventually, she confided in trusted spiritual advisors, including a priest named Fr. John of Lausanne, and word of her visions began to spread through the Diocese of Liège.
From Vision to Vatican
Among the people who took Juliana’s revelations seriously was the Archdeacon of Liège, Jacques Pantaleon of Troyes. Spoiler alert: He would eventually become Pope Urban IV.
Clearly, God had a plan.
Not long after, in 1263, something extraordinary happened that sealed the deal: a Eucharistic miracle occurred in the small Italian town of Bolsena. A priest named Fr. Peter of Prague, struggling with doubts about the real presence of Jesus in the Eucharist, witnessed blood pouring from the Host as he consecrated it at Mass. The linen cloth on the altar was soaked.
Word reached Pope Urban IV, who immediately investigated. The miracle was verified—and you can still see the relic today at the Cathedral of Orvieto.
With Juliana’s visions and the miracle at Bolsena fresh in mind, Pope Urban IV declared the Feast of Corpus Christi a universal solemnity in 1264.
Why This Feast Matters
In his decree, Transiturus de hoc mundo, Pope Urban IV explained the need for a special day to honor the Eucharist:
“Although the Eucharist is celebrated solemnly every day, we deem it fitting that at least once a year it be celebrated with greater honor and a solemn commemoration... In this sacramental commemoration of Christ... Jesus Christ is present with us in his own substance.”
Translation: The Eucharist isn’t just a symbol or a memory. It’s JESUS. Fully present. Body, Blood, Soul, and Divinity.
And we need a feast—a big, joyful one—to honor that.
Why It Still Matters Today
Whether you’re at Mass every Sunday, trying to make it more regularly, or haven’t been in a while—Corpus Christi invites you to come back to the Source. In a world that’s loud, demanding, and often exhausting, Jesus comes to us in the simplest way: He just shows up. Quiet. Humble. Hidden in the Host.
He doesn’t post about it. He doesn’t make noise. He just is—waiting in every tabernacle, chapel, and monstrance, longing for you to come and be with Him.
Because that’s what we all really crave: Presence. Connection. Comfort. Rest.
And the Eucharist gives us all of that and more.
What You Can Do
If you’ve never really celebrated Corpus Christi before, or maybe it’s been a while, we want to invite you to make this year special:
Attend Mass on the Solemnity of Corpus Christi (Thursday or the Sunday after Trinity Sunday)
Join a Eucharistic procession if your parish hosts one (they’re beautiful!)
Spend time in adoration—even just 10 minutes can change your day
Pray for a deeper belief in the real presence of Jesus in the Eucharist
And if your parish is on the Tabella App, check for Eucharistic adoration times. If it’s not yet, tell your priest about us!
A Final Thought
St. Juliana’s vision. A miracle in Italy. A pope with a heart on fire for the Eucharist.
All of this so that you could fall more deeply in love with the Body of Christ.
So go. Be with Him. Receive Him. Worship Him.
And let the quiet power of His presence transform your heart.
Happy Feast of Corpus Christi. May Jesus in the Eucharist bless you abundantly.
