The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1933-06-15
SPECIAL SERVICE
HERE ON SUNDAY
AT ST. MARY'S
CORPUS CHRISTI PROCESSION
TO BE CONDUCTED; SER
MON TO BE DELIVERED AT
$3.50 IN EVENING
COMMUNICATED

Corpus Christi celebrations rise
from the heart of the Middle
Ages, that period of faith that
was filled with the mingled joy of
earth and heaven and the strong
joy of the living: The Medic
val Church which had seen kings
and emperors enter their cities
with all the pomp which soldiery
in gilded armor and flaming Ian
ces and the blare of trumpets and
the merry shouts of the gaily
dressed crowds could fling about
them, longed to give some such
demonstration of its affection for
the King of Kings, who dwelt
among men on our affairs. Sc
Catholic England, France, Spain,
Italy and all cultured Europe
greeted Christ in triumphal pro
cession on Corpus Christi.
The Eucharist has always been
the central fact of Catholic wOr-
ship. 1t is the soul of the church.
From the beginning, it was just
the continued presence of Christ
in their midst which made one OF
the great differences between the
Christian Church and the rejected
Synagogue.
Then, as now, it is the Mass
that distinguishes between Cath
Ollie and non-Catholic religion.
The Real Presence in the Catholic
Church and the Real Absence in
the non-Catholic Church is that
which turns man away from Him.
That is a hard saying, His flesh
to eat and His blood to drink"
And who can hear it?-St. John
C.VI. They could not understand
so they would not believe, so they
deserted Him. History repeats
itself.
A Christ of the miracles they
could follow and understand. A
Christ speaking His beatitudes
they they could admire and &C
cept. A Christ healing then
sick, helping their poor, cOnsoline
the sorrowful, Christ preaching
a doctrine of mercy mad saliva
ton, suffering and dying on the
cross in atonement for this sins
they could embrace. But a Chris
promising the Eucharist ant
speaking OF the bread that was tt
be His Flesh for the life of the
world. they simply refused t.
credit. He was asking too mucl
of their faith and fellowship ant
| they turned away from Him anC
walked no more with Him. st
John c. vi. Christ's reply t.
them: UNLESS you eat my Flest
and drink My Blood, you shall no
have life in you St. John c
CIV. Sd. Christ knew that the
Blessed Sacrament was test o
faith and fellowship that many o
His own Disciples would fail t.
pass. Yet He loved His fellow
ship we'll enough to promise then
the Gift of Gifts. in spite of thei1
incredulity. St. John c. vi.
Christ promised the Eucharist il
John c. vi. and Christ fulfilled
His promise the night of the Las
Supper, because whatever Cos
promises He fulfills. Matt. 1926
%; Cor. II. 26l. 1t simply come
down to this: If we believe every
thing else but that-our member
ship in church will not save us
John c. WV. Sd.
Christians today often read tht
Scriptures until they come TO tn,
promise and the institution of th'
Holy Eucharist and then turf
away incredulously. They will no
believe in those clear and eviden
words. nor in the wisdom or in
finite love for such a miracle
They refuse to believe Christ. Hi
| Apostles, st, Paul, the Acts of tn,
/ Apostles the history of His Churcl
| for 1900 years. Do you wonde
at the difference between tn
! Catholic and non-Catholic church
! es? In the Catholic church Their,
is one faith. one baptism. one folt
! under one Shepherd. Unity. Au
+. thoritv. Apostolicity. Universally
| Look at the other churches. 2I0 IL
all, no unity of belief, no on,
BAPTISM. no authority no shepherd
teaching contradiction, conflict
ing doctrines that drive the PEG
PIE Ia confusion, doubt To despai
Of all religion. Why? God didn'
make them and God didn't prom
ise 20 be with them.
! All are invited 10 hear the dis
! course on the Blessed Sacramen
NJ $50 p M, Sunday followed b!
the procession to the Grotto whcr,
blessing viii be given before re
turning to the church for the fina
beuediction.