THE MOST HOLY BODY AND BLOOD OF CHRIST C Lectionary #169
This solemnity was developed in the thirteenth century to promote belief in the full and true presence of Christ in the Eucharist. First celebrated in 1247 in Liège, it was mandated as part of the Roman Catholic calendar in 1264. From the fourteenth century on, the most conspicuous part of the celebration was a procession with the Blessed Sacrament.
Readings of the C Cycle focus on prequels to the Eucharist: the offering of bread and wine by Melchizedek (remembered in Eucharistic Prayer I: The Roman Canon) and the feeding of the multitude.
Genesis 14:18–20. Abraham's meeting with the king of Sodom , war-chief of the five armies that Abraham has just defeated, is interrupted by Melchizedek, king of (Jeru) Salem , who presents a feast to the mighty victor. Christian tradition has suggested that Christ's priesthood is related to Melchizedek (see the psalm), since he did not come from the priestly tribe of Levi.
Psalm of the Day: Ps (109) 110
This is a prophetic psalm, acclaming in God's name that the king inherits the right to Jerusalem (including the priesthood of Melchizedek) and that he will be victorious in battle and a just ruler. (The second prophecy is not used today.)
Tú Eres Sacerdote para Siempre (Montgomery) FYC 252/Una Voz 232
You Are a Priest For Ever (Alstott) JS 88
You Are a Priest For Ever (Armstrong/Somerville) CBW 113
You Are a Priest For Ever (Batastini/Gelineau) RS 148
You Are a Priest For Ever (Guimont) GC 103/PMB 642/WS 158/PRM C69/LPMG 169
You Are a Priest For Ever (Schiavone) JS 947/LP 91
You Are a Priest For Ever (Schiaonve/Gelineau) WOR 864/LLPGG 869
1 Corinthians 11:23–16. Paul's summary of the words of institution is followed by a text that has become one of the memorial acclamations. This reading is also used on Holy Thursday.
Sequence: Lauda Sion. The sequence is optional for this solemnity. If used, in whole or in part—the Lectionary points out a shorter form for it—it would be sung before the Alleluia, and the Gospel Book could be carried in an extended procession (to balance the procession with the Sacrament later, if the parish is going to do that).
Contemplate the Bread of Angels (shorter form) BFW 207
Laud, O Zion (shorter form, DeBruyn) JS 473
Praise, O Zion , Voices Raising WC 641/PMB 319
Luke 9:11b–17. Luke's account of the feeding of the multitude suggests, as do the other accounts, that the overwhelming bounty of the reign of God is breaking into the world through Jesus' ministry. There are even twelve wicker baskets of leftovers!
Songs for the Liturgy
All Who Hunger (G) GC 820/RS 845, 926
Alleluia! Sing to Jesus (1,Ps) WOR 737/WC 707/CBW 426/GP 419/LMGM 67/RS 914/GC 853/JS 477/MI-BB/PMB 352/WS 496
Amén. El Cuerpo de Cristo (2) JS 824/MI-BB
Bless the Feast (G) GP 532/MI-BB
Blest Are You (1,2,G) RS 702/GC 588
Bread for the World (G) GP 528/GC 827/MI-BB/JS 810
Bread of Life -- Farrell MI-BB/JS 819/GP 498/CBW 597
Called to This Table (2) WC 630
Christians, Let Us Love One Another, v 3 (2) MI-BB/JS 751/CBW 595/GP 646
Come, Taste and See (G) GP 526/JS 818/MI-BB
*Do This in Remembrance of Me (2) WC 647
Draw Near and Take the Body of the Lord (2) WOR 732/BB/WC 632/JS 472/PMB 293/WS 437
Draw Us in the Spirit's Tether (2) WOR 731/RS 917/JS 797/MI-BB
Eat This Bread (G) WOR 734/GC 838/MI-BB/LMGM 130/WC 617/RS 928/CBW 602/WS 452
Eucharistic Litany (G) WC 615/PMB 310/WS 465
Gather Us In (G) WOR 665/GC 744/WC 860/MI-BB/RS 850/CBW 587/WS 617
Gift of Finest Wheat (G) WOR 736/CBW 603/MI-BB/LMGM 136/GP 525/WC 634/JS 803/RS 912/GC 815/PMB 300/WS 446
Here at This Table (G) JS 807/MI-BB
I Come with Joy to Meet My Lord (2) WOR 726/CBW 424/WC 855/RS 854/GC 806/PMB 320/WS 464
In Christ There Is a Table Set for All (G) RS 916/GC 749
Let the Hungry Come to Me (2,G) WC 633
*Let Us Be Bread, v 3 (G) GC 816/RS 929
Let Us Break Bread Together (2) WOR 727/GP 505/LMGM 135/WC 649/JS 806/RS 911/GC 832/MI-BB/PMB 313/WS 439
Life-Giving Bread, Saving Cup (2) GC 822/RS 920
*Litany for the Holy Eucharist (2,G) WC 976
Make of Our Hands a Throne (G) PMB 302/WS 438
Now We Remain (2) GC 694/WC 642/MI-BB/RS 813/WS 457
*O Blessed Savior (2,G) WC 637/PMB 308
O, How I Long to See (2) GP 306
*O Living Bread from Heaven, v 2 (G) WC 975, 981/PMB 546
O Taste and See (G) CBW 414,415/GC 835/RS 923
*Our Blessing Cup -- Joncas, v 3 (2) GP 184/MI-BB/JS 91
Our Daily Bread (G) CBW 600
Priestly People (1,2,G) WC 750/PMB 383/WS 524
*Remember Me (2) WC 643/PMB 304
Seed, Scattered and Sown, v 1 (2) GC 834/JS 811/MI-BB/RS 918/GP 516/CBW 604
Shepherd of Souls, in Love, v 4 (G) WC 645/PMB 307
*Song of the Lord's Supper (2) GC 412
Table of Plenty (G) GP 530/JS 793/MI-BB
*Table Song, v 1 (2) GC 849
*Take and Eat (2) GC 831/WC 651/RS 910/CBW 611/WS 460
*Take and Eat This Bread (2) GC 842
Take the Bread, Children (2) RS 925
Taste and See (G) LMGM 129/GC 47, 814, 837/WOR 36/MI-BB/GP 199, 200/WC 383, 384, 654/JS 37, 38, 39. 40, 821/RS 69, 70, 71, 72, 73/CBW 610/WS 292, 455/PMB 148
The God of Abraham Praise (1) WOR 537/JS 602/RS 685/GC 544/MI-BB
The Hand of the Lord Feeds Us (G) WS 448/JS 110/MI-BB
*The Living Bread of God (2) GC 826
The Song of the Supper (2) GC 845
This Holy Covenant Was Made (2) RS 621
*This Body (2) JS 812
*This Is My Body (2) WC 625/PMB 318/WS 450
Ven al Banquete/Come to the Feast (G) JS 795/MI-BB
We Come to Your Feast (G) GC 850
We Give You Thanks (2) LMGM 140
*When We Eat This Bread (2) MI-BB/JS 823/GP 510
Wisdom = s Feast (1,G) WC 620/PMB 298/WS 436
You Are Our Living Bread (2,G) GP 523/MI-BB/GC 819
Songs for Eucharistic Procession and Exposition
Many communities have an outdoor procession and/or a period of Eucharistic exposition as part of their observance of today's feast. Many of the songs listed above could appropriately be sung for such a service.
The following songs, which focus on adoration of Christ in the Eucharistic elements, are not suitable during the celebration of Mass but are very appropriate for a Eucharistic procession. These songs may also be used at the beginning or end of a period of exposition.
Adoro Te Devote (Latin/English) WOR 489/WC 977/PMB 540/JS 858
Jesus, My Lord, My God, My All WOR 488/GC 480/WC 973/PMB 547
Let All Mortal Flesh Keep Silence WOR 523/JS 611/CBW 596/WC 646/RS 658/GC 540/GP 694/PMB 306/BB
O Lord with Wondrous Mystery WC 638/PMB 309
Pange Lingua (Latin/English) WOR 813/WC 535/CBW 68/JS 404, 405, 406/BB/RS 972/GC 407/GP 366/PMB 600/WS 391
O Sacrament Most Holy WC 979/PMB 544/WS 691/JS 856
O Salutaris Hostia (Latin/English) WOR 757/JS 140/CBW 689/LMGM 81/WC 228/RS 962/GC 887/GP 497/PMB 44/MI-BB/WS 43
Tantum Ergo (Latin/English) WOR 758/CBW 68, 688/LMGM 82/JS 141/WC 230/RS 963/GC 888/GP 366/PMB 45/BB/WS 44