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Pope Benedict XVI- General Audiences |
General
Audience
On a Saint of the Feast of Corpus Christi
"Today in the Church There is a 'Eucharistic Springtime'"
H.H. Benedict XVI
November 17, 2010
www.zenit.org
Dear Brothers and Sisters,
This morning, too, I would like to present to you a little-known woman
to whom, however, the Church owes great recognition, not only because of
the holiness of her life, but also because, with her great fervor, she
contributed to the institution of one of the most important liturgical
solemnities of the year, that of Corpus Christi. She is St. Juliana of
Cornillon, known also as St. Juliana of Liege. We have certain details
of her life above all from a biography probably written by an
ecclesiastic contemporary of hers, in which are gathered several
testimonies from people who knew the saint directly.
Juliana was born between 1191 and 1192 in the neighborhood of Liege, in
Belgium. It is important to stress this place, because at that time the
Diocese of Liege was, so to speak, a true "Eucharistic cenacle." Before
Juliana, eminent theologians had illustrated the supreme value of the
sacrament of the Eucharist and, always at Liege, there were women's
groups generously dedicated to Eucharistic worship and to fervent
communion. Led by exemplary priests, they lived together, dedicating
themselves to prayer and to charitable works.
Orphaned at 5 years of age, Juliana and her sister Agnes were entrusted
to the care of the Augustinian nuns of the convent-leper hospital of
Mont Cornillon. She was educated above all by a sister named Sapienza,
who followed her spiritual maturation, until Juliana herself received
the religious habit and became as well an Augustinian nun. She acquired
notable learning, to the point that she read the works of the Fathers of
the Church in Latin, in particular St. Augustine and St. Bernard. In
addition to keen intelligence, Juliana showed from the beginning a
particular propensity for contemplation; she had a profound sense of the
presence of Christ, which she experienced by living in a particularly
intense way the sacrament of the Eucharist and pausing often to meditate
on the words of Jesus: "And lo, I am with you always, to the close of
the age" (Matthew 28:20).
At 16 she had her first vision, which was then repeated many times in
her Eucharistic adorations. The vision showed the moon in its full
splendor, with a dark strip that crossed it diametrically. The Lord made
her understand the meaning of what had appeared to her. The moon
symbolized the life of the Church on earth; but the opaque line
represented the absence of a liturgical feast. Juliana was asked to do
her utmost in an effective way to bring about its institution: a feast,
namely, in which believers would be able to adore the Eucharist to
increase their faith, advance in the practice of virtue and make
reparation for offenses to the Most Holy Sacrament.
For about 20 years Juliana, who in the meantime had become prioress of
the convent, kept secret this revelation, which had filled her heart
with joy. Then she confided in two other fervent adorers of the
Eucharist, Blessed Eva, who led an eremitical life, and Isabella, who
had joined her in the monastery of Mont Cornillon. The three women
established a sort of "spiritual alliance" for the purpose of glorifying
the Most Holy Sacrament. They wished to involve also a much esteemed
priest, John of Lausanne, canon of the church of St. Martin in Liege,
asking him to question theologians and ecclesiastics about what they had
in their hearts. The answers were positive and encouraging.
What happened to Juliana of Cornillon is frequently repeated in the life
of saints: to have the confirmation that an inspiration comes from God,
it is always necessary to be immersed in prayer, to be able to wait with
patience, to seek friendship and encounters with other good souls, and
to subject everything to the judgment of the pastors of the Church. It
was, in fact, the bishop of Liege, Robert of Thourotte, who, after
initial hesitations, took up this proposal from Juliana and her
companions, and instituted, for the first time, the solemnity of Corpus
Domini in his diocese. Later, other bishops imitated him, establishing
the same feast in territories entrusted to their pastoral care.
To saints, however, the Lord often asks that they overcome trials, so
that their faith is enhanced. This happened also to Juliana, who had to
suffer the harsh opposition of some members of the clergy and even of
the superior on whom her monastery depended. Then, of her own volition,
Juliana left the convent of Mont Cornillon with some companions, and for
10 years, from 1248 to 1258, was a guest of several monasteries of
Cistercian Sisters. She edified everyone with her humility; she never
had words of criticism or rebuke for her adversaries, but continued to
spread with zeal Eucharistic worship. She died in 1258 in
Fosses-La-Ville, in Belgium. In the cell where she lay the Most Blessed
Sacrament was exposed and, according to the words of her biographer,
Juliana died contemplating with a last outburst of love the Eucharistic
Jesus, whom she had always loved, honored and adored.
Won over also to the good cause of the feast of Corpus Domini was
Giacomo Pantaleon of Troyes, who had known the saint during his ministry
as archdeacon in Liege. He, in fact, having become Pope in 1264 and
taking the name Urban IV, instituted the solemnity of Corpus Domini as a
feast of obligation for the universal Church, the Thursday after
Pentecost. In the Bull of institution, titled "Transiturus de hoc mundo"
(Aug. 11, 1264), Pope Urban also re-evoked with discretion the mystical
experiences of Juliana, giving value to their authenticity. He wrote:
"Although the Eucharist is celebrated solemnly every day, we hold it
right that, at least once a year, there be a more honored and solemn
memoria of it. The other things, in fact, of which we make memoria, we
do so with the spirit and with the mind, but we do not obtain, because
of this, their real presence. On the other hand, in this sacramental
commemoration of Christ, Jesus Christ is present with us in his
substance, even if under another form. In fact, while he was about to
ascend to heaven he said: "And lo, I am with you always, to the close of
the age" (Matthew 28:20).
The Pontiff himself wished to give an example, celebrating the solemnity
of Corpus Domini in Orvieto, the city where he then dwelled. By his
order, in fact, the famous corporal with the traces of the Eucharistic
miracle that happened the previous year, in 1263, in Bolsena, is the
kept in the cathedral of the city -- and it is still kept there. [The
miracle was this:] While a priest consecrated the bread and the wine, he
was prey to strong doubts about the real presence of the Body and Blood
of Christ in the sacrament of the Eucharist. Miraculously some drops of
blood began to spurt from the consecrated Host, confirming in that way
what our faith professes. Urban IV asked one of the greatest theologians
of history, St. Thomas Aquinas -- who at that time was accompanying the
Pope and was in Orvieto -- to compose texts of the liturgical office for
this great feast. These are masterpieces in which theology and poetry
fuse, still in use today in the Church. They are texts that make the
cords of the heart vibrate to express praise and gratitude to the Most
Holy Sacrament, while the intelligence, penetrating the mystery with
wonder, recognizes in the Eucharist the living and true presence of
Jesus, of his sacrifice of love that reconciles us with the Father, and
gives us salvation.
Even if after the death of Urban IV the celebration of the feast of
Corpus Domini was limited to some regions of France, Germany, Hungary
and northern Italy, it was again a Pontiff, John XXII, who in 1317
revived it for the whole Church. Henceforth the feast experienced a
wonderful development, and is still much appreciated by the Christian
people.
I would like to affirm with joy that today in the Church there is a
"Eucharistic springtime": How many persons pause silently before the
Tabernacle to spend time in a conversation of love with Jesus! It is
consoling to know that not a few groups of young people have
rediscovered the beauty of praying in adoration before the Most Blessed
Sacrament. I am thinking, for example, of our Eucharistic adoration in
Hyde Park, in London.
I pray so that this Eucharistic "springtime" will spread increasingly in
every parish, in particular in Belgium, the homeland of St. Juliana. The
Venerable John Paul II, in the encyclical "Ecclesia de Eucharistia,"
said: "In many places, adoration of the Blessed Sacrament is also an
important daily practice and becomes an inexhaustible source of
holiness. The devout participation of the faithful in the Eucharistic
procession on the Solemnity of the Body and Blood of Christ is a grace
from the Lord which yearly brings joy to those who take part in it.
Other positive signs of Eucharistic faith and love might also be
mentioned" (No. 10).
Remembering St. Juliana of Cornillon we also renew our faith in the real
presence of Christ in the Eucharist. As we are taught by the Compendium
of the Catechism of the Catholic Church, "Jesus Christ is present in the
Eucharist in a unique and incomparable way. He is present in a true,
real and substantial way, with his Body and his Blood, with his Soul and
his Divinity. In the Eucharist, therefore, there is present in a
sacramental way, that is, under the Eucharistic species of bread and
wine, Christ whole and entire, God and Man" (No. 282).
Dear friends, fidelity to the encounter with the Eucharistic Christ in
Sunday's Holy Mass is essential for the journey of faith, but let us try
as well to frequently go to visit the Lord present in the Tabernacle!
Gazing in adoration at the consecrated Host, we discover the gift of the
love of God, we discover the passion and the cross of Jesus, and also
his Resurrection. Precisely through our gazing in adoration, the Lord
draws us to himself, into his mystery, to transform us as he transforms
the bread and wine. The saints always found strength, consolation and
joy in the Eucharistic encounter. With the words of the Eucharistic hymn
"Adoro te devote," let us repeat before the Lord, present in the Most
Blessed Sacrament: "Make me believe ever more in You, that in You I may
have hope, that I may love You!" Thank you.
[Translation by ZENIT]
[The Holy Father then greeted pilgrims in several languages. In English,
he said:]
Dear Brothers and Sisters,
Our catechesis today deals with Saint Juliana of Cornillon, better known
as Saint Juliana of Liege. Born at the end of the twelfth century,
Juliana was orphaned young and became an Augustinian nun. Intelligent
and cultured, she was drawn to contemplative prayer and devotion to the
sacrament of the Eucharist. As the result of a recurring vision, Juliana
worked to promote a liturgical feast in honour of the Eucharist. The
feast of Corpus Christi was first celebrated in the diocese of Liege,
and began to spread from there. Pope Urban IV, who had known Juliana in
Liege, instituted the solemnity of Corpus Christi for the universal
Church and charged Saint Thomas Aquinas with composing the texts of the
liturgical office. The Pope himself celebrated the solemnity in Orvieto,
then the seat of the papal court, where the relic of a celebrated
Eucharistic miracle, which had occurred the previous year, was kept. As
we recall Saint Juliana of Cornillon, let us renew our faith in Christ's
true presence in the Eucharist and pray that the "springtime of the
Eucharist" which we are witnessing in the Church today may bear fruit in
an ever greater devotion to the Sacrament of Christ's Body and Blood.
I extend a warm welcome to the delegation from the International
Catholic Migration Commission. I offer prayerful good wishes to the
Sisters of Notre Dame of Coesfeld meeting in General Chapter. I also
greet the priests from England and Wales celebrating their anniversaries
of ordination. Upon all the English-speaking visitors present at today's
Audience, especially the pilgrim groups from Israel, Nigeria, England
and the United States of America, I invoke God's abundant blessings.
© Copyright 2010 -- Libreria Editrice Vaticana
[The Holy Father continued in Italian:]
Finally, I turn with warm attention to young people, the sick and
newlyweds. You, dear young people, look to Jesus as the center of your
existence, to become builders of a world of genuine peace and solidary
hope; to you, dear sick, who are experiencing weariness and suffering, I
hope that you feel Christ next to you and that you will cooperate with
him for the salvation of the whole world; I exhort you, dear newlyweds,
who recently received in the sacrament of marriage the effusion of the
Spirit of love, to find each day strength and courage in God, to thus
live your vocation in fullness.
[At the end of the greetings, the Holy Father made this appeal:]
In these days, the international community is following with great
concern the difficult situation of Christians in Pakistan, who are often
victims of violence and discrimination. Today I particularly express my
spiritual closeness to Mrs. Asia Bibi and her family, asking that she be
given full liberty as soon as possible. As well, I pray for those who
find themselves in similar situations, so that their human dignity and
fundamental rights be fully respected.
[Translation by ZENIT]
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