Corpus Christi

A reading from the Papal Bull “Transiturus” of
POPE URBAN IV 1
◊◊◊
Bishop Urban, servant of the servants of God, to the venerable brothers,
Patriarchs, Archbishops, Bishops, and other prelates of the Church, health and
the apostolic blessing. About to pass from this world to the Father, our Saviour
the Lord Jesus Christ, since the time of his Passion was at hand, instituted the
great and wonderful Sacrament of his Body and Blood, bestowing his Body as
food and his Blood as drink. For, as often as we eat this bread and drink this
cup, we announce the death of the Lord.
Indeed, at the institution of this Sacrament, he himself said to the
Apostles: Do this in memory of me: so that for us the special and outstanding
memorial of his love would be this venerable Sacrament; a memorial in which
we attain the corporeal Presence of the Saviour himself.
Other things which we remember we embrace spiritually and mentally:
we do not thereby obtain their real presence. However, in this sacramental
commemoration, Jesus Christ is present with us in his proper substance,
although under another form. As he was about to ascend into heaven, he said to
the Apostles and their helpers, I will be with you all days even unto the
consummation of the world.
He comforted them with a gracious promise that he would remain and
would be with them even by his corporeal presence. Therefore he gave himself
as nourishment, so that, since man fell by means of the food of the death-giving
tree; man is raised up by means of the food of the life-giving tree. Eating
wounded us, and eating healed us. Thus the Saviour says, My Flesh is real food.

This bread is taken but truly not consumed, because it is not transformed into
the eater. Rather, if it is worthily received, the recipient is conformed to it.
We should celebrate continuously the memory of this memorial, because
the more frequently his gift and favor are looked upon, so much the more firmly
are they kept in memory. Therefore, although this memorial Sacrament is
frequented in the daily solemnities of the Mass, we nevertheless think suitable
and worthy that, at least once a year – especially to confound the lack of faith
and the infamy of heretics – a more solemn and honorable memory of this
Sacrament be held. This is so because on Holy Thursday, the day on which the
Lord himself instituted this Sacrament, the universal Church, occupied with the
reconciliation of penitents, blessing the chrism, fulfilling the Commandments
about the washing of the feet and many other such things, is not sufficiently free
to celebrate so great a Sacrament.
Moreover we know that, while we were constituted in a lesser office, it was
divinely revealed to certain Catholics that a feast of this kind should be
celebrated generally throughout the Church. Therefore, to strengthen and exalt
the Catholic Faith, we decree that, besides the daily memory that the Church
makes of this Sacrament, there be celebrated a more solemn and special annual
memorial. Then let the hearts and mouths of all break forth in hymns of saving
joy; then let faith sing, hope dance, charity exult, devotion applaud, the choir be
jubilant, and purity delight. Then let each one with willing spirit and prompt
will come together, laudably fulfilling his duties, celebrating the Solemnity of so
great a Feast.

1
Pope Urban IV, The Bull Transiturus; tr. O’Connor (1988) from The Hidden Manna