WE WERE in Genzano amid the Alban hills not far from Rome. It is a little town of poets and wine and legends old as human history. For the sacred feast of Corpus Christi each ancient street was thickset with majestic carpets of multicoloured flowers. "What tedious work this has involved?" I mummured. The women and the men smiled at me with the gracious indulgence granted to a slow learning child. "No tiresome toil, but privilege and joy. It is the holy feast of the Body of the Lord!" Without ponderous words or much worn cliche they spoke in familiar love of the Eucharist, our saving food to nourish us on the pilgrim road but once traversed. Young Gabriella added with a smile to help me understand. "No traveller returns! Not ever!" I felt for a fleeting hour as if I walked in Galilee and listened to Christ's promise of the Bread of Life.
North of Rome in Orvieto, a larger hill town of surpassing beauty, the great Dominican scholar saint Thomas Aquinas prepared for us translucent hymns of Eucharist. These songs of joy now sung across the glove have like fragrant breezes' wafted down the vanished centuries and across the seven seas. Who can hear, or even now recall, the words and melody of Laitda Sion, Adore To Devote or O Salutaris Hostia ... and not be moved to repentance, to amendment, and to renewed fidelity in holiness and in hope. We join the human family in the ceaseless search for God.
Come then, Good Shepherd!
Bread Divine!
Still show to us this mercy sign.
O feed us still! Still keep us
Thine!
And may we see Thy glories shine.
In home of immortality.
Oh Thou, the wisest, mightiest best!
Our pilgrim food our future rest.
Come make each one Thy chosen guest.
True heirs of Thine, companions blest,
With Saints who live in joy with thee
Dare we eat this food from heaven and allow the hungry go unfed or see Christ's little ones left naked, cold and homeless?
Across the world the central mystery of faith is celebrated with heart healing joy. We approach the sacred meal in which Christ is received, the memory of Calvary is renewed, our weak and fickle hearts are filled with grace, and a most firm pledge is given of lasting life to come. It was in the power of this mystery that Augustine came to Canterbury when Tiber flowed to Thames. Columcille left his beloved Derry of the oaks to carry this saving truth to all. Without the Eucharist we sicken and we die. In its power we are healed and walk, in light, towards freedom and full life. Today we join fragrant Genzano, majestic Orvieto, and the Christian world of Prayer of Love.
Stay with us Lord Jesus as evening falls,
Be our companion on the pilgrim way.
In your mercy inflame our hearts and raise our hopes,
So that, in union with all your faithful people,
We may recognise you in the
Scripture,
And in the breaking of the
Bread.
May the Lord grant us a quiet night and a perfect end
Through Christ our Lord.
Amen. Alleluis.