Gospel in Art: Solemnity of Corpus Christi

The Blessing of the Wheat in Artois, by Jules Breton, 1857 © Musée d'Orsay, Paris

Source: Christian Art

Gospel of 11 June 2023
John 6:51-58

Jesus said to the crowd: 'I am the living bread which has come down from heaven. Anyone who eats this bread will live for ever; and the bread that I shall give is my flesh, for the life of the world.'

Then the Jews started arguing with one another: 'How can this man give us his flesh to eat?' they said. Jesus replied:

'I tell you most solemnly, if you do not eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you will not have life in you. Anyone who does eat my flesh and drink my blood has eternal life, and I shall raise him up on the last day.

For my flesh is real food and my blood is real drink. He who eats my flesh and drinks my blood lives in me and I live in him. As I, who am sent by the living Father, myself draw life from the Father, so whoever eats me will draw life from me. This is the bread come down from heaven; not like the bread our ancestors ate: they are dead, but anyone who eats this bread will live for ever.'

Reflection on the painting

Today is Corpus Christi Sunday, when we celebrate the Real Presence of the Body and Blood, Soul and Divinity of Jesus Christ in the Eucharist. The feast of Corpus Christi was initially proposed by Saint Thomas Aquinas (1225-1274) to Pope Urban IV (1200-1264), to create a feast focussed solely on the Holy Eucharist. It is also a day when processions, carrying the Blessed Sacrament in a monstrance, will take place in cities and villages throughout the world.

Our painting shows such a procession taking place through the wheat fields of Artois, France. We see people genuflecting; children carrying a four-pole baldacchino; village officials praying. The Blessed Sacrament is carried through the fields to attract heaven's blessings on future harvests. The scene highlights the pastoral Christian life within rural settings. Presented at the 1857 Salon, at the same time as Millet's Gleaners, this enormous painting won Jules Breton a second-prize medal. This, along with the purchase of the work by the state for the Musée du Luxembourg, was a mark of official recognition for the still youthful artist.

In 1551, the Council of Trent described the Feast of Corpus Christi as a 'triumph over heresy'. They meant by this that when Catholics celebrated this day, they affirmed their belief in the doctrine of transubstantiation of bread and wine into the actual Body and Blood of Christ during Mass. It was thus seen as a true celebration of a core Catholic belief over those who denied that the consecrated host became the real Body of Christ during the Mass.

The Anima Christi Prayer:

Soul of Christ, sanctify me.

Body of Christ, save me.

Blood of Christ, inebriate me.

Water from the side of Christ, wash me.

Passion of Christ, strengthen me.

O good Jesus, hear me.

Within your wounds hide me.

Let me never be separated from you.

From the malignant enemy, defend me.

In the hour of my death, call me,

And bid me come to you,

That with your saints I may praise you

Forever and ever. Amen.

- attributed to Saint Ignatius of Loyola (1491-1556)

LINKS

Gospel in Art: https://christian.art/
Today's reflection: https://christian.art/daily-gospel-reading/john-6-51-58-2023/
(click on the above link to see a much larger version of this beautiful painting)