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Good evening, Ave Maria

A speedy question… Since Christ arose in a glorious body and the Holy Mass is not the Sacrifice of the crucifixion that happens again, but a bloodless memorial with the real Body and Blood, I wonder if Christ suffers in His limbs when the Eucharist is desecrated during a black Mass or even if it just falls on the floor and/or is trampled on… Since it is blessed, is His Body also eternal? I infinitely thank you and wish you a happy Sunday.

Marco

Priest’s answer

Dear Marco,

1.since Christ arose from death and His Body is glorious, during the Mass He doesn’t suffer if His Body is desecrated. He already suffered and atoned for this desecration because He had it very present during His whole life and especially during the passion and death. This by virtue of His most perfect knowledge, for that He had individually in His mind all the people and the incidents of this world’s life.

2. Saint Thomas says that during the last supper the body of Christ was liable to suffer in Itself (subjected to suffering) was under the sacramental species insensitively, that is to say not subjected to suffering, the same way as in the sacramental species was invisible while in Itself was visible.

Then he explains: “For as sight requires that the body seen be in contact with the adjacent medium of sight, so does passion require contact of the suffering body with the active agents. But Christ’s body, according as it is under the sacrament is not compared with its surroundings through the intermediary of its own dimensions, whereby bodies touch each other, but through the dimensions of the bread and wine; consequently, it is those species which are acted upon and are seen, but not Christ’s own body” (Summa Theologiae, III, 81, 3; https://aquinas101.thomisticinstitute.org).

3. Therefore he then writes: “Hence some have composed this verse: “Our Lord can grieve beneath the sacramental veils But cannot feel the piercing of the thorns and nails.” (Summa Theologiae, III, 81, 4; https://aquinas101.thomisticinstitute.org). His pain with all its credit is bloodlessly present in the eucharistic celebration.

4. Nevertheless whoever desecrates the Eucharist commits a massive sacrilege. It’s one of those five sins that can be removed only from the Holy See, resorting to the Apostolic Penitentiary.

I bless you, wish you the best for the upcoming Christmas and remember you in my prayer.

Father Angelo