CORPUS CHRISTI NOVENA May 28, 2021-June 5, 2021

The Feast of Corpus Christi, also known as the of the Most Holy Body and , celebrates the Real Presence of in the . The Eucharist is truly and fully the Body, Blood, Soul, and Divinity of Jesus given to us every time is offered in our churches. The Feast of Corpus Christi invites us to give thanks to God for the gift of the abiding presence of Jesus in the Eucharist and to deepen our faith and love for Him. On the fiftieth anniversary of his priestly ordination, St. John Paul II observed: “There can be no Eucharist without the priesthood, just as there can be no priesthood without the Eucharist.” ( John Paul II, Gift and Mystery. On the Fiftieth Anniversary of My Priestly Ordination, New York, 1996, pp.77-78). As we approach the Feast of Corpus Christi, let us pray for the priests of the of Orange. With profound gratitude for the sacred Body and Blood of our Lord Jesus Christ, we pray for our priests who make Jesus present in the Eucharist and give thanks for their vocation, their sacrifice, and their availability to the People of God. Special thanks to Kathleen Beckman for creating this novena.

OPENING PRAYER EACH DAY CLOSING PRAYER EACH DAY Gracious and loving God, we thank you for the gift of our priests. Through them, we experience your presence in the sacraments. Help our priests to be strong in their vocation. Lord, we thank you and ask you to Set their souls on fire with love for your people. Grant them the wisdom, understanding, bless today the priests of the Diocese and strength they need to follow in the footsteps of Jesus. Inspire them with the vision of your Kingdom. Give them the words they need to spread the . Allow them to of Orange, especially: experience joy in their ministry. Help them to become instruments of your divine grace. We (Names of Priests) ask this through Jesus Christ, who lives and reigns as our Eternal Priest. Amen. (Courtesy of USCCB.org) M a y 2 8 t h Your fathers ate the manna in the M a y 3 1 s t This is My Body. This … is the New J u n e 3 r d He who eats my flesh and drinks wilderness, and they died. This is the bread Covenant in My Blood. Do this in remembrance my blood abides in me, and I in him. which comes down from heaven, that a man (Jn. 6:56) may eat of it and not die. (Jn. 6:49-50) of Me. (cf. 1 Cor. 11:24-25) Lord Jesus, you instituted the sacrament of Lord Jesus, the Eucharist reveals your desire Lord Jesus, you graciously feed us the the Eucharist and the Priesthood as a to abide with us always. With gratitude, we sacrament of your Body and Blood through pray for the priests who accompany us on the consecrated hands of your ministerial necessary covenant of divine love. With our earthly pilgrimage—that they experience priests. With gratitude, we ardently pray for gratitude, we pray that priests remain faithful the holiness, health, and interior renewal of to their spousal covenant with their Bride, consolation in the Eucharist and peace priests. May our priests seek greater intimacy the Church. through abiding with you. with Christ as they prepare for retreat.

M a y 2 9 t h I am the living bread which came J u n e 4 t h The cup of blessing which we June 1st down from heaven; if anyone eats of this This cup which is poured out for you bless, is it not a participation in the Blood bread, he will live forever; and the bread is the New Covenant in My Blood. (Lk. 22:20) of Christ? The bread which we break, which I shall give for the life of the world is Lord Jesus, you willed to drink the cup of the is it not a participation in the ? Father’s will; you poured yourself out in the My Flesh. (Jn. 6:51) (1 Cor. 10:16) Lord Jesus, at Holy you extend new covenant of your Blood. With gratitude, Lord Jesus, you mercifully ordain our the intimacy of divine love; beckon us to we pray that you strengthen priests to choose participation in the covenant of your Body eternal life. We pray for increased faith, the Father’s will over all else. Bless priests and Blood. With gratitude, we pray that the hope, and love for our priests. May the who spend themselves in service to souls. consolation of the Holy Spirit and motherly demands of their ministry inspire priests to receive the joy of the Father as His love of the Virgin Mary, animate and bless beloved sons. priests for their fruitful ministry.

M a y 3 0 t h Unless you eat the Flesh of the J u n e 2 n d While He was at table with them, J u n e 5 t h Blessed are those who are invited Son of man and drink His Blood, you have no He took the bread and blessed, and broke it, to the marriage supper of the Lamb. (Rev. 19:9) life in you; he who eats My Flesh and drinks and gave it to them. (Lk. 24:30) Lord Jesus, from among the faithful you My Blood has eternal life. (Jn. 6:53-54) Lord Jesus, the sacrament of your Body and choose and consecrate men to be priests Lord Jesus, for the sake of love, you humbly Blood is the source and summit of our faith who are configured to the Eternal High remain with us in the . life. With gratitude, we pray for priests to be Priest. With gratitude, for the Eucharist You entrust your priests with the sacred duty of offering the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass. endowed with the virtues of your Sacred and Priesthood we pray that priests receive With gratitude we pray for the protection of Heart that they may be patient ministers and ever deepen their vocation as spiritual priests against sin and evil. of God’s grace. fathers.