Today’s Angelus, translation courtesy of Teresa Benedetta at the Papa Ratzinger Forum:

Dear brothers and sisters!

Today the solemnity of Corpus Domini is celebrated in Italy and other countries. In Rome, the high point of Corpus Domini was observed during the procession last Thursday.

Corpus Domini is the solemn public feast of the Eucharist, the sacrament of the Body and Blood of Christ – the mystery instituted at the Last Supper and commemorated every year on Maundy Thursday. But on this day it is shown to everyone, surrounded by the fervor of faith and the devotion of the whole community.

The Eucharist constitutes the “treasure” of the Church, the precious legacy which the Lord has left it. And the Church keeps it with the greatest care, celebrating it daily in the Holy Mass, adoring it in churches and chapels, distributing it to the sick, and as viaticum, to those who are leaving on their last voyage.

But this treasure, which is destined for the baptized, does not exeert its action in the environment of the Church alone. The Eucharist is the Lord Jesus who gives Himself “for the life of the world” (Jn 6,51). In every time and in every place, He desires to encounter man and bring him life from God.

But not only that. The Eucharist has a cosmic value: the transformation of bread and wine into the Body and Blood of Christ constitutes the principle of divinization of creation itself. That is why the feast of Corpus Domini is characterized particularly by the tradition of carrying the Most Blessed Sacrament in procession, an act that is rich in significance.

By carrying the Sacrament in the streets and in the squares, we wish to immerse the Bread that descended from heaven in the daily routine of our life. We want Jesus to walk where we walk, to live where we live.

On this day the Christian community proclaims that the Eucharist is for everyone – it is life itself, the spring of life which conquers death. From our communion with Christ the Eucharist, comes that love which transforms our existence and supports our journey towards our heavenly Home.

That is why the liturgy makes us sing: “Good Shepherd, true bread… You who know all and can do all, who nourishes us on earth, lead your brothers to the Heavenly banquest in the glory of your saints.”

Mary is the “lady of the Eucharist”, as John Paul II defined her in his encyclical Ecclesia de Eucaristia. Let us pray to the Virgin that every Christian may deepen his faith in the Eucharistic mystery to live in constant communion with Jesus and be His valid witness.

The Holy Father also made the following announcement:

Next Tuesday, June 20, will be the World Day for Refugees promoted by the United Nations. It is intended to draw the attention of the international community to the conditions of so many people forced to flee their own lands because of grave forms of violence against them.

These brothers and sisters of ours seek refuge in other countries hoping to be able to return to their own land eventually, and to find hospitality where they have sought refuge.

As I assure them that they will be remembered in our prayers and of the constant solicitude of the Holy See, I also hope that the rights of these persons will always be respected and I encourage the church communities to help them in their needs.

Photo from today’s Angelus, courtesy of Catholic Press Photo