The feast of Corpus Christi is still marked in different parts of Ireland, with Eucharistic outdoor processions taking place. The biggest one takes place in Cork, with thousands walking in procession at 3pm.

Thought on Sunday – June – 02/06/2013

The following reflection is by Triona Doherty called This Is My Body’

The human body can be a fragile thing. I recently came across the TV series Great Ormond Street, which followed the stories of a number of very sick children and the doctors who treat them in London’s children’s hospital. It was harrowing to watch the things these children go through. Some of them have spent the majority of their young lives in hospital and have never known a life without pain and suffering. Many of us also know people who are sick or suffering and it can be hard to make sense of it all. In April this year, Kerry teenager Donal Walsh spoke out about his battle with terminal cancer, and made a powerful plea to those considering suicide to think differently about their lives. He believed that his life, while short, could be a sign of hope for others.
‘Please, as a 16-year-old who has no say in his death sentence, who has no choice in the pain he is about to cause and who would take any chance at even a few more months on this planet: appreciate what you have, know that there are always other options,’ was his plea.

On this feast of Corpus Christi, we recall how Jesus took bread and gave it to his disciples, saying ‘This is my body’. He gave his own body over to suffering and death, for us. Our own bodies may be weak, but Jesus is with us in our frailty, united with us in our suffering. Let us bring our brokenness into the presence of Christ today