Cardinal Francis Leo leads Corpus Christi at St. Michael’s, Toronto, with a Mass and procession, celebrating Christ’s real presence in the Eucharist. Here some excerpts of his homily.
Newsdesk (June 22, 2025, 17:06) gaudiumpress – On a radiant Sunday afternoon, St. Michael’s Cathedral Basilica in Toronto became a spiritual beacon as hundreds of Catholics gathered for the Solemnity of the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ, known as Corpus Christi. The noon Mass, presided over by His Eminence Cardinal Francis Leo, was followed by a vibrant Eucharistic procession through the city streets, a public testament to the Catholic belief in the real presence of Jesus Christ in the Eucharist. Cardinal Leo’s sermon, rich with theological depth and pastoral warmth, inspired the faithful to deepen their devotion to the Blessed Sacrament.
A Timeless Feast Rooted in History
The Feast of Corpus Christi, meaning “Body of Christ” in Latin, traces its origins to the 13th century, inspired by St. Juliana of Liège, whose devotion to the Eucharist led to its establishment as a universal feast by Pope Urban IV in 1264. The Pope commissioned St. Thomas Aquinas to compose hymns for the liturgy, and at St. Michael’s, the cathedral choir filled the air with these timeless works—Lauda Sion, Pange Lingua, and Tantum Ergo. “These hymns, sung for over 700 years, draw us into the mystery of Christ’s presence,” Cardinal Leo said, setting the tone for a celebration that united ancient tradition with modern faith. These hymns were sung as the procession wounds its way around the streets of Toronto.
The Heart of the Eucharist
In his sermon, Cardinal Leo emphasized the centrality of the Eucharist in Catholic life. “For 2,000 years, since Jesus said at the Last Supper, ‘Do this in memory of me,’ we have celebrated the Mass,” he declared. “But Corpus Christi invites us to pause and adore Jesus, truly present in the consecrated host and wine.” Quoting the Catechism, he affirmed that “in the Most Blessed Sacrament, the Body and Blood, together with the Soul and Divinity of our Lord Jesus Christ, are truly, really, and substantially present.” This presence, he clarified, is not symbolic but real, distinguishing the Eucharist from mere signs like the Passover lamb or a highway exit marker, which point to another reality.
Drawing on scripture, Cardinal Leo connected the day’s readings to the Eucharistic mystery. The first reading from Genesis 14:18 recalled Melchizedek’s offering of bread and wine, a foreshadowing of Christ’s sacrifice. The Gospel from Luke 9, recounting the feeding of the 5,000, prefigured the Eucharist, where Jesus nourishes humanity with His Body and Blood. “Every Mass, whether in this cathedral, a chapel, or a hospital room, is a miracle,” the Cardinal said. “When the priest says, ‘This is my Body, this is my Blood,’ Jesus becomes present under the appearances of bread and wine.”
The Miracle of Transubstantiation
Cardinal Leo explained the doctrine of transubstantiation, where the substance of bread and wine transforms into Christ’s Body and Blood while retaining their appearances. “Think of a haircut or new clothes—they change how you look, but not who you are,” he said. “In the Eucharist, the opposite happens: the appearances remain, but the reality becomes Jesus Himself.” He referenced the 8th-century miracle of Lanciano, Italy, where a host visibly turned to flesh and wine to blood, a sign still venerated today. “Such miracles confirm our faith, but the greatest miracle is the Eucharist itself, happening before our eyes at every Mass. Why, then, are our churches not overflowing?”
A Covenant Restored
His Eminence framed the Eucharist as God’s response to humanity’s fall. “In Eden, eating the forbidden fruit broke our communion with God, introducing suffering and death,” he said. “But God’s plan, disrupted by eating, is restored by eating. The cross replaces the forbidden tree, and the Eucharist—Christ’s Body and Blood—becomes the medicine that heals us, the antidote to sin, the nourishment from heaven.” Quoting the Catechism, he added, “By the Eucharistic celebration, we unite ourselves with the heavenly liturgy and anticipate eternal life.” At every Mass, he noted, the veil between heaven and earth parts, offering a glimpse of God’s glory.
A Call to Eucharistic Living
Cardinal Leo urged the faithful to become “Eucharistic men and women.” “Love Jesus in the Eucharist, visit Him in adoration, receive Him with a pure heart, and share His truth with others,” he exhorted. “Like Jesus feeding the 5,000, nourish those around you with faith and love.” He invoked St. Paul’s words in 1 Corinthians 11, emphasizing the apostolic tradition of the Eucharist, handed down from Christ Himself. “Jesus is present in His Word, in the assembly, in the priest acting in persona Christi, but most profoundly in the Eucharist,” he said.
A Procession of Faith
Cardinal Leo then explained the purpose of the Eucharistic procession through Toronto’s downtown, with the Blessed Sacrament carried under a golden canopy. The faithful, singing Aquinas’ hymns, their prayers and incense rising into the summer air. “This procession is a public blessing for our city,” the Cardinal said, echoing Pope Benedict XVI’s 2005 Corpus Christi homily: “We bring Christ, present under the sign of bread, onto the streets. May our streets be streets of Jesus, may our homes be homes for Him.”
- Raju Hasmukh
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