Fr. Jim O’Donnell, Cleveland Corpus Christi presenter, shared a prayer by Carlo Carreta (see below).

Corpus Christi Celebrations Promote
Reflection, Healing and Education

At least 34 Corpus Christi celebrations involving over 3000 people were held all over the U.S. and Canada in late May and early June. Many parishes distributed green ribbons and used FutureChurch’s special Phoenix prayer for hope and healing of a wounded church. Large celebrations in Cleveland and Indianapolis featured a potluck and presentations by experts on Eucharist and the challenges we face because of the priest shortage now made worse by clergy sexual abuse. Some parishioners incorporated Corpus Christi resources in special Masses on Holy Thursday, Pentecost and Corpus Christi itself. The new Iowa CTA chapter in Ames attracted nearly 100 people to honor Sisters Dorothy and Gwen Hennessey , recently released from prison for protesting the School of the Americas.

 

At the CTA Iowa Corpus Christi celebration, Dorothy and Gwen Hennessey reflect on their imprisonment for witnessing to close the School of The Americas. The two are blood sisters as well as sisters in religion.

Prayer:

How much I must criticize you, my church and yet how much I love you!
You have made me suffer more than anyone and yet I owe more to you than anyone.
I should like to see you destroyed and yet I need your presence.
You have given me much scandal and yet you alone have made me understand holiness.
Never in this world have I seen anything more compromised, more false, yet never have I touched anything more pure, more generous, or more beautiful.
Countless times I have felt like slamming the door of my soul in your face -- and yet, every night, I have prayed that I might die in your sure arms!
No, I cannot be free of you, for I am one with you, even if not completely you.
Then too ---where would I go?
To build another church?
But I could not build one without the same defects,
for they are my defects.
And again, if I were to build another church,
it would be my church, not Christ’s church.
No. I am old enough. I know better!

Gary Pritts, Barbara Ballenger and Stephanie Pritts, reflect and discuss at Cleveland Corpus Christi celebration, one of 34 held around the U.S.

(Carlo Carretto: I Sought and I Found)