A traditional sand carpet for Corpus Christi is seen outside Holy Name of Jesus Parish in Henderson in May 2022. COURTESY OF SOLORZA FAMILY
Source & Summit: Solemnity of the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ
Editor’s note: This reflection concludes our Source & Summit series, which celebrated the National Eucharistic Revival’s Year of Parish Revival. Click here to read all past installments of Source & Summit.
(The faithful) taking part in the Eucharistic sacrifice, which is the source and summit of the whole Christian life, offer the Divine Victim to God, and themselves along with it.
-The Second Vatican Council fathers in Lumen Gentium, #11
Source & Summit is a feature of The Western Kentucky Catholic online, celebrating the National Eucharistic Revival: Year of Parish Revival. Intended to help Catholics of our parishes to probe the riches of our liturgical year and celebrate the liturgy well, the column will always start with the Bible readings for the Mass of the Day to help us reflect on, and help to “unpack” and expand our experiences at liturgy into the domestic church (the home) and the workplace.
Sunday reflections will be based on the Lord’s Day, the Liturgy, the Eucharist, and, occasionally, community.
Sunday, June 2, 2024
Solemnity of the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ
https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/060224.cfm
Ex 24:3-8
Ps 116:12-13, 15-16, 17-18
Heb 9:11-15
Mk 14:12-16, 22-26
What a time to celebrate Corpus Christi, during this year of the Eucharistic Revival!
I wanted to bring to your attention a beautiful way in which this feast is celebrated and I wanted to do that by introducing you to my father, Bayardo Solorza. Bayardo is the truly wonderful combination of scientist and artist, and his Catholic faith is beautifully intertwined within these two embodiments of himself. He uses his talents in both areas to further his faith, the faith of his family and his community.
During this year’s feast of Corpus Christi, where we take time to celebrate and honor how Jesus is truly present in His Body and Blood in the Eucharist, my dad will continue the tradition of sand, sawdust, or flower carpets. The carpets are made of different organic materials and can be seen throughout the Americas and Europe. They are seen during Holy Week, Corpus Christi, and All Souls Day. These carpets can be created on sidewalks or streets and can go on for miles. The artist draws from Eucharistic symbols and bright colors to decorate the carpet and can include sayings such as “¡Viva Cristo Rey!” “Long Live Christ the King!”
Bayardo Solorza makes a sawdust and sand carpet for St. Michael Parish in Sebree in celebration of the Solemnity of the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ, also known as Corpus Christi, in May 2023. COURTESY OF SOLORZA FAMILY
My dad is focusing this year’s carpet on those Eucharistic symbols – a chalice, a host, grapes, and wheat, that are cross-cultural. He is modeling it after the stained glass windows and old pews of Holy Name of Jesus Parish in Henderson. In the carpet of sand that my dad designs and – with the help of family and community members –creates at the entrance to our parish, you will see our love for the Eucharist reflected in the dedication to the creation of this beautiful piece of art.
During this Solemnity of Corpus Christi, I challenge you and your family to take some time to create a carpet at home, a stained glass window, or a simple drawing honoring the Eucharist. You can use cross-cultural symbols of the Eucharist, cultural symbols, messages from scripture and the saints about the Eucharist, and symbols and sayings from your own family.
By putting our faith into art, we can see the beauty of the love of Christ becoming Body and Blood for love of us: what a thing to celebrate!
-Susana Solorza
Susana Solorza is the coordinator of pastoral juvenil with the Office of Hispanic/Latino Ministry for the Diocese of Owensboro.
Holy Name of Jesus Parish families and community members help create a sand carpet for Corpus Christi in May 2022. COURTESY OF SOLORZA FAMILY
To learn more about the Diocese of Owensboro’s celebration of the National Eucharistic Revival, visit https://owensborodiocese.org/eucharistic-revival/.
