Blessed Corpus Christi, and Juneteenth too!

So it turns out I don’t have to go to the office today. I’m terrible with civil holidays. July 4th is about the only one I ever remember, because the date is in the name. Calendaring: it is important.

I would like to say that I don’t have to go to the office because it’s Corpus Christi, but instead it’s only because of Juneteenth that we have a holiday. Corpus Christi should of course be recognized as a civil holiday in this country, as in all countries.

However, though I don't care for its name, Juneteenth itself would be a good reason to celebrate, to have a secular holiday, for Catholics as much as anybody else. For on this day, the slaves of Texas were freed, and the day has become a sort of symbol for the broader abolition of slavery, which is truly a worthy cause for celebration. Slavery in this country was something quite bad, being essentially a system of purchasing kidnapped Africans, and subjecting them to slavery simply because they were black. This was very sinful, and we ought to be happy it’s over.

So, we should celebrate this. It’s a shame that some very heretical people are now associated with this holiday, and have advocated for it. But if May Day, which was communist, could be reclaimed by Catholics as the Feast of St. Joseph the Worker, I see no reason why Juneteenth, the (symbolic) end of a great crime in our nation’s history, can’t be celebrated by us as well.

I think it is appropriate therefore, to do act of thanksgiving today, which can easily be found in any missal, as well as say a prayer to St. Peter Claver, who ministered so well to the slaves in their misery. And indeed, how lovely is it that this year, Corpus Christi is on Juneteenth: for what greater thanksgiving can there be than the offering of the most Holy Body and Blood of Christ, who took the form of a slave, born in human likeness, for our sakes. Blessed Corpus Christ, and happy Juneteenth.