The Hidden Spring
Pope Leo XIV shows how Eucharistic grace becomes mission
I would also like to bring to mind the poetic verses of Saint John of the Cross:
“For I know well the spring that flows and runs, although it is night” (Song of the Soul that Rejoices in Knowing God through Faith).
While imprisoned in harsh conditions in the convent prison of Toledo, precisely around the time of Corpus Christi in 1578, he recognized the hidden presence of the Lord in the darkness of his cell, a presence from which emanates a light that never fades and flows a life that never diminishes.
The Eucharistic Jesus is “that eternal spring that is hidden” — a spring that flows and quenches thirst, yet without blinding, without imposing itself through outward power, without presenting itself in a spectacular way (cf. ibid.).
Let us return to him with sincere love. Let us open ourselves to the encounter with him, let us allow him to quench the thirst of our hearts, so that we may then go forth into the paths of life and history, bringing to the people this stream of fresh water, a stream of love, peace, justice and joy. Let us drink anew from this Eucharistic spring, which does not enclose us in private devotion, but sends us out to refresh our brothers and sisters, our families, the poor, the suffering, and those who have lost hope.
Eucharistic grace transforms us and makes us protagonists of the transformation of history, a sign of hope for those we meet.
— Pope Leo XIV
Corpus Christi homily, June 7, 2026
⬦ Reflection Question ⬦
Where is Christ asking us to carry “a stream of love, peace, justice and joy” today?
⬦ Join the conversation in the comments.
Source reference
Pope Leo XIV. “Holy Mass, Procession and Eucharistic Blessing in the Solemnity of the Body and Blood of Christ.” Homily, Plaza de Cibeles, Madrid, June 7, 2026. Vatican.va. https://www.vatican.va/content/leo-xiv/en/homilies/2026/documents/20260607-spagna-messa-madrid.html.
Featured image
Triptych assembled from three images: Pope Leo XIV, photo by Mazur/cbcew.org.uk, via Flickr, (CC BY-NC-ND); Toledo, Adobe Stock; statue of Saint John of the Cross by Francisco Antonio Gijón, photo by Lawrence Lew, O.P., via Flickr (CC BY-NC-ND).
Pope Leo XIV, I stand with you if there was any doubt and thank you for your poetry that flows from your faithful service. "Our hearts are restless until they rest in you," Lord. And includes all the hearts that are grateful and vulnerable and thirsting with Holy Rejoicing in God's recreation in His Son, Jesus, the living water come down from heaven hiding in plain sight for life of the world.
I am surprised to see this on your site. The Pope is hardly a Carmelite, nor does he, I think, have understanding of Carmelite spirituality. As usual, he starts out well, but then he says something like this:
“Let us drink anew from this Eucharistic spring, which does not enclose us in private devotion…”
and I say, “Huh?”If the Eucharist does not lead us into the most intense “private devotion “ then we have failed to respond appropriately to the grace with which Our Lord endows it and us.