What is Corpus Christi?
Corpus Christi is a doctrinal feast established for three purposes:
- to give God collective thanks for Christ’s abiding presence with us in the Eucharist and to honor Him there;
- to instruct the people in the Mystery, Faith and devotion surrounding the Eucharist, and
- to teach us to appreciate and make use of the great gift of the Holy Eucharist, both as a Sacrament and as a sacrifice.
Why do we celebrate the Feast of Corpus Christi?
It is three feasts in one: the feast of the Eucharistic sacrifice, the feast of the Sacrament of the Eucharist and the feast of the Real Presence of Jesus in this Sacrament.
Corpus Christi is a doctrinal feast established for three purposes:
- to give God collective thanks for Christ’s abiding presence with us in the Eucharist and to honor Him there;
- to instruct the people in the Mystery, Faith and devotion surrounding the Eucharist, and
- to teach us to appreciate and make use of the great gift of the Holy
Eucharist, both as a Sacrament and as a sacrifice.
Who brought about the Feast of Corpus Christi?
Saint Juliana of Liege, born 1192 was orphaned aged 5 with her sister and taken in by Augustinian nuns and became a nun.
Juliana’s Eucharistic visions of the moon and dark blots represented failing world faith led her to create an Eucharistic feast day. She endured opposition from her superior and left to stay with Cistercian sisters from 1248 to 1258. She died in 1258.
From 1264, Pope Urban IV who was won over to the feast of Corpus Christi instituted the
Solemnity of Corpus Christi on the second Thursday after Pentecost.
When is Corpus Christi celebrated?
Feast of Corpus Christi, also called Solemnity of the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ, festival of the Roman Catholic Church in honour of the real presence of the body (corpus) of Jesus Christ in the Eucharist. Corpus Christi is held every year on the second Thursday after Pentecost.
Customs at Corpus Christi
Different customs surrounded this feast dating back to the time of the Middle Ages. These include pageants, processions and wreaths. In European countries mystery plays used to be performed after the procession. These were highly popular, especially in England, Italy, Germany, and Spain. Nowadays these are also performed in South and Middle America.
All kinds of symbolic pictures and representations were carried in the Corpus Christi processions, figures of gigantic size and other figures with immense masks.
In central Europe, and in France, Corpus Christi Day is the “Day of Wreaths”. Wreaths and bouquets of exquisite flowers in various colors are attached to flags and banners, to houses, and to the arches of green boughs that span the streets.
Quotes from Popes
Pope Benedict spoke of Juliana in 2010, who “ … contributed to the institution of … the most solemn liturgy … Corpus Christi”.
Pope St Paul VI said, “ Our distant predecessor, Christ …wants to be an inner food, multiplied”.
Some Hymns for Corpus Christi
- Panis Angelicus (“Bread of Angels”)
- Adore Te Devote (“I Devoutly Adore You”)
- O Sacrum Convivium (“O Sacred Banquet”)
- O Salutaris Hostia (“O Saving Victim”)
- Pange Lingua (“Sing, My Tongue, The Saviour’s Glory”)
- Lauda Sion (“Sion, Lift Up Thy Voice And Sing”)
A Novena Prayer for Corpus Christi
Most holy body and blood of Christ, grant us the sacred mysteries so that we may know the grace of Your Redemption.
Dear Lord Jesus, You made the ultimate sacrifice so that You could wash away the sins of the whole world. You have left us the great gift of your body and blood through the Holy Eucharist.
See also
https://www.praymorenovenas.com/corpus-
christi-novena
Thank you Charlotte and Virginie for putting this together!