Corpus Christi

For the Feast of Corpus Christi I was blessed to join in a Corpus Christi procession. Pope John Paul II said that in celebrating the Feast the Church "does not only celebrate the Eucharist but solemnly bears it in procession, publicly proclaiming that the sacrfice of Christ is for the salvation of the whole world."

And I was very conscious of that yesterday as we participated. We went to Mass which was beautiful. Father Kelley gave a beautiful homily about the Eucharist and especially about receiving the Sacrament.....preparing for it before Mass, during Mass, and after receiving Communion. It was beautiful. He also told us about an article written by the United States Bishops "Happy are Those who are Called to His Supper: On Preparing to receive Christ Worthly in the Eucharist." From what he quoted and from what I've read of the document it looks really good and I'm going to print it to read it in more detail.

After Mass before the final blessing the Deacon went down to the Adoration Chapel (we were at a local parish that is blessed to have Perpetual Adoration) and processed up to the Church with the Blessed Sacrament in the Monstrance. We then had Benediction and the final blessing of Mass. Afterwards Father, the Deacon and the Altar Servers processed outside with the Blessed Sacrament and we all followed. Once outside the Knights of Columbus placed a canopy over Father and the Blessed Sacrament (kind of like the picture up top....I had forgotten my camera so I haven't got any of my own pictures....that picture is from Google.)

There were TONS of Altar Servers all dressed in black cassocks and white surplices who processed in front of the Blessed Sacrament along with a few girls in their First Communion gowns. Then the rest of us processed behind the Blessed Sacrament. I'd say there were a couple hundred people there. It was beautiful. We walked about a mile or maybe just a little less to a neighboring parish. The police were there and had roads closed off for us and we prayed the Luminious Mysteries of the Rosary. There were quite a few priests and deacons there and they led the Rosary with beautiful meditations.

It was an unbelievable experience. People walking on the road who weren't in the procession would stop and kneel down until the Blessed Sacrament had passed by....THAT was really touching. As we walked by the Masonic Temple we had just reached the end of the Rosary and were praying the "Saint Michael" prayer.....which I believe was planned by God.

It was just so moving to see the King walking the streets accompaned so devoutly by so many people and meeting so many people on the way. It was truly a great blessing for all of us who took part as well as for those who "just happened" to meet Him along the way.