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Sunday, June 26, 2011

     The Second Vatican Council affirms that “the liturgy, ‘through which the work of our redemption is accomplished,’ most of all in the divine sacrifice of the Eucharist” (Sacrosanctum Concilium §2), is “the source and summit of the whole Christian life” (Lumen Gentium, §11). The Eucharist is also “the source and summit of all evangelization” (Presbyterorum Ordinis, §5).

 

———————— Solemn Mass and Exposition ————————

Solemn Mass of the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ

     The institution of the Eucharist has as a special memorial the Mass of the Lord’s Supper (celebrated on Holy Thursday), when Christ the Lord shared a meal with his disciples and gave them the sacrament of his Body and Blood to be celebrated in the Church. The solemnity of the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ (Corpus Christi) further reveals the Blessed Sacrament to us so that we may celebrate the wonderful works of God, signified by the sacrament and accomplished by the Paschal mystery of Christ.

 

     This solemnity is also intended to enlighten us how to share in the Eucharistic sacrifice and to have it more profoundly influence our lives, to revere the presence of Christ the Lord in this sacrament, and to offer the thanks due for God’s gifts.

cfr. Ceremonial of Bishops (1984), n.385.

———————— Corpus Christ Procession ————————

Corpus Christi Eucharistic Procession

     In its devotion the Church has handed down as a distinctive feature of the celebration of this solemnity a procession in which the Eucharist is carried solemnly and with singing through the streets, and we, the Christian people, give public witness to our belief in the sacrament of the Eucharist and to our devotion.

cfr. Ceremonial of Bishops (1984), n.386.

 

     The procession on the Solemnity of the Body and Blood of Christ constitutes, in fact, a prolongation of the celebration of the Eucharist: immediately after Mass, the Host, which was consecrated at that Mass, is carried outside of the church, so that we, the Christian people,  might “give public witness to its faith and devotion regarding the Most Blessed Sacrament”

 Roman Ritual: Holy Communion and Worship of the Eucharist Outside Mass, n.101.

Code of Canon Law, can. 944.

 

 

 

 

—————— Benediction During the Procession ——————

Corpus Christi Eucharistic Benediction (during the procession)

 

     The faithful are called to understand and appreciate the values inherent in the Corpus Christi procession: they are aware of being “the People of God” that walks with its Lord, proclaiming faith in him who has become truly “God-with-us”.

Cfr. Directory on Popular Piety and the Liturgy: Principles and Guidelines,

Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments,

December 17, 2001, n.162.

 

     The Eucharistic procession is ordinarily concluded with Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament. In the specific case of the Corpus Christi procession, the blessing constitutes the solemn conclusion of the entire celebration: the usual priestly blessing is replaced by the blessing with the Blessed Sacrament.

Cfr. Directory on Popular Piety and the Liturgy: Principles and Guidelines,

Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments,

December 17, 2001, n.163.

 

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