Once a year, Jesus leaves the building.
On the Feast of Corpus Christi (The Body and Blood of Christ), Catholics take the Eucharist out of the church and into the streets. We process with incense, songs, and a golden canopy. It looks medieval. It stops traffic. And that is exactly the point.
The History
The feast was established in 1264 by Pope Urban IV after the Miracle of Bolsena. He asked St. Thomas Aquinas to write the hymns (like Tantum Ergo and Panis Angelicus). The goal was simple: To apologize to Jesus for those who don't believe in the Real Presence, and to show the world that God is still with us.
Why Process?
- Public Witness: We are not ashamed of the Gospel. We bring Jesus into the "secular" space — the streets, the markets, the neighborhoods. We claim the city for Christ.
- Blessing the Land: We ask Jesus to bless the streets we drive on and the homes we live in.
- Pilgrimage: Life is a journey. The procession symbolizes the Church wandering through the desert of this world toward the Promised Land (Heaven), led by the Ark of the Covenant (Jesus).
What to Expect
- The Monstrance: The gold vessel holding the host.
- The Canopy (Baldachin): Held over the priest and the Eucharist. It signifies that a King is passing.
- Kneeling in the Street: When the procession passes you, it is customary to kneel on the sidewalk. Yes, on the concrete. It is an act of humility.
Don't just watch; walk. Find a Corpus Christi procession near you on the MyPrayerTower app.