The institution of the Solemnity that celebrates the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ dates back to the 13th century. It was Pope Urban IV who, in September 1264, introduced it into the life of the Church after the Eucharistic miracle that had taken place a few months earlier in the central Italian town of Bolsena, when blood started to seep from the consecrated Host onto the priest’s hands during Mass.
The day established for the feast, which celebrates the real presence of the body and blood of Christ in the Eucharist, is the second Thursday after Pentecost. In many countries however, especially in recent years, Corpus Christi is now celebrated on the following Sunday, so that it is easier for lay people to take part in such an important solemnity.
At the Holy Sepulcher, where the precise rules of the Status Quo are in force, this morning, Thursday June 23, there naturally had to be a Mass to celebrate the Body and the Blood of the Lord this year as well.
Mons. William Shomali, Auxiliary Bishop and Patriarchal Vicar for the Latin Church of Jerusalem, presided at Lauds and then the celebration of the Eucharist. After Mass, the ostensory containing the Eucharist was shown to the faithful and taken in procession three times, as on the most solemn occasions, around the Aedicule of the Resurrection. The procession then stopped at the Stone of Unction and at the altars that commemorate the places where the Risen One appeared to Mary Magdalene and the Virgin Mary. As on the most solemn of occasions, the eve of the Solemnity was celebrated with the solemn entrance of Mons. Shomali into the Sepulchre – accompanied by the friars – yesterday afternoon, followed by Vespers. Later, the Vicar – Father Artemio Vìtores, presided the Complines. Finally, he guided the Franciscans of the Custody to the Holy Sepulcher for the nightly Vigil with Psalms and Bible readings and texts by St. Thomas Aquinas.
“I am the living bread that came down from heaven; whoever eats this bread will live forever; and the bread that I will give is my flesh for the life of the world." The words from the Gospel according to St. John, proclaimed today during Mass, remind us once again of the meaning of this solemnity, which has its finest image in the prayer of the faithful kneeling in front of the Body of Christ.
By Serena Picariello
Photos by Marco Gavasso
The day established for the feast, which celebrates the real presence of the body and blood of Christ in the Eucharist, is the second Thursday after Pentecost. In many countries however, especially in recent years, Corpus Christi is now celebrated on the following Sunday, so that it is easier for lay people to take part in such an important solemnity.
At the Holy Sepulcher, where the precise rules of the Status Quo are in force, this morning, Thursday June 23, there naturally had to be a Mass to celebrate the Body and the Blood of the Lord this year as well.
Mons. William Shomali, Auxiliary Bishop and Patriarchal Vicar for the Latin Church of Jerusalem, presided at Lauds and then the celebration of the Eucharist. After Mass, the ostensory containing the Eucharist was shown to the faithful and taken in procession three times, as on the most solemn occasions, around the Aedicule of the Resurrection. The procession then stopped at the Stone of Unction and at the altars that commemorate the places where the Risen One appeared to Mary Magdalene and the Virgin Mary. As on the most solemn of occasions, the eve of the Solemnity was celebrated with the solemn entrance of Mons. Shomali into the Sepulchre – accompanied by the friars – yesterday afternoon, followed by Vespers. Later, the Vicar – Father Artemio Vìtores, presided the Complines. Finally, he guided the Franciscans of the Custody to the Holy Sepulcher for the nightly Vigil with Psalms and Bible readings and texts by St. Thomas Aquinas.
“I am the living bread that came down from heaven; whoever eats this bread will live forever; and the bread that I will give is my flesh for the life of the world." The words from the Gospel according to St. John, proclaimed today during Mass, remind us once again of the meaning of this solemnity, which has its finest image in the prayer of the faithful kneeling in front of the Body of Christ.
By Serena Picariello
Photos by Marco Gavasso