Solemnity of Corpus Christi

Dear Parishioners and Friends of St. Stephen's,
   This year as we prepare for the Solemnity of Corpus Christi, please read the following which details the tradition of the procession and our plans for this Sunday, June 11, at the conclusion of the 11 a.m. Mass. 
    I have also included a link illustrating Corpus Christi processions throughout the United States. 
   The Eucharistic Procession on the Solemnity of Corpus Christi has a rich history in the Church. Pope Benedict spoke eloquently of the Solemnity of Corpus Christi and procession, calling it a “profession of faith by Catholics of Jesus Christ truly alive and present in the Most Holy Sacrament of the Eucharist, and a public statement of belief.”
   There are some norms published by the Vatican and the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops that will help us to worthily prepare for our procession and solemnly participate in it. 
   The Sacred Congregation For Rites published Instruction Eucharisticum mysterium, on the Eucharist, 25 May 1967, provides this guidance and norms concerning processions with the Holy Eucharist.
            58. Devotion, both private and public, toward the sacrament of the altar even outside Mass, (…) is strongly advocated by the Church, since the eucharistic sacrifice is the source and summit of the whole Christian life [LG, no. 11].
           59. In processions in which the eucharist is carried through the streets solemnly with singing,
especially on the feast of Corpus Christi, the Christian people give public witness to their faith and their devotion toward this sacrament.
   The United States Conference Of Catholic Bishops approved the ritual book, Order for the Solemn Exposition of the Holy Eucharist, which provides additional clarity with these norms:
          20. Processions within the body of a church are no longer permitted. A procession with the
Blessed Sacrament should go from one church to another. Nevertheless, if local circumstances
require, the procession may return to the same church where it began.
         21. In the course of the procession there may be stations where the eucharistic blessing is
given, if there is such a custom and some pastoral advantage recommends it. Songs and
prayers should be planned with the purpose of expressing the faith of the participants and the
centering of their attention on the Lord alone.
    As you can see, one of the main reasons to be with Jesus outside is to express that we do not keep our faith only inside the church, our purpose is to share with the world that He is our Lord and that we follow Him in our daily lives.
    I asked several ministries to prepare the altars outside, and I thank them very much for their help: 
     1) Eucharistic Adoration Society; 
     2); Apostleship of Prayer; 
     3) Knights of Columbus; 
     4) Altar Society. 
   The altars will be in the area between the church and the Parish Community Center and the procession will end in the front of the church. You will find the program with the songs and prayers on Sunday in the Atrium.
At the conclusion of the 11 a.m. Mass:
    The prayer after the Communion will be said in the usual way, and our procession will start right after the prayer.
   - Exposition and incensing of the blessed sacrament Please kneel.
   - The Blessed Sacrament is placed in the monstrance and incensed, the assembly joins the priests
and ministers of the altar in the hymn.
 
The order of the procession is as follows:
 - Crossbearer, accompanied by candlebearers;
 - Deacon of the Mass;
 - Censerbearer with burning incense;
 - Priest carrying the Blessed Sacrament and accompanied by torchbearer.
 - The people.

    As the Procession begins, please remain in your pews and wait for the Eucharist, priests, and
deacons to pass. 
 
    Please follow reverently behind the priests and deacons in procession. We will stop at every altar for a short prayer. After  the fourth altar we will return to church, you may return to your pews, and the Monstrance is again placed on the altar.
    As the Blessed Sacrament is incensed, please join in singing the hymn before the Benediction.
   Below, I have included a link showing various Corpus Christi processions. It is a very simple but at the same time a very profound way to pray. I hope that many of you can participate! Next year we will prepare our Corpus Christi procession in a more solemn way.
 
Sincerely in Christ,
 
Fr. Slawek