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May 29, 2005
Corpus Christi at your joint
Okay, okay.
And I'm serious this time. No more until...say...Advent. Deal?
Joseph, Michael Jacob and I went to the 4 pm Mass at our parish on Saturday. Many usual Eucharistic hymns (but not "One Bread, One Body" or "I am the Bread of Life." "Look Beyond" made an appearance, however.) Our pastor was at a conference, so the presider was an elderly retired Monsignor who is a nice fellow, but always preaches for a very, very long time. This one I was not able to hear, however, partly because we were sitting away from the speakers, he speaks quietly, and I could barely hear anything. He started out reciting the names of cities, as far as I could tell, and I thought he was perhaps telling us of some recent travels. Ah, no, I finally figured out, he's talking about the Catholic resonance of these names, including Corpus Christi. Got it. He was beginning, I'm pretty sure, a history of the feast, when MJ started up. No, not crying but doing some of his typical vocal stylings. That afternoon, it was "Aaaaaaah! Aaaaaaaah! Aaaaaaaah!" Loudly. Of course you can't tell a 6-month old baby to hush. You can move him around and hope a new thing to look at will distract him, but no, he was pretty intent on his practice time. So we went out a side door and sat on the steps 'til I heard the rustling of papers and bodies, standing for the Credo.
They said there was going to be a procession this morning, and I sort of thought about going over there for it. But then I forgot.
Et vous?
Posted by Amy Welborn | Permalink
Comments
Well, the homily started with a study of the origin of this feast. It was an idea that an eccentric Augustinian nun in the Lowlands (current Belgium) received in a vision [note: Juliana of Retinnes (1192-1258)]. The initial liturgical texts were developed by the Dominican St. Thomas Aquinas (1228-1274). In 1316, the anti-Franciscan Pope John XXII made the Corpus Christi procession obligatory (and also canonized Thomas Aquinas). Not until 1959 was the procession made optional again. This emphasis on the Blessed Sacrament as an object of veneration, because people considered themselves unworthy to receive the sacrament, continued to develop in the "high altar" tradition. It was not until Vatican II that the "high altars" were brought down, and the Mass was restored to a meal of communion. [Much emphasis on second reading from Corinthians. Procession? Are you kidding?] The Sacrament is a symbol of the Community.
Posted by: Benedetto at May 29, 2005 11:46:38 PM
We did not go to our parish this time; instead we went to a nearby Benedictine monastery that has a new chapel that draws people from the surrounding communities each Sunday.
The homily related Memorial Day, which honors those who laid down their lives for us, to the Eucharistic Sacrifice and the Redemption celebrated in this Solemnity.
Nothing fancy. The monks aren't the most capable singers. They have one or two brothers who have learned to play the organ. They use the standard paperback missals issued to most parishes.
Posted by: SWP at May 29, 2005 11:54:08 PM
Hymns: Gather Us In; Precious Body, Precious Blood; and This Is My Song. (the latter asks God to bless our country, and everyone else's country too)
No Sequence, definitely no procession.
The homily talked about how our memories shape how we react to present events, how Passover was a feast to remind the Israelites of the Exodus, and how Jesus asked us to celebrate the Eucharist in memory of Him.
The priest accidentally said "Let us proclaim the mystery of faith" after consecrating the Host but before consecrating the Cup. It was awkward and weird, but after we sang the acclamation he backed up a page (to where he should have been) and then the rest of the Mass went smoothly.
Posted by: cheyan at May 29, 2005 11:55:44 PM
None of the parishes I'm familiar with do Corpus Christi processions. I've never been to one before. Nobody at the monastery even mentioned doing one. I would hesitate to say the monks don't appreciate the Eucharist, though. The chapel was uniquely designed to demonstrate how the Eucharist is our source and summit: there are seven ceiling beams that constitute the structure of the chapel. They all merge in a central tower of support pillars. At the base of those support pillars you'll find the Tabernacle.
Each of the ceiling beams represents a Sacrament. So they all seven rely on the single pillar of Jesus in the Eucharist. It's a fascinating doctrinal lesson disguised as architecture, not unlike the Gothic cathedrals.
Posted by: SWP at May 30, 2005 12:04:48 AM
I went to two masses today; the first was Fr. Philip Powell's Mass of Thanksgiving at Holy Rosary (I've posted his homily on my blog), the second was the Archdiocesan Corpus Christi mass and procession at Sacred Heart Co-Cathedral.
These two liturgies presented a study in contrasts.
Holy Rosary has great architecture (neo-Gothic) and decent preaching (Dominicans, you know), but the liturgy is generally pretty bad. Music is led by a warbling Irish tenor and there is an overarching attitude of liturgical minimalism (spoken "Gloria" today, and spoken Sequence--just the last couple of stanzas of a poetic translation). Communion is by intinction, with people kneeling at the communion rail.
Liturgy at Sacred Heart tonight pulled out all stops. First the music: small choir, great cantor, brass quartet, organ; everything sung, including the Sequence (in Latin, chanted with organ accompaniment). Smells and bells. Bishop Rizzotto (auxiliary) celebrated; two Legionaries of Christ concelebrated; about a dozen deacons were present. Music included Mozart's Ave Verum Corpus, Tantum Ergo, Adoro te devote, Alleluia! Sing to Jesus, I Am the Bread of Life, Pan de Vida.
The evening mass was followed by a procession through downtown Houston. It was led by the 4th Degree Knights of Columbus, the Heralds of the Gospel, and the Knights of Malta. Probably about 1000 people participated in the procession, which went about a mile, from Sacred Heart to St. Joseph Hospital to the chancery and back to Sacred Heart. There were severe thunderstorms in the area, but we only had lightning and a cool breeze until some time after the procession was over. Then the rain began--downtown, anyway; my wife says it rained non-stop at our house from the time I left.
Posted by: Bill Cork at May 30, 2005 12:10:30 AM
The parish I attended for Corpus Christi had a procession after its noon mass. Liturgically it was solid, and it used the Anglo Catholic version of the Gloria, Sanctus and Angus Dei, while the sequence was chanted in Latin. The hymnal used is the Collegeville Hymnal, largely based on Anglo Catholic hymns as far as I can tell. The Pastor sermon was about respect for t he Eucharist, how if we believed what the Eucharist is, we would fall down to our knees.
Gregorian Chant was used during communion, and communion was recieved at the altar rail. After mass, a procession with 35 altar boys leading was made around the block, with benidiction afterwards, though before the procession began, I had to leave. Solid preaching and liturgy go well together.
Posted by: John Bianco at May 30, 2005 1:25:05 AM
I attended two Masses at our church. The noon Mass, as usual, featured Gregorian chant and Latin in a few places. The homily was awesome, focusing on the meaning of the real presence. It was almost a theology lecture, which is great to have from time to time. Father even mentioned that our church has adoration seven days a week with very long hours. After the Mass we had benediction with the Tantum Ergo, a procession around the block while saying the Rosary, and then concluded the benediction.
The 5:45 evening Mass had the same homily, but of course no procession.
Of course, since our church is "Blessed Sacrament", this is our feast day, so it would be amazing if they didn't pull out all the stops. Plus the priests are Dominicans and therefore have a lot of good education in sacramental theology.
Posted by: Lawrence King at May 30, 2005 1:47:24 AM
Oh: the 5:45 Mass had modern music -- "I am the Bread of Life" and others like that. This proves that different kinds of music work well with solid and devotional Masses!
Posted by: Lawrence King at May 30, 2005 1:48:59 AM
Hastings, New Zealand.
Nothing particularly interesting at our 10am Mass. Corpus Christi feast just meant that we are all one body in Christ and that we all eat from the same loaf of bread. I note that this theme is repeated throughout the year so that today was nothing different. There have been no particular celebrations in our diocese (Palmerston North) about it being the Year of the Eucharist.
Posted by: Mike Phillips at May 30, 2005 2:09:51 AM
I went to our 11:15 Mass today since I was
scheduled to lector and my wife had the
Gospel sermonette for Kids duty at that Mass also. It was a very nice Mass with a great Homily from our Pastor, all about the Eucharist and the Body of Christ, both the bread and us, the Church, we too are the Body of Christ. He had a great line in his homily, saying that the new manna is Jesus' Body and it is "God's best food" - I like the sound of that, we are partaking of God's best food when we receive Jesus' Body and Blood. One of the confirmation/1st communion children was out of town during the scheduled confirmation/1st communion Masses (yes, our parish does the restored order of confirmation and 1st communion on the same day, I am getting used to it by now and I am even liking it, the children seem to always be excited about receiving confirmation), so he made his confirmation/ 1st communion today. I really liked that on this feast day, to know that this young boy is receiving Jesus for the first time, it made me realize how special the gift of the Eucharist is for all of those, even those who have partaken of the Body and Blood for years and years. There also was a procession of the Blessed Sacrament into the Chapel and adoration until the evening Mass; a special treat for us as we only have adoration on First Fridays.
Posted by: Eric Bateman at May 30, 2005 3:27:29 AM
+J.M.J+
12:30 Mass, St. Thomas the Apostle.
Processional Hymn: Alleluia, Sing to Jesus
Whole Sequence recited by lector.
During the homily, the pastor addressed the fact that surveys show that many Catholics have doubts about the Real Presence of Christ in the Blessed Sacrament. He also talked about the Wedding Feast at Cana, and correctly stated that Jesus said to His Mother "What is that to me and to you? How is that our business?" (Some modern renderings make His words sound insulting.)
During the Creed, the priest asked us all to bow our heads at the words "by the power of the Holy Spirit". He is really trying to get everyone in the pews to do this.
Offertory: Draw us in the Spirit's Tether
Before Communion, the priest reminded everyone to bow their heads before receiving Communion.
Communion Hymn: Jesus, My Lord, My God, My All
Mass ended with a procession around the inside of the church, complete with incense, monstrance, and the cantor singing Tantum Ergo in Latin.
The parish was also in the midst of a Forty Hours Devotion, which began Friday and ended at 4PM Sunday. St. Thomas, which was designated a Perpetual Adoration center in 1991, has held Forty Hours Devotions at Corpus Christi for about fifteen years now.
In Jesu et Maria,
Posted by: Rosemarie at May 30, 2005 5:13:36 AM
At our church, we had a retired auxiliary bishop say the 10:45 Mass. He entered in a procession of the recent First Communicants (wearing their white dresses and suits) and the KC's The bishop gave a wonderful homily about faith in the Eucharist. Choir was accompanied by organ, piano, trumpet and drums. (This is true at all big feasts.) After Communion a procession with the Blessed Sacrament with the KCs, the First Communicants, and the ministers of communion all around the church and into the daily chapel where there was all day adoration. Nice ceremony.
Posted by: Jake at May 30, 2005 6:00:45 AM
8 AM Saturday
St. Albert's, Kettering
We had a procession last year on Saturday morning, but I missed it because I thought they meant Sunday. I was really excited to help cantor this year. Saturday morning Mass always has a big turnout, so just having a procession immediately after that Mass guarantees people will show. Our assistant pastor said he was doing the votive Mass for the Precious Blood; he preached a homily on how Jesus is completely present in both species. (And I should mention that the old priest concelebrated, which was fitting since he's a Precious Blood order priest.) We sang Eucharistic hymns, of course!
Anyway, we technically didn't have a recessional hymn, I guess; we just "joined in singing" as Father incensed the Eucharist and started marching out singing. Maybe 40 people came, maybe more.
To be honest, I can't remember now what all we sang on the procession. It was almost all older songs, though. We had a good demographic spread from kids in strollers on up, but mostly it was old folks. I worried that the walk might be too much for some, but they did better than me at walking and singing! Fortunately the music minister and I were both singing, which covered up when either one of us ran out of breath.
We walked out the front of church, down the sidewalk along the main road, past the little minimall next door, up a little plat street, turned right down another street, and then took the paved footpath that lets the kids get through the back of the parish grounds to school. This took us to the little patio right outside the perpetual adoration chapel in our parish center, at which point we were singing the same hymn we sang to leave the church. We had Benediction there, and then we sang that same hymn again! Our assistant pastor and his co-celebrant disappeared into the building with the monstrance and then came out again when they were done; we kept singing. There was supposed to be another procession on Sunday night to bring the monstranced (exposed?) Eucharist back to church, and of course perpetual devotion/exposition in between.
Everybody seemed to be filled with joy and very interested, too. Our assistant pastor was loving it; like me, he was post-VII and thus too young to have ever done this kind of thing before. (And not only did he get to wear the good red chasuble; he got to break out the cope when we went to leave church! Tres cool!) He apparently had made a big thing at the school Mass last week of telling the kids and especially the servers to come "march with Jesus" and bring their parents. (Of course, kids don't always have a lot of control of Saturday morning.)
Father asked one toddler whether she liked marching with Jesus. She said she did, and that it was her first time. Father said, "Me too." :)
Posted by: Maureen at May 30, 2005 6:02:08 AM
12 noon Sunday
St. Patrick's, Columbus
This is the Dominican Fathers church in Columbus by the convention center, close to downtown. It is a center for trad folks, I think (communion rails, lectern reached stairs, Confession before Mass and partly during), but there wasn't Latin and only maybe ten mantillas so it's moderate trad. Nice church, good preaching, always a full house of locals when I go during cons. Only problem was negotiating my handicapped friend's passage through the baptistery into church -- it's a pretty small gathering space, so we had to stand around waiting for folks to make a hole!
Beautiful Mass. The choir sang (lovely tone, though they really should e-nun-ci-ate more in Latin) and there were some wonderful brass fanfares done by parish adults. I'd forgotten there was a sequence (Lauda Sion -- another St. Thomas Aquinas special), which made me madly jealous of the cantors back home. The homily was on the Real Presence, and on respect for it. Father then segued into how church was a place of prayer, not a place to yak (before, after, or during), which was why they had gathering spaces; how people should actually pay attention to Mass; and how people should dress for Mass.
(Did I mention this was the first con in years where I'd forgotten to pack church pants? I had a decent top, but was stuck with jeans. Tres embarrassing...but that's what I get for forgetting! Won't happen again.)
Nice thing with the Communion rails -- the usher doing traffic control for Communion made sure I knew to go to the open cushion all the way on the end. This should be SOP for all communion rail churches if the person's not a regular, as nobody is likely to have been trained in these procedures unless there's a communion rail in use in their home church. (Also, it's hard to bob your head before receiving on the tongue, so I think there must be a different protocol in place. Is kneeling the "sign of respect"?)
My friend isn't Catholic and doesn't believe in the Real Presence, so we didn't stay for the procession. We popped out of the handicapped accessible exit and around church the other way, and thus got to see the procession leaving church, though. They left to "At That First Eucharist", IIRC. They had a lot more people than we did (about 20-30 servers, and most of the folks in church, so several hundred) and had just unearthed a _canopy_! Roofless, on poles, white with gold embroidery! So they used it to do the Real Presence honor. The choir and brass walked right behind the servers, I think. They walked much slower than we did (not as far to go, but also easier to sing). They had a more extensive program than we did, too -- they were going to do litanies and stuff. Very nice.
I don't know why these processions gave me so much joy. I guess there must be something incarnational about "marching with Jesus", though there also seems to be an element of Catholic pride. But there's just something very _right_ about processing. It's not hard to learn; it seems very natural -- more natural than a ton of other things we've done for liturgies. If I'd only known how very neat processions are, I would have pushed to have them at college.
Posted by: Maureen at May 30, 2005 6:33:06 AM
We went to the Mass at Bond Chapel on the University of Chicago campus. We often go there because we (myself, my wife, and three children, 11-15) appreciate the music (Gregorian chant for the parts of the mass, usually a hymn in English at the end of the Mass, unaccompanied) and the small and friendly community (mostly students but also a few faculty and families) as well as the generally intelligent homilies. (Note: I am not an enemy of good "contemporary music" -- I've sung in several "folk choirs" during my life.) The priest was an Opus Dei priest who seemed to be giving a good homily, but we were in the back and I coudn't hear it very well.
There was a procession across the campus from the Chapel (which is interdenominational and attached to the Divinity School) to Calvert House (the Catholic Center). Some workmen were laying sod in preparation for graduation in a couple of weeks. (U of C, on the quarter system does not finish until mid-June.) As we passed by, singing Pange Lingua, a middle-aged worker, Mexican, I think, stopped working, (he was already on his knees for his work), placing his hand over his heart, and watching us silently for about two minutes. I found this very moving.
At the end of the procession, the monstrance was placed on the altar, we knelt and sang Tantum Ergo, and then one verse of another hymn (I forget which). There was only about a minute for Adoration, then the priest placed the Host in the tabernacle and we left.
I really like public processions. They seem to me to be a powerful way to witness to those we happen to pass by (in this case a number of students as well as the aforementioned workers).
Posted by: Michael Kremer at May 30, 2005 8:15:30 AM
Noon Mass, St. Pat's Smithtown
Procession with all priests, teaching sisters, handful of first communicants, banner bearers from parish organizations, Knights in regalia, canopy over monstrance. No choir this year, so I wonder if they are losing their grip on key musical moments (would be a good thing). My son played the organ because the music director was off helping a friend of his dedicate a new organ.
The homily referred back to the homilies at the papal funeral and installation Masses, which was kind of nice.
Procession around the grounds to three altars.
Entrance Hymn: I am the Bread of Life
Offertory: Like a Shepherd He Leads His flock
Communion: can't remember
Exposition: O Saving Victim,
During procession, mostly Hail holy queen because most people could walk and sing by heart.
Benediction, "Down in Adoration Falling" Concluding Hymn was "Holy God we Praise thy Name" which was well and loudly sung by the congregation. As a side note, the 17 year old organist thoroughly enjoyed playing that hymn and hearing everyone sing so well. I only mention stuff like that to let people know that teenagers are not necessary big fans of folk music and such.
In the procession there was a mixed bag of young families, middle agers and old timers. A little girl kept running away from her mom to pick dandelions. A girl in First Communion dress turned to her mom and smiled every time we concluded the prayers at one of the outside altars. I have to think it all makes a wonderful memory for the little ones.
Posted by: Joanne at May 30, 2005 8:15:59 AM
Edmonton Alberta
We had an incredible procession organized by the chancery office. Probably a couple of thousand people in attendance.
Here are some pictures of the procession.
http://edmontoncatholic.blogspot.com/
Posted by: Tim at May 30, 2005 8:20:14 AM
Holiday cancellation of the RCIA class I teach freed me to visit a local church that celebrates legit Latin masses, both Novus Ordo and indult. (I learned about it here. Thanks, Zhou and Silicon Valley Steve!) The sound system was terrible, the celebrant had a thick accent, the homilist (different priest) was no better than OK, the tons of very small children in the big echoey building made everything hard to hear, and the procession of the smallish congregation looked a little, well, small. BUT by golly it was *worship.* People were lined up for the confessional from before I got there (early) through the homily.
Not the subject of this thread, but I thought: the building is sort of ugly and the people look sort of dorky, but this is *solid*, this has lasted and will last. I don't mean Latin (though I hope that it also will last), but worship that is more concerned to fall in love and fear before the living God than to try out new tricks. Well, back to my parish next Sunday for more noise and tricks....
Posted by: Augustinianus at May 30, 2005 9:00:55 AM
St. Martha
Point Pleasant
The Saturday night mass was not as full as it usually is(this being the holiday weekend, being at the shore, and having the nicest day in many weeks)yet it was very well done. There was no procession or sequence. The music consisted of modern and older songs, played and song well by the music director. The great thing about this church is everyone sings and it is so moving. Father's homily was about the meal, how one of the most important things we do as family(church family) is to sit down and eat together. How eating and drinking toghether brings us toghether. Of course I'm not remembering it all but he made many good points that struck me when i was listening.
Posted by: meg at May 30, 2005 9:09:52 AM
Ixnay on the Oxvay Eiday....easeplay?
I am not the bread of the Life. And I just can't bring myself to sing it. So there went the processional.... (I work in the rectory and saw Panis Angelicus in the liturgy sheets for the Communion hymn, but the Mass I attended didn't included it and went straight to the over wrought musical setting of Taste and See, probably for time reasons as this was 7:30am and the lightest Mass re attendance. If I were in charge...I would have given Taste and See the hook and left in Panis Angelicus)
Posted by: Ellyn at May 30, 2005 9:36:44 AM
St. Francis de Sales, Akron
Excellent sermon by Father Schleicher. He talked about his memories of Corpus Christi celebrations 50 years ago in seminary. Mostly he talked about John 6. SIX time in this chapter Jesus asserts the real presence - that we must eat his body and drink his blood. People find it unbelievable and leave him. The disciples are confused.
Father pointed out something that I had never noticed before. There are 2 miracles in John 6: multiplying bread and walking on water. In the first miracle he demonstrates that he has the power to do what he wants with bread. In the second miracle he demonstrates that he can do what he wants with his body.
I'm afraid I can't do justice to his sermon.
In other respects the mass was unremarkable. No abuses. Mediocre music. Canon 2. Elections to the parish council.
Ah, Bond Chapel at the University of Chicago. There used to be Jesuits associated with Calvert House (70's) now it is Opus Dei - a sign of hope.
Posted by: Charles R. Williams at May 30, 2005 9:37:17 AM
St. Joseph's
Outside of Boston
Went to the 8:00 AM Mass. Senior (retired) priest said Mass. Cantor was improvised -- whoever signed up did not show up (this is very unusual). Don't know whether there would have been a sequence or not. Priest a little rattled, but gave a nice sermon on the feast with a nod to Memorial Day. Had hoped for more of a sermon (usually we go to family Mass and miss out because it's primarily directed at the kids). On to family gathering afterward... much need of charity!
Posted by: scotch meg at May 30, 2005 9:45:19 AM
Silicon Valley, CA. The youngest priest said the Mass. No procession. We sang the Sequence, which was on a flyer distributed in all the pews. The homily has faded now and I was distracted by our eight-year-old who started complaining he was lecturing and *when* would he finish... , but the priest did start with emphasizing that yes, it really is the Body and Blood of Christ up there after the consecration. The next time I tuned in he was speaking on how the focus of the Mass is God. Not entertainment (I asked after Mass if he'd been getting complaints about services not being entertaining enough. He said no.) it's nice that the choir is good and so on, but *that's not the point*. The point is God. I told him after Mass that I thought the homily was good and made some points that probably people needed to hear. He said the special Corpus Christi Preface.
The songs seemed appropriate, but I can't remember what they were, other than "table of the Lord" for Communion.
Posted by: Elaine at May 30, 2005 9:46:31 AM
Minneapolis: Procession from St Olaf to the Basilica of St Mary
I attended the adoration and homily at St Olaf, but did not march in the procession in order to attend benediction at my parish. I drove past the procession as it wound its way through downtown Minneapolis. The first thing I noticed was a trail of rose petals dropped by the marchers. There were puzzled looks on the faces of some pedestrians who missed the procession, but saw the rose petals blowing through the streets. When I passed the procession, they were turning onto the pedestrian mall that runs length of downtown. People were gathering to watch the procession. It was quite the sight, Knights of Columbus, children in the first communion clothes, priests, brothers, nuns in full habit, altar boys, marching with the Eucharist under a canopy! I wish I had participated.
Posted by: greggm at May 30, 2005 9:52:58 AM
In Columbus, Ohio, no procession. Homily asked how much receiving the body and blood of Christ changed us. A story about the place where the pastor served his diaconate: a large suburban parish, tightly scheduled. A young priest went "too long" in his sermon. How? So long that the congregation leaving got tangled up with the congregation arriving. Pastor's response: What you said during the homily got undone at the end of Mass.
Music was unfortunate. "Gather Us In" for processional, the ultimate humanist hymn which makes a non-Catholic statement about the eucharist ("wine of compassion"? "bread that is you"?) Are you kidding me? Festival order of Mass, as it was during the whole Easter season, was Mess of Creation. Are you kidding me?
After Mass on the lawn was a program by the "children's church" religious ed group.
Posted by: RP Burke at May 30, 2005 10:23:43 AM
St. Matthew's Church (chapel), Dix Hills, N.Y.
Music list
No procession.
Our Lady of Peace Church, Brooklyn, N.Y. (1962 Missal)
Music list
Indoor procession; Bp. DiMarzio, homilist
Other than the omission of the Lauda Sion and its 24 verses, a fairly by-the-book High Mass; thurifer/incense bearer was seen to occasionally swing the thurible a full 360 degrees; lots of young people, including first communicants; much sung participation for the Ordinary, dialogues, responses, and the entire Pater Noster; Bp. DiMarzio touched on JPII's encyclical Ecclesia de Eucharistia for a large portion of his homily.
Posted by: Aristotle A. Esguerra at May 30, 2005 11:11:08 AM
our priest marched with Jesus at the END of the procession. dumbest thing i've ever seen. we we're all wondering where the heck HE was the whole time.
Posted by: anon at May 30, 2005 11:21:35 AM
I occasionally attend a parish, St. Mark's in St. Paul, where the pastor, an older Irish priest, consistently gives the best sermons that I've heard.
He was up to par for the Feast of Corpus Christi. He spent perhaps half of his time on the fact that Christ was really there, body, blood, soul and divinity in Holy Communion. And we were fabulously blessed in the we were able to receive Him.
You don't hear too many catechetical sermons these days.
Then, poignantly, he mentioned how sad he was that only 25% of the parish was there to receive Our Lord. And this is a parish in a nice neighborhood with a thriving grade school. He thanked those of us who were there.
I don't know if his numbers factored in the the fact that it was Memorial Day weekend or not.
Posted by: Ray in MN at May 30, 2005 11:40:17 AM
In Roanoke, Va. (diocese of Richmond). I was visiting my parents for the weekend and went to the 5:30 mass at St. Andrew's. Beautiful organ music.Opening hymn was Alleluia, Sing to Jesus. Homily focused on processions, which was a set up for, at the end of mass, moving the Blessed Sacrament from the Chapel down the hall (which was built during wreck-o-vations under the previous pastor) back to the tabernacle in the permanent marble altar in the apse or the church. Yay!
I also attendend Our Lady of Nazareth (the parish I grew up in) for the 11:30am mass for the ordination of one of my High School classmates as transitional deacon. Entrance hymn (or "gathering song") was also Alleluia, Sing to Jesus. Communion song was I am the Bread of Life. Homily by the pastor was on the role and responsibilities of deacon. I had never been to an ordination before so it was very educational, and I got to lay eyes for the first time on our new bishop.
Posted by: mike bradley at May 30, 2005 1:03:22 PM
Carmel, Indiana
We went to the very simple last Mass of the day, scantily attended because of the Indy 500 but our parish had had a Corpus Christi procession on Saturday evening.
I'd like to mention that Bl. Juliana of Mt. Cornillon, who suggested the Feast of Corpus Christi, subsequently suffered one calamity after another. She was framed for malfeasance at the women's leper hospital that she administered, was reinstated, then kicked out of her order, wandered begging until a Cistercian convent took her in, that place was burnt down in a war, and after more wandering she ended her days as an anchoress.
Posted by: Sandra Miesel at May 30, 2005 1:22:25 PM
My family is in the process of deciding whether or not to change to a new parish in the region. We are in Central Virginia, Diocese of Richmond. The church we are considering moving to permanently does a lovely liturgy. I cannot spy any liturgical abuses that are so rampant in this diocese.
There was not a procession, but the liturgy is very respectful and dignified. There was a baptism during mass; after the baptism, the priest lifted the baby high in the air while everyone applauded. I love baptisms. He also held the baby during the recessional.
The best part of the mass was the priest's homily. It started slow, talking about what we should or should not eat according to the food pyramid, then moved on to St. Augustine saying "You are what you receive" and comparing that to "You are what you eat". But then, finally, he moved on to talk about how we should not receive communion if we are in a state of mortal sin and should go to confession if we need to before receiving. He said this might upset a lot of people, but that is the rule! AMEN! I have never, in almost 30 years of being Catholic, heard a priest say that from the pulpit. Perhaps our decision on changing churches has been made.
Posted by: Jennifer at May 30, 2005 3:18:21 PM
I was an altar server at the mass I attended and my mind was preoccupied, so I don't remember much about the songs we sang. I do know we didn't sing the sequence. We never do, but this year I had requested that we sing it.
The music director said that he'd "find something." The other day I suggested that he just forget the sequence. It's optional anyway. Instead, I asked him to sing Panis Angelicus at communion. He said yes, but he didn't end up singing it. Oh well.
Homily was good but, again, I can't remember most of it. I just remember thinking how happy I was to have our regular priest back from vacation. Oh, I do remember him quoting St. Augustine (Late have I loved thee..). He also talked about how meaningful it was to him (the priest himself) to sit in the chapel before the tabernacle and adore the Lord in the Eucharist.
We had our very first (and my very first) Eucharistic Procession. It was very nice considering we didn't really know what we were doing. We had four "altars" or stations set up outside. We sang on our way to each one. The hymns were "I am the Bread of Life", "Where Charity and Love Prevail", "Lord Who at Thy First Eucharist" and "Open My Eyes Lord". The readings at each station were 1. from John 6 (I am the Bread of Life); 2. a passage from a homily by St. Augustine (be what you receive); 3. A passage from John Paul II homily; 4. the Emmaus reading from Luke (?).
We ended with a prayer and we all recited the Anima Christi and then sang Holy God We Praise Thy Name.
When I described how we were going to do the procession to our priest earlier in the day I said something like, "wow, we are really getting fancy." He said, "Yes, but I love it."
I love it too. We are a "progressive" parish in many ways, but our Pastoral Director and Priest encourage the traditional stuff too.
Posted by: Meggan at May 30, 2005 3:50:45 PM
Corpus Christi! Where? When? What the?
We sang patriotic songs, the homily was all about Memorial Day with a little afterthought blurb about the Body of Christ.
And the lady who vacuums the church dug out the cheap, gnarly patriotic silk flower arrangement that's covered in dust and set it in front of the altar of sacrifice. So touching.
Posted by: midwestmom at May 30, 2005 4:42:33 PM
St. Rita's, Holly- Archdiocese of Detroit
Our associate pastor set a tone of reverence by, for once, NOT starting his homily with a joke. His homily was about how we receive Christ in the Eucharist, but He also receives us. He used an analogy about a little boy seeing his Daddy from a distance and running up to him to hug him with all his might, only to be swept up in the arms of his father who hugs him even tighter.
Then, he messed up the preparation of the gifts ("fruit of the vine and work of human hands, it will become for us ...er... our cup of life?! Thanks be to God, er, Amen?!"). No one knew what to say in response. English is his second language, so he struggles a bit sometimes.
We sang All Are Welcome and I Am the Bread of Life. I have a new tactic when these songs come up: I hold my baby tightly with both arms so I can't also hold a hymnal and am thus excused from singing.
Still, I just loved our Mass. I love this feast. What a contrast, then, to later accompany my husband to his ELCA Lutheran church where they did not even have communion (I think every other week is a "communion Sunday"). Usually, they follow our lectionary quite closely, but this weekend the Gospel was from Matthew- the end of the Sermon on the Mount. The sermon was insightful, but there was just no sense of the supernatural at the service. There was also no natural rhythm to the service that you find in the Mass, where everything builds to the high point where we receive Christ's Body and Blood.
What a gift we have in the Mass!
Posted by: sarah at May 30, 2005 5:12:36 PM
"our priest marched with Jesus at the END of the procession. dumbest thing i've ever seen. we we're all wondering where the heck HE was the whole time."
That's the way it's supposed to be. Precedence of honor in church processions is from the back to the front. So the Eucharist, first in honor is last in procession.
Posted by: Samuel J. Howard at May 30, 2005 6:05:40 PM
No, the priest and clergy lead the procession, and the people FOLLOW. That's the way it's always been done.
Posted by: Charles A. at May 30, 2005 7:00:44 PM
We went to the first Mass of a priest ordained for the Priestly Fraternity of St. Peter (FSSP) at the Cathedral Basilica of SS. Peter and Paul in Philadelphia.
That's the way it's supposed to be. Precedence of honor in church processions is from the back to the front. So the Eucharist, first in honor is last in procession.
That's not the way it's done in processions of the Blessed Sacrament. You are quite correct for solemn processions in church.
Posted by: Lauda Jerusalem Dominum (dcs) at May 30, 2005 7:15:45 PM
St Mary's
Alex, VA
Fr. Poumade
I described my experience at www.soilcatholics.blogspot.com. [Southern Illinois Catholics] I've invited Belleville diocese parishioners to describe their Sunday Mass there too. [I am from this diocese and visit family there a few times a year.]
Posted by: Peggy at May 30, 2005 7:16:11 PM
Was visiting relatives in Tulsa, OK. Went to Christ the King Parish for the 11:00 a.m. Mass - a very beautiful modern (as in 1920s) church, with a black marble altar and [gasp] marble communion rails still standing! The choir was absolutely magnificent - hymns included Mozart's Laudate Dominum and Ave Verum Corpus, the entrance was a hymn setting of the Tantum Ergo, the recessional the O Salutaris Hostia (both in English and Latin). The sequence was recited by the lector. What I remember from the homily was the quote from St. Augustine about receiving what we are and becoming what we receive (though the priest said this was said at a Corpus Christi Mass -- maybe I misunderstood him. The feast wasn't instituted until St. Thomas Aquinas' time ... ). After communion, the priest and acolytes knelt in front of the tabernacle and we all prayed the Anima Christi. No procession.
Posted by: G Shroff at May 30, 2005 7:20:06 PM
Prior to the entrance procession, the greeter/announcer person made a cringe-worthy slip of the tongue: "Today is the feast of Corpus Crispy." But it was an innocent mistake, and she quickly corrected herself.
Fr. Bob's homily was about how important our memories are, and how the celebration of the Eucharist is a special kind of remembrance. He said we Catholics use the Greek word anamnesis — "try dropping that one at a cocktail party" — to refere to this special remembrance, because it connotes a "bringing forward" of the memory, such that what we are memorializing becomes present, rather than past.
Posted by: Shaun G at May 30, 2005 7:21:53 PM
G Shroff--there was a Corpus Christi mass in Tulsa on Sunday evening, at Holy Family Cathedral downtown. We did a procession around the block at the end of the service, singing Latin hymns all the way. There were litanies and prayers outside, then we marched back in and the bishop prayed for those with illnesses before the service ended.
Bishop Slattery's sermon was partly cachectical, and he gave us some excellent guidelines about how to commune more reverently and meaningfully. He wants us to fast longer before Communion, and not just from food but from watching TV, reading the newspaper, and from noise and distraction in general, especially inside the sanctuary.
When the Christ the King congregation knelt at the end of the service and prayed the Anima Christi, that's something that's being done in all the Tulsa diocese parishes--the bishop asked several months ago that we all observe two minutes' adoration at the end of Mass and then join in praying the Anima Christi. It seemed strange at first but I think everyone's used to it now.
Posted by: Susan at May 30, 2005 8:17:46 PM
Hey Susan -- thanks for sharing that. I didn't find the Anima Christi thing strange at all -- it was great. I thought it was a special thing for Corpus Christi ... I'd thought about going to the Cathedral, figuring it would be the best chance for a procession. However, I'm the only Catholic in the family, and can't really impose too much on a reunion. :)
Posted by: G Shroff at May 30, 2005 8:28:34 PM
Cathedral of the Holy Cross, Boston
Music wonderful (Panis Angelicus, et al) but that's not unusual.
Sermon: first by the new rector. Okay. Just. Okay. Evidently squeezing in Memorial Day with Corpus Christi seemed necessary.
Also: first sermon by new rector took place in the nave. Why? "Because the ambo is too far away from you people." Left me wondering why the ambo was built in the first place. (Why do priests DO this? I always feel like I'm a part of a nightclub audience.)
No procession. Left me wondering if my parish church still WAS Cathedral of the Holy Cross.
Also left me wondering why I didn't follow my instinct and attend nearby Saint Clement's Eucharistic Shrine which is a very cool place to be on Corpus Christi.
Best part of the day was Sung Vespers at 5:00 PM.
Posted by: Kelly Clark at May 30, 2005 8:34:24 PM
In Orlando: The Bishop celebrated the 6 p.m. Mass at St. James, which lasted until about 7:30. (Tiny note to Bishop Wenski: when you have to serve communion to everyone in the city, maybe a homily that lasts less than one hour would be a good idea? But I'm a big fan of yours, regardless.) Procession around Lake Eola with altars set up around the lake to represent the different communities: Our Lady of Guadalupe; Polish shrine; Korean women dressed in native silk dresses sang at their shrine, that was gorgeous. Choirs from three churches sang all the way around the lake and we tried to sing with them. Adorable Polish girls in traditional garb threw rose petals all the way around the lake. The crowd was so large, the procession almost wrapped all the way around the lake. The tourists took pictures of us. We ended up in the amphitheater, for benediction, including readings in the languages of all the communities represented. Bishop Wenski gave his concluding homily in about five different languages. It was all lovely, though it would have been more lovely if the air had been about twenty degrees cooler. I have to admit, by 9:30, I was wishing the bishop spoke fewer languges.
Posted by: Karen at May 30, 2005 8:50:08 PM
I'm really quite sure.
See: http://tinyurl.com/amxm2
or: http://tinyurl.com/8o6c6
The members of the procession procede the Blessed Sacrament with the exception of the ministers assisting the person carrying the Blessed Sacrament (deacon(s)/book bearer/mitre bearer).
While people may follow along behind the procession they are not, strictly speaking, in the procession themselves.
Posted by: Samuel J. Howard at May 30, 2005 9:21:22 PM
While people may follow along behind the procession they are not, strictly speaking, in the procession themselves.
Point taken (although your second citation begs to differ as to whether the people are part of the procession), but I don't think that's what the original poster meant. No one will be wondering where Our Lord is if the prescriptions of the Eucharistic Procession (such as the canopy) are observed.
Posted by: Lauda Jerusalem Dominum (dcs) at May 30, 2005 10:13:56 PM
