Corpus Christi

Corpus Christi procession in Malta

A celebration of the Eucharist is held all around the world today, as we give thanks for the presence of Jesus in the Eucharist. The word Eucharist in fact means ‘giving thanks,’ and it was the last gift Jesus left to us, during the Last Supper when he gave us His Body and His Blood as a memorial, and which we commemorate at every Mass we celebrate. As people around the world pray with Pope Francis during a special Holy Hour today held at 5 PM, Rome time, at 8 AM, Oregon time, other countries hold processions with the Blessed Sacrament, during which the Benediction is given, frequently at the end, but also at various places during the procession. The above photo was taken in a procession at Rabat, Malta when I was visiting in 2008, and you can see the monstrance being carried by a bishop, accompanied by members of the confraternity of the Blessed Sacrament, dressed in red capes. 

The tradition of the Corpus Christi procession was started by St Juliana of Liege, Belgium, who had asked her bishop, Jacques Pantaleon to give her permission to start this tradition. After being elected Pope, as Urban IV, he gave her the go ahead and the processions of Corpus Christi have been held ever since.

Incidentally, this is the 500th post in this blog, which I started on January 5, 2012. Please feel free to check past posts through the links on the right hand side. I am grateful  for so many visitors to this blog, averaging 120-140 a day from as far as the Philippines, Australia, Taiwan, Russia, India, South Korea, Canada, Germany, England, Poland, Malta and of course mostly from the USA.