Corpus Christi Definition and SummaryThe feast of Corpus Christi commemorates the Eucharist; traditionally it falls on the Thursday following Trinity Sunday, although in some regions it is translated to the following Sunday. In 2011, the traditional date falls on June 23, while the Sunday following is June 26. Prayers: Communion Prayers Basic FactsLiturgical Color(s): White IntroductionSince the Apostolic Church, Christians have been celebrating the Eucharist, the meal in which Christians partake of the body and blood of Christ. Jesus instituted this holy meal on Maundy Thursday. Even though Christians have highly esteemed all of the sacraments, the Eucharist has traditionally held a special place among the sacraments. Ignatius of Antioch (105 AD) referred to the Eucharist as the "medicine of immortality" (Ephesians 20:2). St. Ephrem the Syrian (373 AD) taught that even crumbs from the Eucharistic host could sanctify thousands and thousands (Homilies 4,4). Thomas Aquinas considered the Eucharist to be the greatest of all sacraments (Summa Th. III: 65,3). Thus, the Church has viewed the Eucharist as unique, even among the sacraments, since the earliest times. Thus it is fitting that a feast exist to specifically commemorate the Eucharist. The Catholic Catechism summarizes this teaching of the importance of the Eucharist:
The Feast of Corpus Christi is the name of this feast celebrating the Holy Eucharist. The Eucharist is also called Communion, the Lord's Supper, or the Mass (from the Latin word meaning "to dismiss"). Maundy Thursday would seem to be the best day to celebrate the Eucharist, because that is the day Jesus actually instituted the sacrament. In fact, the Institution of the Eucharist is celebrated on Maundy Thursday. However, the emphasis on the passion themes present in the Maundy Thursday celebration created the need for another day to focus entirely on the Eucharist itself. The Thursday after Trinity Sunday was chosen for the date of the Corpus Christi feast because it is a Thursday (the same day Christ instituted the Eucharist) and it is the first free Thursday after the Easter season (since the Thursday after Pentecost was a part of the ancient octave of Pentecost). Thus Corpus Christi falls within Ordinary Time. Typically Corpus Christi services consist of singing traditional hymns, Lauda Sion and Pange Lingua, both attributed to St. Thomas Aquinas. Some Anglicans celebrate Corpus Christi, and these hymns are in the 1980 Hymnal of the Episcopal Church (pp. 320, 165). Outdoor processions of the Blessed Sacrament are common in some churches as a way to celebrate Corpus Christi. Eucharistic Exposition and Benediction are also common Corpus Christi devotional practices in many churches. Corpus Christi is primarily thought of as a Western holiday, although the Syrians, Armenians, Copts, and other Eastern Churches have similar festivals. Some dioceses and conferences (including many dioceses in the American Catholic Church) celebrate Corpus Christi on the Sunday after the traditional feast date, i.e. on the Sunday after Trinity Sunday.
HistoryIn some ways every Sunday is a feast of the Eucharist, because by participating in the Mass, and in receiving Communion, we are honoring and celebrating the Eucharist. Nonetheless, a desire to specifically celebrate the Eucharist developed. The feast of Corpus Christi owes a rather large debt to St. Juliana, a nun of Liege, Belgium, who was led to start a celebration of the Mass around AD 1230. At an early age, she developed a strong devotion to the Blessed Sacrament, and she longed for a feast in honor of the Eucharist. In AD 1264 a bull of Pope Urban IV commanded universal the observance of the feast. Nonetheless, Urban's death impeded the spread of the feast. However, by the 14th century, the feast became universally celebrated in the West. St. Thomas Aquinas is given credit for many of the customs and hymns associated with Corpus Christi. Scholars have questioned this. However, the hymns and prayers certainly are in the tradition of Aquinas, and many defend the traditional ascription based on internal evidence. The Feast of Corpus Christi is celebrated throughout the Catholic Church. Although the feast is not officially observed in most Protestant churches, some Anglican churches, especially Anglo-Catholics, observe the feast. Worship And Prayer ResourcesCorpus Christi and Communion Prayers Corpus Christi Art, Photos, and Images
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The Mass of the Early Christians (Aquilina) General Links"Feast of Corpus Christi" from the Catholic Encyclopedia About ChurchYear.NetIn the course of a year, the Church celebrates the unfolding of the mystery of Christ, beginning with Advent, anticipating his first coming, and reaching a high point at Easter, the feast of feasts, celebrating Christ's resurrection. Through the Church Year, which includes the seasonal, daily, and yearly cycles of Christian time, we commemorate, and participate in, events in the lives of Jesus and his followers, through sanctified time. Thus, we experience in symbol what Jesus and his followers did in reality. We do this through daily prayer (The Liturgy of the Hours), worship, the Eucharist, the sacraments, art, changing colors, canticles, psalms, antiphons, symbols, and other means. The Church Year, including all liturgical celebrations and times of prayer, is one of the most meaningful dimensions of the Catholic faith. Many Christians of all traditions feel drawn to this system of holy time, and prefer to orient their lives around the Christian calendar instead of the secular calendar. Postmodern men and women feel especially drawn to many elements of Sanctified Time: mystery, connection to the past, and a multitude of religious symbols and experiential elements. Thus the Church Year is a postmodern Catholic evangelism tool, and a means of spiritual growth for all who use it. We now have All About...! pages for every season of the Church Year, and have many All About...! pages for various feasts, fasts, and holy days of the Church Year. Each All About...! page has a history, general facts, scriptural references, traditions, symbols, links, worship resources, sermons, an FAQ, and more material related to the particular season or holy day. We also have a helpful Church Year and Liturgy Dictionary, to define certain unfamiliar terms and practices. We are expanding our resources to include general prayers, language resources, and other tools peripherally related to celebrating the Church Year, but still important to its celebration. Enjoy! If you have any suggestions or information you would like to add to our Church Year. Net pages, please contact us. This page written by David Bennett. Last updated 04-11-2011.
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