Corpus Christi Sunday

6/6/21

Dear St. Joseph Parish Family,

Today we celebrate the Solemnity of Corpus Christi, aka the Feast of the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ, the Holy Eucharist, Christ's presence among us. This feast began when St. Thomas Aquinas, a Dominican friar, suggested a feast celebrating the Eucharist to Pope Urban IV. Pope Urban established the Solemnity of Corpus Christi in the year 1264, and it is celebrated on the Sunday following Trinity Sunday every year. The Corpus Christi propers, the parts of the Mass text specific to this feast, were written by St. Thomas Aquinas.   

Traditionally on the Solemnity of Corpus Christi churches would hold a procession with the Eucharist around the church building. This tradition was followed at St. Joseph's, and this year we're reviving that tradition at the 11:30 Mass today. We'll process around the block with the Eucharist in a monstrance (the gold stand that holds the Body of Christ for adoration). While processing around the block we'll sing the Pange Lingua Gloriosi, a hymn for this feast written by St. Thomas Aquinas. 

This Friday, June 11th, we'll celebrate the Feast of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus. The Most Sacred Heart of Jesus is a devotion dating back to the Middle Ages and the feast of the Most Sacred Heart was first established by Pope Innocent VI in 1353. The devotion become very popular with St. Margaret Mary Alacoque in the 17th century. In our sanctuary, you can see our restored statue of the Sacred Heart of Jesus on the left of the tabernacle (on the side with the St. Joseph statue). The statue is Jesus motioning to His heart and there is a small outline of a heart on His chest. 

We are in a season of many feasts– make sure to take advantage of all the graces God is offering you during these feasts. The grace and mercy of Jesus's presence with us in the Eucharist and His love for us in His Most Sacred Heart are real and present to us.