Corpus Christi

Today in the dioceses of the United States we celebrate the solemnity of the Body and Blood of Christ: Corpus Christi. In other ecclesial provinces, it is celebrated on the Thursday after Trinity Sunday. The Liturgy of Corpus Christi is an opportunity to celebrate the mystery of the Holy Eucharist in a manner less restrained than on Maundy Thursday. The organ is played, incense is used, and High Mass should be celebrated with full ceremonial and music. A few liturgical notes about today’s feast: The sequence, Lauda Sion Salvatorem, or at least the final two stanzas, may be sung before the Gospel. It is customary to expose the Blessed Sacrament after Communion for a Eucharistic Procession. Thomas Aquinas’ hymn Pange Lingua Gloriosi is sung. Benediction may be given at the end of the Procession, or it may be given multiple times at three altars set up along the procession route.

I would highly recommend the follow videos of Corpus Christi liturgies. Here is the Solemn Mass celebrated outside of St. John Lateran in Rome by Pope Benedict on Thursday. And here are a few videos from Corpus Christi Mass at S. Clement’s in Philadelphia.