The Catholic Watchdog is devoted to the advancement of the Catholic faith in Northeastern Pennsylvania and to the preservation of the heritage and institutions of the Diocese of Scranton.
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.
I found this reflection on the Holy Trinity to be quite good, especially in its comparison of the mystery of the Trinity with the mysteries of the Sacred Liturgy.
Have soft music playing in the background as you quiet yourself and imagine that you are on a magic carpet ride through the Diocese of Scranton 5-10 years from now, after it has been profoundly renewed. What are the youth doing? Who’s working out in the new mega-parish gym? Who’s sipping a latte in the parish coffeehouse?
This weekend has been quite an emotional time for the people of the Diocese of Scranton. To take my mind off the matters at hand, I watched the classic movie “The Bells of St. Mary’s” for the first time last night. If you haven’t seen the film, it’s worth a look. Bing Crosby stars in this charming story of faith, hope, and perseverance in spite of seemingly insurmountable obstacles. It’s also a window into the strong Catholic culture of a bygone era, something that we would do well to restore.
For your viewing pleasure…
O sanctissima, O piissima dulcis Virgo Maria. Mater amata, intemerata ora, ora pro nobis. Amen.
