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Benedict XVI celebrating Corpus Christi in Rome - Communion at kneeler & on the tongue
The Holy Father is celebrating the Mass of Corpus Christi in Rome.
Remember… today is Corpus Christi, not Sunday, in the traditional Roman calendar.
His sermon, in Italian.
There will be a procession with the Blessed Sacrament at the end of Mass to St. Mary Major.
He is moving along at a good pace. I think he is aware of the length of this celebration.
It is in Italian.
Something fantastic has occurred!
For Holy Communion from the Holy Father, a kneeler has been set in place before His Holiness and people are kneeling and receiving on the tongue.
Excellent.
Did you see?! Did you see?! People knelt to receive Holy Communion from the Holy Father! They used a kneeler! Excellent idea for churches with no communion/altar rails. I am told that’s how they do it in Opus Dei chapels. So simple! It didn’t take any additional time, etc. I pray this catches on fast!
Comment by Geoffrey — 22 May 2008 @ 12:18 pmI’ve missed seeing the faithful receive Holy communion :( For anyone interested, replays on EWTN are at 5/22/08 11:30 PM ET & 8:30 PM PT. The procession w/ the truck has started :D
Comment by Lauren — 22 May 2008 @ 12:38 pmFr. Z,
If Pope Benedict XVI is celebrating the ordinary form Mass, then why is he celebrating Corpus Christi according to the traditional calender? Is the Sunday setting of Corpus Christi just something the American bishops did? Thanks.
-Rob
Comment by RobNY — 22 May 2008 @ 12:43 pmWonderful.
The Holy Father used Eucharistic Prayer II though, which is disappointing especially considering it’s Corpus Christi. But the kneeler is fine compensation.
Re the audio file anti-spam – I had to turn off EWTN to hear it, so that’s a thumb’s down. Also, your delivery of the letters military-style immediately reminded me of the scene in “A Christmas Story” where Ralphie locks himself in the bathroom to unravel the Little Orphan Annie decoder mystery only to find it means “DRINK MORE OVELTINE.”
Comment by Jon — 22 May 2008 @ 12:44 pmRob –
Comment by Tony — 22 May 2008 @ 12:51 pmNot just in the US, but Corpus Christi is still today rather than Sunday in the General Roman Calendar, and is celebrated today in Rome and in other places where the bishops still love Jesus. Individual conferences of bishops have chosen to move it to Sunday, for God knows what reason.
Brick by brick
Comment by Fr. B. Pedersen — 22 May 2008 @ 12:56 pmTony,
Thanks.
Although I’m a little downcast about this. I’ve been planning on going to an extraordinary form Mass this Sunday, and I was hoping to catch a feast day. I think I’ll survive.
“and in other places where the bishops still love Jesus”
Ouch! Haha.
-Rob
Comment by RobNY — 22 May 2008 @ 1:06 pmFrom a funny movie: THANK YOU GOD!
Seeing the kneeler and Communion given on the tongue is what makes my heart jump from JOY! This was exactly what I had to fight for just this spring with our Cathedral pastor: to make it possible for my God-daughter to be allowed (!) to receive First Communion on the tongue. And now the Holy Father is giving THE example. How lovely this all is. I just hope this would be made obligatory for First Communion catechesis in the whole Church.
Please pray for our Corpus Christi Mass and Procession in our Cathedral in Helsinki on Sunday so that all would go well. It will be broadcast live on national television!
Comment by Marko — 22 May 2008 @ 1:09 pmActually, ironically, Corpus Christi is celebrated on Sunday in Rome—but on Thursday in the Vatican, and the papal basilicas are technically in the Vatican.
Comment by Drew of the Holy Whapping — 22 May 2008 @ 1:20 pmNot sure how I feel about the truck driven papal float. Reminds me a little too much of the Macy’s Thanksgiving day parade when Santa Claus comes by on his sled at the very end. Here’s a photo of the old Roman procession. It’s in the morning too!
http://farm1.static.flickr.com/136/326014119_2589e62146.jpg?v=0
Comment by Michael — 22 May 2008 @ 1:21 pmMy parish is actually is celebrating Corpus Christi on Sunday in both forms, so if you are anywhere near Philadelphia:
http://www.stpeterrcc.com/
Comment by Tony — 22 May 2008 @ 1:22 pmLovely, just lovely. Out of curousity who are the gentlemen in picture # 6
Comment by Jackie — 22 May 2008 @ 1:26 pmThanks
RobNY,
Today is the Solemnity of Corpus Christi not only in the Extraordinary form but also in the Ordinary Form, according to the General Roman Calendar.
However, regarding the Ordinary Form, Conferences of Bishops are permitted, with the approval of the Holy See, to transfer the celebration of the feast to the next Sunday. And that’s what happened in the US.
That, however, does not change the fact that, also in the Ordinary Form, the Universal Church, and the Church in Italy, celebrate Corpus Christi on Thursday. That’s why the Pope is celebrating Corpus Christi Mass today. It is no different than what happened in Rome in previous years—except for the great improvements in the liturgical style of the Papal Mass, such as the wonderful introduction of kneelers, etc.
Here in Brazil, also, Corpus Christi is being celebrated today, and it is a national holiday.
Comment by prof. basto — 22 May 2008 @ 1:28 pmThanks for the great images! Happy Feast of Corpus Cristi! God bless! Padre Steve
Comment by Padre Steve — 22 May 2008 @ 1:44 pmIf Corpus Christi were celebrated on Thursday in the US, it would be pretty much ignored by most people who don’t go to daily Mass. It’s not a holy day of obligation in this country so not many people would go to daily Mass. Because the Bishops transferred the Feast to Sunday, it will be celebrated by all. For this we must be thankful rather than throwing darts at the bishops.
Comment by Judy — 22 May 2008 @ 1:49 pmI would think that if Corpus Christ is transferred to Sunday, there should be no reason for parishes to not have processions. I have yet to see one in my diocese.
Comment by Geoffrey — 22 May 2008 @ 2:14 pmCorpus Christi processions were held on Sunday long before the Council in the US. It’s treated as an External Solemnity, and both the Institute and the Fraternity parishes near my house are having their processions on Sunday so that more people can attend. The liturgy of Corpus Christi is celebrated today.
Comment by Michael — 22 May 2008 @ 2:40 pmIf Corpus Christi were celebrated on Thursday in the US, it would be pretty much ignored by most people who don’t go to daily Mass.
Abusus non tollit usum.
Comment by Romulus — 22 May 2008 @ 2:52 pmI think using the second eucharistic prayer with the description of dew does a nice job of picking up the manna reference in the 1st reading. Generally I prefer the Roman Canon as well.
I agree with Judy. To my mind Corpus Christi is different from Ascension Thursday or the feast of the Presentation in the traditional calendar which have their traditional places due to biblical sources. Although the symoblism of observing Corpus Christi on the same day of the week as the Last Supper is admirable where the day can be a public holiday, the placement is somewhat arbitrary in comparison to the placement of the other observances. I would think it is preferable for people in places like the U.S. not to miss out. Would that the processions in the U.S. were more widespread! Maybe it’s time to put bugs in pastors’ ears for next year.
Comment by Ioannes — 22 May 2008 @ 2:55 pmWhen I was chaplain on USS Dwight D Eisenhower I used a kneeler and so made clear to all who chose to receive kneeling that they were welcome to do so. A no-brainer. Also had naugahyde covers sewn for foam pads so all would feel encouraged to kneel on hard foc’sle deck where Sunday Masses were celebrated.
Comment by Father Kevin M Cusick — 22 May 2008 @ 3:04 pmSee photo of EF Holy Mass on US Theodore Roosevelt @ http://mcitl.blogspot.com where the faithful are encourage to kneel to receive our Lord as is done in Rome.
Laudamus Domino semper!
According to the Ordo provided by the Fraternity of St. Peter:
“Permission to observe the External Solemnity of Corpus Christi on the following Sunday (May 25, 2008) is granted to the United States by indult of Pope Leo XIII. Mass is that of the feast. The Votive Mass of the Most Holy Eucharist (II class) may be celebrated on any day during the seven days following the feast. A procession of the Blessed Sacrament must follow the Mass. Two such occasions are allowed.” (FSSP Ordo 2008) pg. 30)
Comment by Fr. B. Pedersen — 22 May 2008 @ 3:10 pm“If Corpus Christi were celebrated on Thursday in the US, it would be pretty much ignored by most people who don’t go to daily Mass.”
That’s because the hierarchy has failed us for 40 years and has allowed a minimalist mindset to overrun the Church. If people were taught the Catholic faith in Catholic churches, that would not be the case.
Comment by Tony — 22 May 2008 @ 3:15 pmThis is thrilling! When I go to Mass at many places in Spain, they just bring out a kneeler. Actually, they bring out two and put them side by side in front of the celebrant. That way one person can be kneeling down while the other is getting up, and it makes things move along very quickly.
Comment by EDG — 22 May 2008 @ 3:41 pmI wish I could have been there.
Oh, how I WISH I could have been there.
Comment by Lacrimaurm Valle — 22 May 2008 @ 4:15 pmWonderful photos, thanks Fr.
Comment by Corboy — 22 May 2008 @ 4:24 pmdear father z
what a joy for many of us catholic priests to see the holy father being so courageous to bring us back to tradition and reveren