On this Sunday, when many are celebrating Corpus Christi, I’m feeling a little nostalgic.
I spotted this photo in my plentiful archive.
Back when the world was a brighter place and hearts were buoyant and war was not being waged on Catholic identity, we had a Pontifical Mass at the Throne celebrated by the late Extraordinary Ordinary, Most Rev. Robert C. Morlino. For one of the Benediction Stations, we went into the building which was the former seminary/chancery and from a high balcony the Bishop gave the Eucharist Benediction over the whole city.
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The photos brought tears of joy to my heart…and those of sorrow to my eyes that this does not happen as much as it should, if ever, these days. This is what we and the world desperately need now!
My thoughts on this solemnity are frequently nostalgic – good and bad. From the first Corpus Christi I recall in my home parish, when my mother and I were two of maybe ten people who showed up for the afternoon adoration and benediction and the pastor looked out into the church and said loudly, “This is hardly worth the fuss. We’re definitely not doing this again.” To the Corpus Christi at St. Agnes (I think it may have been the late Bishop Sirba’s first Mass) when Deacon Hughesdon was thrilled that he had enough copes to cover all of the priests who were there (at least two dozen).
Now, as pastor of a delightful little parish, I am happy to do what I can – we had a nice procession around the neighborhood after a solemn Mass (Mozart’s Missa brevis in C). Bracing, windy day (the Knights of Columbus heroically held the canopy steady). God was duly worshiped.
You should be in NYC! Processions all over the city today including a huge one going down the Grand Concourse past Yankee Stadium.
I love these Catholic things. They stir my heart.
I NEED them. Because I know what I am without them.
Father Ferguson; Your post brings to mind words spoken more than a half century ago, but which have remained with me these many years later. They were spoken by the Director of our High School choir. We were on our first European tour and were in London preparing to perform at a university located in the heart of the city. Sadly, the university had had failed to advertise our concert, the result being that as the moment to perform was upon us, we saw that there were but a handful of listeners in the audience. All of us were despondent and some expressed sentiments similar to those uttered by the pastor of your youth. Our Director smiled and with quiet understanding said to all assembled on the stage, “Even if there were only one person here to listen to you, then you should sing as if to a hundred. For if your gift of music can move and bring joy to that one listener, then your being here is certainly of great worth”…or something to that effect. It appears that the pastor of your youth unfortunately may have lacked that insightful bit of wisdom.
God Rest Bishop Morlino’s Soul.
The Monastery that we have attended for years, and has NEVER done the Novus Ordo, has through patience, prayer and God’s love continued to grow and prosper.
Though independant, they have the full approval of the past and present Bishop. They have developed relationships with the local Catholic churches. In a nearby town they joined together to do a Procession through the town. It started during Covid when the area Priest starting hearing Confessions at the local Cemetery and has blossomed from there.
The Tait!