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The Feast of Corpus Christi
by Marina Herrera, PhD
The first missionaries to arrive in Mexico were Franciscans devoted to the vow of poverty. Many of them had volunteered for the New World missions precisely out of a desire to live a much poorer lifestyle than was lived in the friaries of Europe. But as they came to know their converts, they found that while the people admired the personal poverty of the missionaries the people were also accustomed to the elaborate and spectacular ceremonies of the Aztec religion. Therefore if Mass was celebrated in a simple and poor style, the people would feel that their old religion was better than Christianity. The friars learned that while the friary could be committed to poverty and simplicity, the church celebrations and rituals needed to be at least as spectacular as the temples and sacrifices of the old gods. Thus the friars began to celebrate the feasts of the liturgical year as true fiestas, with magnificent music, with solemn processions, and even with mystery plays about the feast or saint who was being celebrated.
One of the most spectacular feasts was Corpus Christi, when Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament traversed the streets of the city or the village, sanctifying with his presence the spaces of secular life, and receiving the love and worship of his people. In this procession marched the lay confraternities, each behind its banner, the religious orders and the whole town. The children would sprinkle flowers on the street so that the Lord would pass over them; indeed, in some towns they even covered the route in “carpets” made of flowers in varied designs. In the Jesuit missions of Paraguay they prepared arches of flowering branches, from which hung cages of the most colorful parrots or the most harmonious songbirds; sometimes they even had cages with wild beasts of beautiful fur, so that the animal kingdom should also render homage to its Creator.
In modern times things are not as elaborate, but in Latin America, Corpus Christi is still an important liturgical day. In some countries it is still a holiday, and its procession are a highlight of the people’s year. Here in the United States, where Catholics were for long a barely tolerated minority, such a triumphant celebration would have been risky, and so it did not become part of our experience. But maybe this is a place where inspired by this tradition, we can seek for ways to celebrate this act of homage to our Lord in the Blessed Sacrament, and of faith in his presence among us. It is time to show that Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament not only belongs in church, but also walking our streets.
Note to Parents and Catechists:
Help the children understand and appreciate the importance of showing reverence for Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament.
• Visit your parish’s tabernacle. Point out the sanctuary lamp that shows that that Blessed Sacrament is present.
• Invite a guest who practices Eucharistic devotion to talk with the children about their important prayer practice.
About the author: Marina A. Herrera, born in Baní, Dominican Republic, holds a doctorate in Theology with emphasis on Latin American Ecclesiology from Fordham University in New York. Her catechetical and theological work in multicultural settings have taken her to teach for the Archdiocese of Chicago, preparing new catechists, and lay and religious ministers at New York Theological Seminary, St. Mary's, Baltimore, Maryknoll Seminary, Mundelein College, Washington Theological Union, and Wesley Theological Seminary. She writes, lectures, translates, and consults with parishes and institutions that prepare catechists, seminarians and ministers for the multicultural Church. She has helped in the design and content for materials produced by World Library Publications of Chicago, Liturgical Training Publications, Disciples in Mission for Paulist National Evangelization Association’s, Echoes of Faith for Resources for Christian Living, Allen, Texas, La Fe Viva for Creative Communications for the Parish, and Why Catholic? for Renew International among her more recent projects.
