Today we celebrate the Solemnity of the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ. This solemnity – known in Latin as Corpus Christi — has its origins in the efforts of Saint Juliana of Liege, a medieval nun who had a great devotion to the Blessed Sacrament. Holy Thursday is certainly a day that celebrates the institution of the Holy Eucharist, but St. Juliana argued that an additional day was needed to promote Eucharistic devotion with those unable to attend Holy Week services. Her bishop agreed, and so did Pope Urban IV, who promulgated Corpus Christi as a feast for the universal Church in the year 1264.
Over the centuries, this feast has been celebrated in a number of different ways. It became quite popular for parishes to have a Corpus Christi procession after the Sunday liturgy, with the Blessed Sacrament reverently showcased in a monstrance held by the priest as servers and parishioners led the way through neighborhood streets while singing Eucharistic hymns.
Nowadays, with the renewed interest in Eucharistic Adoration, the Solemnity of the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ is an opportunity for Catholics to reflect on the meaning of the Eucharist in today’s fast-paced world.
Today on this solemn feast we will be having a procession with the Eucharist after the 12:00 noon Mass. I would like to encourage as many as possible to take part in this celebration. This is a time when we as faithful Catholics can show our love for Christ in the Real Presence by honoring Him in a very public way. It is also a wonderful way in which we can show our love for our neighbors by bringing Our Lord and Savior closer to them. So many conversions are a result of Eucharistic Adoration experienced from inside the Church. How many more there would be if we could reach those who only drive by the church by demonstrating our love for the Eucharist, by devoutly taking part in this procession. Children who have received their First Communion this year have been encouraged to attend in their suits and dresses. It will be even nice to have as many altar servers dress up in their altar servers robes. Please join me in making this solemn procession a very important occasion for our parish.
If you attended the Saturday 5:00 pm Mass or today’s 9:00 am Mass, please feel free to come join us in the procession.
Attention High School and College Graduates Class of 2016
The St. Valentine community congratulates you on your graduation! We would like to recognize your accomplishments at the noon Mass on June 5, 2016. We are inviting you to attend Mass and join the community afterwards for coffee and doughnuts in the School Meeting Room. Please call the parish office (313.532.4394) if you will be attending and if you would like to participate in the Mass as a lector or Eucharistic Minister, let the office staff know when you call.