The Portal July 2016 | Page 9

THE
P RTAL

July 2016

Page 9

Eucharistic Procession
in London
Donato Tallo looks back on a  wonderful
Corpus Christi Procession through central London
“Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood remains in me and I in him, says the Lord” (John 6:57)

T

he Solemnity of Corpus Christi has to be one of my favourite days in the church’s year as it is

a day which celebrates with extra devotion, great joy and happiness the Eucharist as the most precious
Body and Blood of Christ our Saviour. 
By  tradition,  Corpus Christi falls on the Thursday
after Trinity Sunday. However, in recent years in many
parts of the world (including England and Wales)
the Solemnity is transferred to the Sunday following
Trinity Sunday (a controversial and often sensitive
issue). This year in England and Wales Corpus Christi
was celebrated on Sunday 29th May. 
During Holy Week, the night of Maundy Thursday
commemorates the occasion when Jesus Christ
initiated the Holy Eucharist. Unlike the celebration
of the Mass of the Lord’s Supper and watching at the
Altar of Repose on Maundy Thursday, which is filled
with a  sombre  atmosphere, Corpus Christi allows
Catholics to celebrate the Eucharist, Jesus truly present
at the Eucharistic table, with greater devotion and joy
in comparison to Maundy Thursday.   

© Mazur/catholicnews.org.uk

This form of public  witness,  which took
place  on a  bright and sunny Sunday afternoon in
Central  London,  attracted the attention of many
sightseers, shoppers and tourists both young
and old who paused to see what was passing
them.  Many  looked  intrigued,  others slightly
As well as the celebration of Holy Mass on the confused, but either way it was fantastic for Our Lord
Solemnity of Corpus Christi many Catholics elect to to be honoured, praised and exposed on the streets of
honour with praise and devotion the presence of Jesus our Capital City.  
at the Eucharistic table by forming processions of the
Blessed Sacrament which allow a truly public witness
It was good to have a large Ordinariate presence
of our faith to be demonstrated.
in attendance at the procession and fantastic that
the procession started at the Church of Our Lady of
In Central London, a public veneration of the Holy the Assumption and St Gregory, Warwick Street.  At
Eucharist took place on Corpus Christi and following the Church of St James in Spanish  Place,  where
a short period of exposition at the Church of Our Lady the procession ended, Benediction culminated
of the Assumption and St  Gregory,  Warwick Street the afternoon’s proceedings and allowed all present to
(the home of the Central London Ordinariate Group) acknowledge  truly  the presence of  Our Lord and
the Blessed Sacrament was carried in procession Saviour. A rousing rendition of  ‘Alleluia, sing to
through the streets of Central London  protected  by Jesus’ finished off the proceedings beautifully.  
a large canopy held by a mixture of Knights of the
Holy Sepulchre and Knights of Malta. 
In an increasingly secularised society, it was indeed
a great witness to the faith for so many people to take
In the presence of the Apostolic Nuncio to Great part in the Corpus Christi procession in London. 
Britain, Archbishop Antonio  Menni ni, it  was
encouraging to see a large crowd following the exposed
“I am the living bread which has come down
Blessed Sacrament through the streets of Central
from heaven, says the Lord. Anyone who eats this
London singing hymns and making devotions. 
bread will live for ever.” (John 6:51)