Eucharistic Procession on Corpus Christi Day
Today the congregation celebrated Christ the King Sunday
with a procession in 90-degree heat. More than the sunlight
piercing the stained-glass windows, one illuminating Mary
as she rests her hands on her son’s shoulders, more
than the parable of loaves and fish, more than the carved Apostles
vibrating to our anthem about the bread of angels
becoming the bread of man,
more than the perfume of snuffed candles, I enjoyed
being one of 400 walking around the block.
After priests and a deacon, altar boys and girls
gathered before the incense-bathed altar, we followed them
as a priest carried the monstrance under a canopy, singing
the same refrain until the congregation arrived at two stations–
the rectory and the school. Undeterred by a droning
helicopter, we stayed in sync to the end. Back at the Cathedral,
we chanted divine praises. Following the closing hymn
and organ recessional, the deacon, preparing
to perform a baptism, joked that he was already wet.
We processed in a scraggly line bearing public witness.
Some kneeled at the stations, some stood.
When some of us flagged, others would take up the song.
9 thoughts on "Eucharistic Procession on Corpus Christi Day"
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This poem takes me back (minus the heat, though) to Corpus Christi processions in Bregenz, Austria, where I took students for study abroad. I especially like the description of the sunlight through the windows. (Btw Christ the King Sunday is the last Sunday of the church year before the beginning of Advent, so it falls in November.)
What a beautiful poem, Gaby. Each lovely description places us right there next to you. Aren’t those procession events something else? They feel ancient and contemporary all at once. Such a cool way to celebrate community and faith. Great image, too!
Terrific! I can see it all.
400 – quite a turnout on such a stifling day! Beauty of a poem.
Beautifully written with great details – love it !
Thanks, Gaby, for capturing the procession so well. It’s a real “peoples’ liturgy,” that embodies deep belief.
love how ‘more than’ gives a steady ‘procession’.
This is so lovely, Gaby. You walked us around the block in procession, baked us, and sprinkled us with tradition. Loved the deacon’s humor. ‘When some of us flagged, others would take up the song.” – a core tenet of religion.
I love how you end this piece: “When some of us flagged, others would take up the song.”