Feast of Corpus Christi

The Feast of Corpus Christi celebrates the real presence of Christ in the Eucharist. Traditionally, Corpus Christi falls on the Thursday after Trinity Sunday, and in the Novus Ordo calendar, the feast is pushed ahead to the following Sunday, to allow more people to attend this important Solemnity.

In the 13th century, St. Juliana of Liege, an Augustinian nun, had a vision of Christ who expressed to her the need for a Liturgical Feast in adoration of the Holy Eucharist, to increase faith among the people. The Archdeacon of Liege was one of Juliana’s greatest supporters. When he became Pope Urban the IV, after having investigated the eucharistic miracle of Bolsena, in which a communion host bled during consecration, he instituted the Solemnity of Corpus Christi (1264).

Traditional practices on the Feast of Corpus Christi include Eucharistic processions through local streets and neighbourhoods, with the faithful following a priest holding a consecrated host at the centre of a monstrance, while singing hymns and reciting prayers. This year, Corpus Christi falls on June 4th.

"For Jews demand signs and Greeks desire wisdom, but we proclaim Christ crucified, a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles" (1 Corinthians 22-23)