The Feast of Corpus Christi (Latin for Body of Christ), also known as Corpus Domini, is a Latin Rite liturgical solemnity celebrating the tradition and belief in the body and blood of Jesus Christ and his Real Presence in the Eucharist.
Liturgical Color(s): White
Type of Holiday: Solemnity; Holy Day of Obligation
Time of Year: The Thursday After Trinity Sunday; Translated to the Sunday After Trinity Sunday (in some Catholic dioceses)
Duration: One Day
Celebrates/Symbolizes: The Holy Eucharist
Alternate Names: Festum Corpus et Sanguinis Christi
Scriptural References: Matthew 26:26-29; Mark 14:22-26; Luke 22:19-20; John 6:51-58; 1 Corinthians 11:23-26
The Catholic Catechism summarizes this teaching of the importance of the Eucharist:
The Eucharist is "the source and summit of the Christian life." "The other sacraments, and indeed all ecclesiastical ministries and works of the apostolate, are bound up with the Eucharist and are oriented toward it. For in the blessed Eucharist is contained the whole spiritual good of the Church, namely Christ himself, our Pasch" (1324).
In some ways every Sunday is a feast of the Eucharist, because by participating in the Mass, and in receiving Communion, we are honoring and celebrating the Eucharist. Nonetheless, a desire to specifically celebrate the Eucharist developed. The feast of Corpus Christi owes a rather large debt to St. Juliana, a nun of Liege, Belgium, who was led to start a celebration of the Mass around AD 1230.
Traditions
Opening Mass with Lauda Sion (St. Thomas Aquinas)
Singing the Pange Lingua (St. Thomas Aquinas)
Eucharistic Exposition and Benediction
Corpus Christi Procession: After the last Mass on this feast day Our Lord is placed in the monstrance. The priest then carries Him to four different altars representing the four corners of the earth. While processing, the congregation follows and sings. At each altar there are readings, prayers, and benediction.
Symbols
Bread and Wine (or Plate and Chalice)
Bunch of grapes
Vine
Peacock Feeding on Grapes
Any Symbol of the Eucharist
From churchyear.net and ask.com
