What is Corpus Christi Christian Holiday?
Followers of Jesus Christ have numerous holidays. One biggest festivals of the Roman Catholic Church is the Corpus Christi.
During this festival, Catholics all over the world celebrate the Body of Christ.
Corpus Christi is a feast celebrating the actual presence of the Body of Christ and His Blood.
However, Corpus Christi is not as popular as Christmas or Easter holidays, because they view it as a Catholic holiday and not a Christian holiday.
But Anglicans, Orthodox, and some churches recognize the feast as well.
Very few Christians don’t know the true meaning of Corpus Christi and why we celebrate it.
So, what does Corpus Christi mean and why is it celebrated?
What is Corpus Christi Christian Holiday?
We also know Corpus Christi as the Feast of Corpus Christi or Solemnity of the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ.
The celebration of Corpus Christi is honoring the Body and Blood of Jesus Christ.
According to Christians, before His death, Jesus Christ met His disciples for the Last Supper.
Pointing to the bread, He said, “This is my body”, and “This is my blood” pointing to the wine.
Mark 14:22-24 – And as they were eating, he took bread, and after blessing, it broke it and gave it to them, and said, “Take; this is my body.” And he took a cup, and when he had given thanks, he gave it to them, and they all drank of it. And he said to them, “This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many.”
Thus, Catholics around the world acknowledge the gift of the Eucharist. Corpus Christi is a festival to celebrate the Eucharist as the body of Christ.
We also know Eucharist as the Holy Communion or the Lord’s Supper. It is a sacrament accepted by all followers of Jesus Christ.
Roman Catholics mainly celebrate the feast and occurs on the first Thursday after Trinity Sunday.
Catholics believe God (sacrament) is the food of the soul. Corpus Christi means the Body of Christ in Latin.
Christians celebrate the transubstantiation of bread and wine into the actual body of Christ during mass.
The religious ceremony of the day also commemorates Jesus Christ washing his disciple’s feet.
How is Corpus Christi celebrated?
Corpus Christi is a Christian holiday celebrated by Catholics all over the world.
It is an important festival to commemorate the Holy Eucharist.
Holy Eucharist is the holy sacrament instituted by Jesus at the Last Supper.
Even though it is viewed as a Roman Catholic holiday, they also celebrate it in Anglican, Western Orthodox, and other churches.
Jesus Christ instituted the feast during the Last Supper. The Last Supper was the last meal Jesus had with His disciples before His arrest.
It is mentioned in various books in the New Testament. Several activities mark the Corpus Christi festival.
Catholic Traditions
In Catholic religion, there are processions along the streets near the parish.
Then chief priests lead the Mass during the Corpus Christi festival.
Then the Chief Priest raises the monstrance and discloses the Blessed Sacrament as the Body of Christ.
In other churches, there are church services to celebrate the feast.
For instance, in Germany, Corpus Christi is celebrated with colorful processions.
Christians carry holy symbols and the sacrament throughout villages. Also, Christians partake in the Holy Communion.
When is Corpus Christi celebrated?
Corpus Christi is a feast celebrated by Catholics every year in honor of the Eucharist.
We celebrate it on the Thursday after Trinity Sunday. Just like Easter and Pentecost, it is a movable festival.
The purpose of the feast is to emphasize more on the Holy Eucharist. In many Roman Catholic churches, it is a holy day.
Catholics stop their work during the week to attend the mass.
What is the History of Corpus Christi?
Based on Wikipedia, Catholics have been celebrating the feast since 1246.
It was inspired by a Belgium nun, St Juliana, who dreamed repeatedly about church festivals.
She shared the dream with her local bishop, who issued a decree in 1246 for the feast to be celebrated.
In 1264, Pope Urban IV introduced the feast to all the churches.
In 1311, Pope Clement V. made Corpus Christi a mandatory feast for the Roman Catholics.
What do the words Corpus Christi mean?
Based on Wikipedia findings, Corpus Christi means the Body of Christ in Latin.
In some churches or countries, they also know Corpus Christi as the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ.
We also referred it to as the Feast of Corpus Christi. Corpus means body in Latin.
Thus, Christians celebrate the feast annually to honor the Body of Christ.
Do Protestants celebrate Corpus Christi?
Corpus Christi is a Christian holiday, but most people believe it is a Catholic holiday.
Most Protestant churches do not celebrate or recognize the feast of Corpus Christi.
However, it is recognized as a public holiday in some countries such as Brazil, Bolivia, Austria, Croatia, and many others.
What does Corpus Christi teach Christians?
Corpus Christi is an important feast intended to honor the Body of Christ.
It is a splendid feast because it helps to strengthen the faith of believers.
It teaches and reminds Christians of the sacrifice of Jesus Christ. He gave out His Body for the sins of humanity.
Also, Jesus instituted the celebration of Corpus Christi during the Last Supper with His disciples.
By honoring the Body of Christ, Christians show faith in Jesus Christ.
Last words about Christian Holiday Corpus Christi,
Corpus Christi is a holiday celebrated by many Christians, especially Catholics worldwide honoring the Holy Eucharist.
Even though most Protestants do not recognize the feast, it is an important event in the Christian calendar.
The most common celebration is the reception of the Holy Communion.
It is a public holiday in some countries like in Europe and South America.
Corpus Christi takes place on Thursday after the Trinity Sunday.
However, the feast does not have a fixed date. Thus, it is a movable feast just like Easter, Pentecost, and Trinity Sunday.