Corpus Christi – 2025 – Cathedral of Sts Peter and Paul, Ennis, Saturday 21st of June, 2025
At the end of every Mass the priest says, “The Mass is ended. Go in peace to love and serve the Lord.” These words can sometimes be overlooked for the prominent part they play in the meaning of the Mass. They are the bridge between the Mass just celebrated in the Church building and the world into which we the faithful are now returning.
To be an alter Christus
Devotion to the Eucharist does not end with the conclusion of the Mass. We receive the Body of Christ in our communion and then we go out into the world with Christ in us. We are invited to be Christ to others in our daily acts of living.
Eucharistic Processions
Traditionally, all over the world the Eucharist was and is honoured by the annual Corpus Christi Procession. The Blessed Sacrament is carried through the streets and people participate by walking in the procession or as observers who stand respectfully and pray as the procession passes by.
Faith through Feet
I like to call the tradition of the Corpus Christi procession the act of showing faith with our feet. The act of walking is our way of publicly demonstrating our faith in and love of the Eucharist. It is a case of our feet doing the talking – proclaiming by our footsteps that we are followers of Christ.
Bringing Christ to the World
Showing faith with our feet is our way of bringing Christ to the world. It is a reminder to us that out there is a public side to our Christian worship. We cannot hide our faith or leave it motionless as a private devotion.
Witness to Christ through Lifestyle
We are reminded on the feast of Corpus Christi that we should be Christ to others by acting towards them in a manner that we know to be Christ-like: forgiving, loving, compassionate, peace makers, interested in the welfare of others and concerned that we are playing our role in actively bringing Christ into the world.
The devotion of Processions
The Corpus Christi procession is public and demonstrative – qualities that we sometimes shy away from out of shyness, fear of ridicule or even being considered as showing off.
Corpus Christi reminds us that we are meant to:
- walk with Christ,
- to walk towards Christ and
- not walk away from Christ.
The procession is a means of renewing the courage of wearing the public badge of our faith.
It is a day we allow our feet do the walking and the talking for us. Every footstep is a reflection on the presence of Christ among us. More than this, our individual participation in the Corpus Christi procession is a walk on the path of Christ’s history: his walking the roads of the Holy land during his days of preaching, a share too in his walk to Calvary and a joyous stepping forth on the roads of the resurrection.
So, as you have the opportunity today, picture yourself in procession mode. Think of feet and faith as united together and remind yourself of the depth of meaning behind the phrase: The Mass is ended. Go in peace. Remind yourself that the Mass doesn’t end but continues in your daily living and the daily walks of life.
Faith and feet. Let us walk the talk and life the life of faith with our feet. Amen!