Corpus Christi at Saint Mungo’s

In Scotland, we celebrated the Feast of Corpus Christi last Sunday. At Saint Mungo’s, after the 12.00 Mass, we had our usual Eucharistic Procession inside the church. Although Blessed Dominic Barberi reintroduced the public Corpus Christi Procession to England at Stone, Staffordshire, over one hundred and fifty years ago (and Father Tim Finnegan of The Hermeneutic of Continuity followed in his footsteps there a few years ago), Glasgow city centre is probably not ready for it yet.

This picture from the organ gallery, which like the others in this post was taken by Thomas Davie, shows the procession taking shape.

Only the Altar Servers and this year’s First Communicants walk in the procession; if everyone were to walk, the front and back of the procession would probably overlap. The members of the congregation remain in their places praying and singing as the Blessed Sacrament is carried around the church.

Having walked around the ambulatory, passing behind the sanctuary, our Master of Ceremonies, Robert, leads the procession down the other side of the church.

The Altar Servers walk in front of the First Communicants who wear either traditional dress or school uniform; the girls scatter flower petals in front of the Blessed Sacrament…

… while the boys carry lighted candles (keeping a safe distance from each other in case they set one another alight).

Ronnie has an anxious moment as the canopy negotiates a corner.

The Monstrance passes by, with Father Anthony reverently bringing up the rear.

The procession moves back towards the centre aisle to return to the sanctuary.

The Eucharistic Procession will conclude at the altar with Benediction.

After Benediction, as it was still dry outside, we were able to have a barbecue in the back yard. The First Communicants helped demolish a total of two hundred beefburgers, as well as various other edible items.