Corpus Christi

St Juliana of Liege

The feast of the Body and Blood of Jesus is beloved by all Catholics. Just as processions are held in our towns and villages, they are held in most Catholic countries, especially in Spain and Central American countries where people literally paint the streets with flower petals. The custom of the procession started in the Middle Ages, but it was a Belgian sister, St. Giuliana of Liege, who in 1208 had a vision from Jesus to start a special devotion in honor of the Eucharist. Since there was already the Holy Thursday celebration, she asked her bishop Jacques Pantaleon if she could organize a procession through the streets of Liege. Eventually, he became Pope Urban IV, and gave Sister Giuliana permission to start the Corpus Christi procession, which has been held ever since.

St Thomas Aquinas

At the same time, the Pope encouraged a young Dominican monk to write various hymns in honor of the Blessed Sacrament. And that’s when St. Thomas Aquinas went to work and composed the Tantum Ergo, Pange lingua, O Salutaris Hostia, O Sacrum Convivium, Lauda Sion Salvatorem, and others, which are still being used till this day. And after so many millions of people have been denied the Eucharist over the last three months, let us start to appreciate this gift which Jesus left us during the Last Supper, his own Body and Blood to nourish us and nurture us.