So…what is going on around the globe, Corpus Christi-wise?

We attended Mass on Saturday evening. The music – typical traditional English-language Eucharistic hymns, plus the totally grating and simpering  Bread Blessed and Broken . The sequence, Lauda Sion, was read by the priest. I don’t even know if it was in the missalette – my hands were full – because I saw people flipping and flipping through pages while he read. Which they also did once he started proclaiming the gospel because he didn’t read the Gospel of the Loaves and the Fishes – he read something else from John, and I’m really sorry because I can’t remember what it was (again – full hands) – strikes me it was from the Last Discourses, but I’m not sure. Are there options? (This priest is not, shall we say, an innovator). He preached on the Loaves and Fishes, though. It was strange. The only thing I can think of is that there was a renewal of vows for a couple celebrating their 50th wedding anniversary and perhaps it was related to that. Once I remember what the Gospel actually was, perhaps we can all figure it out.

The homily was the typical pointed fare we expect from this priest – direct and to the point, elucidating the centrality and importance of the Eucharist, noting how many times a day Mass is offered every day in the city and wondering how many people take advantage of that fact. Or, he said, in a rare mention of current events (aside from the war in Iraq, which he does mention – negatively) , instead of getting up to Mass yesterday (Friday) morning, did we sit in front of our televisions and watch reruns of Paris Hilton’s troubles instead?

No procession at this parish, but there is one this morning at our own parish.

And you? If you have any links to photos, etc, please share, and I’ll pull them up and put them up here.

No photos, but in our journey around the world, we can start with Jen in China:

Today’s new word

Sheng ti sheng xue The Chinese name for the feast of Corpus Christi, literally Holy Body Holy Blood.