The Solemnity of the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ, also known by its original Latin name, Corpus Christi, always takes place two Sundays after Easter Sunday. Many parishes still honor the tradition of making a Eucharistic procession on that day.

Pictured right, top, Bishop George Murry, SJ, along with the altar servers and and the priests of Holy Cross Church on St. Croix, Fr. Pat Lynch, CSsR, and Fr. Slawek Romanowski, CSsR, led a Eucharistic procession through the streets of Christiansted.

Pictured right, middle, Rev. Dr.

George Franklin and many parishioners of Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Church on St. John led a Eucharistic procession through the streets of Cruz Bay.

Pictured right, bottom, Very Rev. Neil Scantlebury, Rector of Ss. Peter and Paul Cathedral on St. Thomas, led his parishioners in adoration when the monstrance carrying the Eucharist was placed on the altar.

"Wherever it is possible in the judgment of the diocesan bishop, a procession through the public streets should be held, especially on the Solemnity of the Body and Blood of Christ, as a public witness of reverence for the Most Holy Sacrament" (Code of Canon Law, can. 944 § 1), for the "devout participation of the faithful in the Eucharistic procession on the Solemnity of the Body and Blood of Christ is a grace from the Lord which yearly fills with joy those who take part in it" (John Paul II, Ecclesia de Eucharistia, § 1 0).

"The Catholic Church has always offered and still offers to the sacrament of the Eucharist the cult of adoration, not only during Mass, but also outside of it, reserving the consecrated hosts with the utmost care, exposing them to the solemn veneration of the faithful, and carrying them in procession" (Paul VI, Mysterium fidei 56).

THE CATHOLIC ISLANDER   *AUGUST 2006*   6

CATHOLICS TAKE TO THE STREETS FOR CORPUS CHRISTI