The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1869-05-21
Corpus Christi.

after Pentecost occurring theI
present rear next week, o. the s7th OF
MAY. As the celebration unfolds the
greatest possible pomp, and causes con.
siderable excitement among the non
population, as wen as Catholic,
we have applied to a friend ~ give us
an explanation of the feast and he fur
nishes US with the following succinct
and excellent account of 1t, and its estab-
lishment: \
NAME AND OBJECT.
CORPUS Christi" is Latin, and means
The Pody of Christ" The celebration
in question is founded on the Catholic
BELIEF that the Host 'unleavened bread
bv the conservation and the power of the
priest is changed into tie sacred body of
Christ. in which lie for sS years suffered
and taught and was nailed to the cross.
but in which He also arose from the dead
and assembled into heaven. See Matt.
Pc, 2G-2s: Mark Is. 22-2l Luke %, i9-l
2u; |. Corinth. IL, 1925. Catholics sus.I
tain their firm belief in a perfect and
true change of the bread by Christs
words. and still more by John 6. The
object of the celebration then is: to ex-I
alt, and honor. and praise, and adore, and
tho true Body Of Christ, their
living God.
ORIGIN OF THE FEAST. "'
Over a thousand years the Church had
celebrated the memory Of Christs Body
and Blood ON Holy Thursday. the day
of the lords Supper" But az that day
is also the beginning of Christ's most
terrible suffering, as He that night sweat
ted blood, was whipped, crowned with
thorns, and the following day carried
His cross, was crucifeH and died there
fore every heart should be rentin mourn
ing, and consequently the glorification
of our Lords Body and Blood, being the
pledge of our eternal glory, cannot be
celebrated with that JOY which piety
seems to dictate. This idea for long
time troubled very pious and saint-like
lady Of convent at Liege in Belgium,
Juliana, who was very profound wor.
shipper of the holy Eucharist, as the
Body and Blood Of Christ is also called.
by God to cause the authorities Of the
Church to establish a suitable holiday
for the exaltation Of the holy Eucharist.
Consequently the Archbishop Of Liege,
at first not willing to listen to the de-
mands Of lady Juliana. ordered an ex-
|amination Of the peculiar incidents, and
after full deliberation in council with
several other bishops and able theol0gi-
ans, ordered the feast to be celebrated in
his diocese for the first time. This was
lin the year l246. Afterwards Pope Ur-
ban W., formerly arch-deacon in Liege,
land present ut the examination Of lady
Juliana, and at the council about the cs-
Establishment Of the "Corpus Christi
feast, ordered II to be observed through
out Christendom, 1864. But as he soon
after died, the feast was not universally
observed until Pope Clement ", during
the Council of Viennc in France, 1911
issued second distinct order for its gen.
eral observance together with the rite
how to celebrate it.
THE PROCESSION.
The general Council Of Trent, world
renowned for its explanation and defenst
of all the Catholic dogmas and usageI
against heretics, gives the following nin'
beautiful reasons why this feast by pro
Icession SO solemnly is celebrated: l.. lie
|cause it is only just for Christians to b
extra thankful for this really Cody ben
efaction, in. which is represented to u
Christ's victory over sin and DEATH
II. To celebrate the triumph of truth owe
, Iuntruth in such manner that the enc
] mics must blush by the sight OF sucl
: general JOY, may become Disconnected
and finally turn to the truth. 8. To pro
( TESS publicly thereby the belief in tn
! true and substantial presence of Jesus i
| the holy Eucharist. T. To show revel
, ence and alteration in the sight of cart
i and sky to Him, before whom all knee
!, should bend. 5. To give public thank
: for the institution Of this holy sacramer
: land for all blessings flowing from il.
dl6 To make good to some degree til
. abuses and insults to this most holy sa'
g rament by solemn alteration. Z. To in
- plore and call down Gods blessing o
: our country and nation. 8. To show thu
!. God not only lives in temples built b
= human hands, but that heaven is H
= Throne, the earth His foot-stool, and Il
!. universe His house. 9. To fulfill Il
70 prefguration OF the Old Testamen
q where the Ark with the inclosed Mann
- the symbol Of the holy Eucharist, WI
= lcarried about in procession.
ia The procession visits four temporari
- built affairs, where the four commenc
~ lments Of the four Gospels, according
=, 90 the four Evangelists, are sung by Il
I = celebrant, to show-l. That all 70
n evangelists agree in it. the true God h