Although today is officially the feast of Corpus Christi in Ireland, on Thursday, Pope Benedict XVI lead a Eucharistic procession through the streets of Rome, and in Dublin, Archbishop Diarmuid Martin lead a large group of people in procession around the grounds of Clonliffe College. Speaking before the procession in Rome, the pope said the Eucharist brought history's most profound revolution because believers gather before it, leaving aside all their differences.
Quoting St Paul’s phrase "There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free person, there is not male and female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus,” the Pope said this was experienced when people gathered around the Eucharist.
The Eucharist could never be a private event, but was a public worship that has “nothing of esotericism or exclusivity.”
"We are united beyond our differences of nationality, profession, social class, political ideas: We open ourselves to each other to become one in him."
The Pope said the feast of Corpus Christi, reminded people that to be Christians means to come together from all parts to be in the presence of the only Lord and to be “one in him and with him.”
This year, the feast of Corpus Christi recalled another important historical event. Four hundred years earlier, Earl Hugh O’Neill participated in the Corpus Christi procession of 1608.
Reenacting that participation, eight Irish seminarians were closely involved in the event on Thursday.
Two Irish deacons, Colin Crossey from the Diocese of Down and Connor and Shane Gallagher from the Diocese of Raphoe, took part in the Corpus Christi Mass, while six other seminarians from the Irish college in Rome, stood at Pope Benedict’s side during the procession from Saint John Lateran to Saint Mary Majors.
“The honour shown to the Irish Earls 400 years ago, by Pope Paul V, has been revisited on eight Irish College seminarians,” said Monsignor Liam Bergin, Rector of the Pontifical Irish College.
“As this anniversary is being marked in Ireland and beyond by historical and cultural events, it is appropriate that the religious dimension is also acknowledged and that the welcome given to the Catholic princes four centuries ago, by the Holy See, be joyously celebrated today.”
The Dublin procession, led by Archbishop Martin, focussed on one of the themes of the 150th Anniversary of the Apparitions at Lourdes, the Church on mission nourished by the Eucharist.
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