Corpus Christi meaning: History and origin of the Catholic festival

Every year, Roman Catholics and other various Christian denominations come together to celebrate the holy festival Corpus Christi, which translates to “Body of Christ” in Latin. The festival takes place on the Thursday after Trinity Sunday (60 days after Easter), but some countries celebrate it on the following Sunday instead. This year, the celebration falls on June 16.

What is the meaning of Corpus Christi?

The festival celebrates the Eucharist, which commemorates the transubstantiation of bread and wine into the body of Christ during Mass.

In some countries, Catholic churches celebrate the festival not only with a Mass, but also with a procession that carries the consecrated wafer, also known as sacramental bread, from the church and out into the streets “to make a public profession of faith and worship of the Most Blessed Sacrament”.

It acknowledges the concept that Jesus’ sacrifice was for the salvation of the world.

For Catholics, the wafer contains the real presence of Christ. This means it’s treated how Christ in human form would be treated, with reverence, ceremony and adoration.

READ MORE: Catholic church leader in awe of the Queen’s ‘stability and depth’

The wafer is displayed on a ‘monstrance’ and protected from the sun by a canopy.

This practice is less common in the UK, as processions started to wane in the seventies after the establishment of the Second Vatican Council. However, some smaller towns and villages still carry out the ceremony.

The Church of England celebrate the Eucharist on the same day, but they refer to it as the Day of Thanksgiving for the Institution of Holy Communion.

Two months earlier, a similar kind of celebration takes place on Maundy Thursday, in more of a sombre atmosphere in the lead-up to Good Friday (the day Jesus was sacrificed).

Which countries observe Corpus Christi?

Corpus Christi is observed as a public holiday in Austria, Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Croatia, Dominican Republic, East Timor, Equatorial Guinea, Germany, Grenada, Haiti, Liechtenstein, Monaco, Poland, Portugal, Saint Lucia, San Marino, Seychelles, Spain, Switzerland, Trinidad and Tobago, Venezuela.

Although observed, it’s not a public holiday in the UK, Australia, Canada, and the US.