We were very fortunate in Margate to be able to celebrate the Feast of Corpus Christi with a TLM on the proper day. On the Sunday, however, the Deanery held its Corpus Christi procession at the Shrine of St. Augustine in Ramsgate.
It was a huge success - over 350 people squeezed in to the church to adore Our Lord. Children who had made their First Holy Communion were invited to ring bells and scatter rose petals before the Blessed Sacrament as the procession walked along the seafront promenade.
A few years ago, someone rather dismissively told me that no-one bothered with silly things like processions any more...
Do have a look at the pictures of no-one bothering...!
I was delighted to see Fr Mark Higgins in the photographs. Although ordained as a priest for less than a year, he is emerging as a leader. Probably the best thing that has happened in the Archdiocese for many a year.
ReplyDeleteAs many processions as you can get! Outside the church building, not just within, which is what we invariably had when I was young. Palm Sunday, Maundy Thursday, Rogation Days, May Crowning, Corpus Christi. It builds Catholic identity even more firmly than meatless Fridays and blessing yourself and saying Grace when you eat in a public place. Processions say to the world: "Here we are. This is what we believe." They challenge the world.
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