Wednesday, May 25, is the Solemnity of Corpus Christi, the Solemnity of Christ's Body and Blood. Accompanied by the Franciscan friars and religious from different communities, H.B. Fouad Twal, the Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem, made his solemn entry to the Holy Sepulcher, especially for the occasion.
This solemnity in the Latin rite celebrates Christ's real presence in the sacrament of the Eucharist. Every year, it takes place two weeks after Pentecost and sixty days after Easter.
The basilica doors were opened wide so as to welcome in the procession. The first sung vespers were followed by the daily procession that ended with three processional laps around the Shrine.
At night, when the Old City was sleeping, the Franciscan friars went to the Basilica of the Resurrection once again for the office presided over by the Custodial Vicar, Fr. Dobromir Jasztal.
The next day, on Thursday, May 26, the friars and faithful gathered for a mass presided over by H.B. Patriarch Fouad Twal. The Franciscans, the seminarians of the Latin Patriarchate and the concelebrants began with Lauds before the tomb. Pilgrims of all nationalities prayed on both sides of the shrine. Groups visiting the tomb went back to light a candle, and some curiously looked at the nearby scaffolding—which will be used to restore the shrine in a few days' time.
Before the mass, Mons. Giuseppe Lazzarotto, the Apostolic Nuncio, read the letter that the supreme pontiff addressed to the Patriarch of Jerusalem on the occasion of his Golden Jubilee. The letter went through the patriarch's background and concluded with the following words: “We want to send you—as if we were at your side—all of our brotherly love and we implore on you rich divine rewards, with our paternal blessing, first to your person, and then to the faithful around you, to whom we wish the blessing to spread, all while asking you to remember us in your prayers.”
In his homily, the Patriarch stressed the fundamental value of the Eucharist in our relationships with others: “The celebration of the feast of Corpus Christi, invites us to reflect on our responsibility in building a caring, just and fraternal society... during our time particularly [...] the Corpus Christi must make us one body, one church strengthened by faith in God and solidarity among ourselves.”
“With you, dear friends, I would like to thank God for the gift of priesthood, which I received 50 years ago,” he said. “I now come to the end of my term, and I can humbly say that the mission entrusted to me is accomplished, and in putting my future in the hands of God, I give thanks for all those years in direct service of the Holy Father and the Mother Church of Jerusalem.”
The last procession was greatly awaited for by all. The patriarch carried the living Body of Christ in the Eucharist around the place where He was buried and resurrected. The feast concluded at the Chapel of the Resurrection with the benediction of the Blessed Sacrament.
This solemnity in the Latin rite celebrates Christ's real presence in the sacrament of the Eucharist. Every year, it takes place two weeks after Pentecost and sixty days after Easter.
The basilica doors were opened wide so as to welcome in the procession. The first sung vespers were followed by the daily procession that ended with three processional laps around the Shrine.
At night, when the Old City was sleeping, the Franciscan friars went to the Basilica of the Resurrection once again for the office presided over by the Custodial Vicar, Fr. Dobromir Jasztal.
The next day, on Thursday, May 26, the friars and faithful gathered for a mass presided over by H.B. Patriarch Fouad Twal. The Franciscans, the seminarians of the Latin Patriarchate and the concelebrants began with Lauds before the tomb. Pilgrims of all nationalities prayed on both sides of the shrine. Groups visiting the tomb went back to light a candle, and some curiously looked at the nearby scaffolding—which will be used to restore the shrine in a few days' time.
Before the mass, Mons. Giuseppe Lazzarotto, the Apostolic Nuncio, read the letter that the supreme pontiff addressed to the Patriarch of Jerusalem on the occasion of his Golden Jubilee. The letter went through the patriarch's background and concluded with the following words: “We want to send you—as if we were at your side—all of our brotherly love and we implore on you rich divine rewards, with our paternal blessing, first to your person, and then to the faithful around you, to whom we wish the blessing to spread, all while asking you to remember us in your prayers.”
In his homily, the Patriarch stressed the fundamental value of the Eucharist in our relationships with others: “The celebration of the feast of Corpus Christi, invites us to reflect on our responsibility in building a caring, just and fraternal society... during our time particularly [...] the Corpus Christi must make us one body, one church strengthened by faith in God and solidarity among ourselves.”
“With you, dear friends, I would like to thank God for the gift of priesthood, which I received 50 years ago,” he said. “I now come to the end of my term, and I can humbly say that the mission entrusted to me is accomplished, and in putting my future in the hands of God, I give thanks for all those years in direct service of the Holy Father and the Mother Church of Jerusalem.”
The last procession was greatly awaited for by all. The patriarch carried the living Body of Christ in the Eucharist around the place where He was buried and resurrected. The feast concluded at the Chapel of the Resurrection with the benediction of the Blessed Sacrament.