Catholic Church honors Eucharist on Feast of Corpus Christi

Corpus Christi Processions throughout Northern Virginia - Sunday - May 29

"I am the living bread that came down from heaven. Whoever eats this bread will live forever. This bread is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world" - John 6:51

Many parishes in the Catholic Diocese of Arlington honor the Eucharist on the Feast of Corpus Christi with a Eucharistic Procession. During this procession, a priest or deacon, displays the Eucharist in a gold vessel called a monstrance and lead the faithful in prayer as they walk around the parish church and through the surrounding neighborhood.

In Leesburg, St. John the Apostle began their procession with the Blessed Sacrament at 3:30 p.m. Gospel Readings, prayer and singing took place at stations along the procession route.

The procession was comprised of clergy, First Communicants in their communion clothes, Knights of Columbus in their 4th degree regalia, Altar Servers in their cassocks, members of all parish ministries and lay people and their families.

The Feast of Corpus Christi was instituted in 1264 by Pope Urban IV. Also known as the Feast of the Body and Blood of Christ, this day celebrates in a special way the Holy Eucharist, which Catholics believe is truly the Body, Blood, Soul, and Divinity of the Lord Jesus Christ.

The following parishes of the Catholic Diocese of Arlington participated in the Feast of Corpus Christi on Sunday, May 29, with this procession:

• All Saints Catholic Church, Manassas
• St. Timothy Catholic Church, Chantilly
• St. Raymond of Penafort Catholic Church, Springfield
• St. Veronica Catholic Church, Chantilly
• Holy Spirit Catholic Church, Annandale
• St. Mary of Sorrows, Fairfax
• St. John the Apostle, Leesburg
• Queen of Apostles, Alexandria
• St. John the Beloved, McLean
• St. Mary of the Immaculate Conception, Fredericksburg
• St. John the Baptist, Front Royal
• St. Andrew Catholic Church, Clifton
• St. Michael Catholic Church, Annandale
• St. William of York Catholic Church, Stafford

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