Solemnity of Corpus Christi
Click above to read about the upcoming pilgrimage to Our Lady of the Prairies. August 15.
Sunrise on the Vigil of Pentecost
✠ The Bishop’s Corner ✠
The season ends today with the Solemnity of a second, Sunday, Corpus Christi. Quiet adoration of the Blessed Sacrament first; the so reverent Mass before the Blessed Sacrament Exposed, and then comes the festive outdoor procession of our King and our God in the Holy Eucharist. Three Benedictions traditionally mark this day. Our Vespers, though, lead us into the Nativity of St. John the Baptist, with tomorrow’s Solemn Mass, parish picnic, and the traditional bonfire.
What a glorious jumble of feasts are caught together in June’s last week, thanks to an unusually late Easter this year. As a rule Corpus Christi reigns in undisputed possession of its eight days, and the feasts do not follow each other quite so closely. Adding to our woes (for we would celebrate, duly and in turn, each one of these delightful days), is the great joy of a priestly ordination, Fr. Caleb Sons, on Thursday. Fr. Lehtoranta and Fr. McKenna will join me in attending the ordination on the Octave Day of Corpus Christi. Wednesday there will only be one Mass, and
the traditional 5:45 PM on Friday, feast of the Sacred Heart. The now customary weekday schedule will have to be cut back a bit, as well. Thank you for your devotion to weekday Mass! But it goes without saying that I do ask everyone to pray for the new priest and deacon, for the seminary and vocations, and to rejoice with us.
Thursday’s Corpus Christi was a quiet, beautiful day of prayer before the Blessed Sacrament Exposed. A devout layman joined five priests and a bishop in the Sanctuary to chant the whole of the Divine Office. Some ladies from the school choir beautifully and so peacefully sang the Solemn Mass. I was so proud of our altar boys, who freely came in good number to fill all the roles. And on a vacation day! Many of you came for the High Mass, coming early and lingering late in adoration.
Fr. McKenna cooked the clergy a fine steak dinner afterwards, a nice chance to visit together. After dinner, we noticed that the sun, notably hidden of late, came out in full force for its setting, presaging perhaps its return after so many drear and dark days, and so much rain. Friday was a perfect June day, only our fourth, by my count; so far this wet month.
We had a good attendance for the beginning of our Summer Novena on Tuesday. I’m always impressed how the Easter Lilies always know how to bloom in time for St. Anthony’s Day, regardless of the kind of Spring we’ve had. The lilies are blessed on his feast day, the petals then dried and sent out to those who request them, some forty so far. It was Eldon Neukam who first planted the lilies one Easter. Every year he would fertilize them in a special way, and over the years they must have taken root very firmly. They bloom without fail each June, further beautifying our cloister garden. God reward Eldon, and our other workers of the early years. Lilies are a nice way to remember.
Well, I’m praying for good weather tomorrow for the St. John’s Evening. The mosquito man came by to spray, and we’ll put the rest of the preparations in readiness. Hope you can join us for a nice evening. If you’re around, remember the feast of Our Lady of Perpetual Help on Thursday, and the Sacred Heart on Friday, and Ss. Peter and Paul on Saturday…
God bless you!
–Bp. Dolan