A Corpus Christi treat

Today, whatever you may hear to the contrary, is the feast of Corpus Christi.


We have this feast because the obvious time to celebrate this - Maundy Thursday - is hardly appropriate for the great high holiday the Institution of the Blessed Sacrament deserves.


The liturgical celebration of this Feast in our country has been moved, legitimately but in my view extremely unwisely, by our bishops to the nearest Sunday.


That does not, of course, mean that we cannot celebrate the feast today, in solidarity with Rome and many other parts of the world.


I am taking the day off work, and am going with Anna to visit Fountains Abbey as a Corpus Christi treat.


In the meantime, here's your treat: O Sacrum Convivium, by Thomas Tallis.

O sacrum convivium!

in quo Christus sumitur:

recolitur memoria passionis eius:

mens impletur gratia:

et futurae gloriae nobis pignus datur.

Alleluia

O sacred banquet!

in which Christ is received,

the memory of his Passion is renewed,

the mind is filled with grace,

and a pledge of future glory to us is given.

Alleluia.

Any source