Topic: Our Lady of Lourdes Latin Talk
Time: Oct 6, 2021 07:00 PM Eastern Time (US and Canada)
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About the Mass: The Entrance Procession
Published in the OLL Bulletin May 30th and June 6th, 2021 for the Solemnity of the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ. Written by Brenda Accurso.
Every Mass begins with a procession. A procession is not just a matter of getting from one place to another. It is a sign. We are used to seeing road signs, usually made with paint and metal, that point things out—“Six Forks Road is here” or, “This way to I-80” or, “bump ahead!” Liturgical signs tend to be ordinary things—like walking around—elevated into a sign of a sacred, holy reality.
The Directory of Popular Piety says, “a procession is a sign of the Church's condition, the pilgrimage of the People of God, with Christ and after Christ, aware that in this world it has no lasting dwelling. Through the streets of this earth it moves towards the heavenly Jerusalem.”
This sign, the procession at the beginning of Mass, is made of a cross, the book of the gospels, and human beings--lay people such as readers, servers, deacons, priests. Even though we do not all process (that would take too long), we all could. We are all part of the reality that this sign points to. Although we all live in the world, working, playing, eating, and so on, this life and this world are not our final home. We were made for union with God forever in heaven.
The procession at Mass is like a mini version of our life, a sign of what our whole life is meant to be, passing from this world (our homes, streets, schools, etc), into the gates of heaven (represented by the church). In fact, the altar at Holy Mass is a participation in heaven. In Eucharistic Prayer 1, the priest prays (and we all join our hearts to) the line: “command that these gifts be borne by the hands of your holy Angel to your altar on high in the sight of your divine majesty…” At Mass we are truly a part of heaven!
The Corpus Christi procession has special significance, beyond the sign of an entrance procession for Holy Mass. Still fresh in our minds are the words of the gospel we heard on Ascension: “Go into the whole world and proclaim the gospel to every creature… And lo, I am with you always.” Our faith is not meant to be kept hidden, it is meant to be shared and made visible. A procession is one way to show others our faith and how much we love it. This is why it is a good and beautiful thing to have a grand, large, beautiful procession, for us to carry flowers or holy objects such as rosaries, for us to wear our best clothes or 1st communion outfits. This is not just a photo-op, a chance to get one more wear out of that expensive dress. It’s a chance to show how much we love Our Lord—individually and also as a group.
The Corpus Christi procession also reminds us that we are not sent out into the world alone. Jesus is with us. When the Israelites fled Egypt and crossed the desert, the Lord led them with a pillar of cloud by day and a pillar of fire by night. That has passed away but we are led by a more awesome and wonderful guide than they were: He leads the way. He is truly present in the Eucharist and the monstrance, which looks like a sun. Jesus’ light will guide the way.