Corpus Christi or Boże Ciało in Polish (literally the Body of Christ) is a Christian holiday which is a holy day and bank holiday in Poland. It falls on the second Thursday after Pentecost (or Whitsun in the UK) which itself falls seven weeks after Easter Sunday. This means the date varies but generally falls sometime in June. In 2018 Corpus Christi is Thursday May 30.
Following mass inside of the church the Blessed Sacrament (which is normally held in a tabernacle behind the altar) is taken from the church and prayers and speeches are made outside. The Blessed Sacrament, which for Catholics represents the body of Christ is carried in an ornate, gold casing called a monstrance held aloft for all to see by a priest normally escorted by altar servers carrying a canopy. The procession will normally involve other priests and parishioners carrying banners made from fabric and embroidered with the names and images of saints or religious orders.
The procession will then take a pre-determined route stopping at permanent or temporary shrines along the way, while prayers are said by a priest as the procession makes its way around along.
You’ll usually find crowds gathering outside their parish church in the morning. Procession times are staggered to allow each church to process through the streets unhindered, while you’ll often see the police involved to manage the traffic and the huge crowds. Despite the church’s reduced role in the life of many Poles, these processions are extremely well attended and the colour, helped by the colour of religious garments and national costume, are still very impressive sights. For those not familiar with quite so popular public displays of religious devotion, these events can be quite a sight.
Following mass inside of the church the Blessed Sacrament (which is normally held in a tabernacle behind the altar) is taken from the church and prayers and speeches are made outside. The Blessed Sacrament, which for Catholics represents the body of Christ is carried in an ornate, gold casing called a monstrance held aloft for all to see by a priest normally escorted by altar servers carrying a canopy. The procession will normally involve other priests and parishioners carrying banners made from fabric and embroidered with the names and images of saints or religious orders.
The procession will then take a pre-determined route stopping at permanent or temporary shrines along the way, while prayers are said by a priest as the procession makes its way around along.
You’ll usually find crowds gathering outside their parish church in the morning. Procession times are staggered to allow each church to process through the streets unhindered, while you’ll often see the police involved to manage the traffic and the huge crowds. Despite the church’s reduced role in the life of many Poles, these processions are extremely well attended and the colour, helped by the colour of religious garments and national costume, are still very impressive sights. For those not familiar with quite so popular public displays of religious devotion, these events can be quite a sight.
