This year, the Festival of Corpus Christi (Thursday June 3) will be observed at St. Peter's Cathedral with a special service of Choral Evensong and Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament in the cathedral. The service will begin at 5 p.m.
Traditionally the Thursday after Trinity Sunday is designated as the Feast of Corpus Christi -- the Body of Christ. On this day we give thanks to God for the institution of the Sacrament of the Holy Eucharist. Let us pray that we may always reverence and adore the presence of Christ in the Holy Sacrament of the Altar -- the Sacrament of his Body and Blood.
The music at this special Evensong will be as follows:
· Gregorian Psalms, Office Hymn, and Benediction Hymns
· Evening Canticles, Tone III.2 and IV.4
- Faux Bourdons by Healey Willan
· Evensong Motet - Ave Verum - John Dykes-Bower
Please note - The Feast of Corpus Christi will also be observed at the celebration of the daily Mass at 10 a.m. on Thursday, June 3, and on the following Sunday, June 6th.+++++ +++++ Praise, O Sion, thy salvation,
praise with hymns of exaltation
Christ thy King and Shepherd true.
Sing today, the mystery showing
of the living, life-bestowing
Bread from heaven before thee set.
E'en the same of old provided,
where the Twelve, divinely guided,
at the holy table met.
What he did at supper seated,
Christ ordained to be repeated --
His memorial ne'er to cease.
And his word for guidance taking,
bread and wine we hallow, making
thus our sacrifice of peace.
This the truth to Christians given--
bread becomes his flesh from heaven,
Wine becomes his holy blood.
Very Bread, Good Shepherd, tend us;
Jesus, of thy love befriend us:
Thou refresh us, thou defend us;
Thine eternal goodness send us
in the land of life to see.
Thou who all things canst and knowest:
who on earth such food bestowest:
grant us with thy saints, though lowest,
where the heavenly feast thou showest,
fellow-heirs and guests to be.
Amen. Alleluia.
From the "Lauda Sion" - Thomas Aquinas