Corpus Christi

Last Thursday I walked past Saints Peter and Paul C of E Church in Kettering on my way to St Edward's for exposition and benediction. The Anglican Church a striking 500 year-old structure. Usually on a Thursday evening it's bell practice. But last week, the doors were open and a procession was going on to begin a service with rousing hymns.

I was a bit puzzled as to what the occasion was but forgot about it and continued on to St Edward's. The next day I asked one of my colleagues (who is an Anglican in the town) what might have been the occasion last night. She said "Oh, it's a big Chrisitian festival, you know. I can't remember what it's called."

"Is it a saint's day? I asked. "No," she replied, "It's erm..." Then it suddenly dawned on me. It was Corpus Christi.

How embarrassing, I thought. The Anglican church holding a special service to mark the feastday of Corpus Christi, even though they don't have the Real Presence of Christ on their altars. And the Catholic Church in England and Wales who do? Well, after years, they now celebrate Corpus Christi on a Sunday since the bishops' conference decided to move several holy days of obligation to a Sunday. A lot of people couldn't be bothered to go so by moving it to a Sunday, people won't be committing a mortal sin any more. How ironic.