London: Prayer and processions to celebrate Eucharistic Octave

image : Mazur/RCDoW

Source: CBCEW

The Eucharistic Octave will be celebrated in central London this year with prayer and procession. Beginning on Saturday, 11 June, the Vigil of the Most Holy Trinity, at 6pm at Corpus Christi Church, Maiden Lane, Covent Garden, the week will culminate in a procession of the Blessed Sacrament through the streets of Central London on Sunday, 19 June, starting at 11am.

Each evening during this week of prayer and adoration, Holy Mass in a different form will be celebrated at 6.30pm at Corpus Christi, Maiden Lane:

Monday 13 June

Mass will be offered in the Dominican Rite, uniting the Diocesan Shrine of the Holy Rosary, under the care of the Dominicans, with the Diocesan Shrine of the Blessed Sacrament.

Tuesday 14 June

Mar Joseph Srampickal, Bishop of the Syro-Malabar Eparchy in Great Britain, will offer the Holy Qurbana of their Rite.

Wednesday 15 June

Divine Liturgy of the Ukrainian Catholic Church by Bishop Kenneth Nowakowski of the Ukrainian Cathedral in London.

Thursday 16 June

For the traditional feast of Corpus Christi, there will be a sung Mass in Latin, which will open the annual Quarant'Ore Devotions. The Blessed Sacrament will be exposed from 7am until Midnight on the following days.

Friday 17 June

There will be a Solemn Mass for peace, offered in the Ordinariate Use of the Roman Rite, and the preacher will be Mgr Michael Nazir-Ali.

Saturday 18 June

Quarant'Ore will close with a sung Mass at 6pm.

Sunday 19 June

For the feast of Corpus Christi in England and Wales, there will be a Pontifical Sung Mass offered by His Excellency, Archbishop Claudio Gugerotti, Papal Nuncio to Great Britain. He will then lead a Procession of the Blessed Sacrament around the streets of London, before returning to Maiden Lane for Benediction.

Those unable to attend in person will be able to join the live stream at: https://corpuschristimaidenlane.org.uk/live/

There is also the opportunity to submit prayer intentions and buy candles to burn before the Blessed Sacrament during the Quarant'Ore by visiting: https://corpuschristimaidenlane.org.uk/live/

The Rector of Corpus Christi Church, Maiden Lane, Fr Alan Robinson, invites all to join, saying: "Visiting the Lord in the Most Blessed Sacrament, waiting for us in the tabernacle of the church and the celebration of Holy Mass, must be the beating heart of the life of every Catholic. For this is the bread which has come down from heaven, and is the precious gift of God himself to us. During this Eucharistic Octave, let us open our hearts and draw ever closer to him."

Fr Mark Elliott-Smith, Rector of Our Lady of the Assumption and St Gregory, Warwick Street, said: "Our Lord's presence in the Blessed Sacrament is a beautiful mystery: the Octave is a wonderful opportunity to renew our love for our Eucharistic Lord, and to let the eyes of faith look lovingly upon Jesus, Saviour and Redeemer of the world."