Eucharistic procession
In Christianity, a eucharistic procession or sacrament procession is a solemn procession in which the holy of holies is carried. From a religious-scientific point of view, it is a theophoric form of worship in which the symbol of the deity is shown and worshiped.
Origin and theological content
The origin of the sacrament processions lies in the feast of Corpus Christi , the feast of the bodily presence of Christ in the Eucharist. It was the first time in 1246 in the diocese of Liège celebrated and in 1264 by Pope Urban IV. By the bull transiturus elevated to the feast of the universal Church after the Fourth Lateran Council in 1215, the conversion of the Eucharistic species of bread and wine with the doctrine of transubstantiation clarified and the dogma raised would have. Catholics believe that in Holy Mass the Eucharistic figures truly become the body and blood of Christ through the walk and that Christ is and remains present in them.
The first sacrament procession in Bavaria took place in Benediktbeuern in 1273 , and the solemn festival of the body and blood of Christ was celebrated with a procession in Cologne for the first time in 1279. The Corpus Christi procession reached its peak in festive design in the 17th and 18th centuries. Since the Counter-Reformation in the 16th century, other corridors and supplication processions had often become Eucharistic processions in which the holy of holies was carried with them in whole or in part . This required the participation of a priest or deacon , while other processions could also be carried out without the participation of the clergy .
Procedure and design
At the center of a sacrament procession is the Most Holy, the body of Christ, in the monstrance carried by a priest or deacon . The holy of holies is carried under a canopy called "heaven". It forms the center of the procession and is accompanied by candlesticks and thuriferars . In a Eucharistic procession, Thuriferar, Navikular and Ceroferare go directly in front of the Holy of Holies, usually the presence of the Holy of Holies is announced by a large number of candlesticks , incense barrels and bells .
The procession is based on the following basic order:
- It should take place after a holy mass in which the host for this procession was also consecrated . Eventually Holy Mass can be followed by a (longer) phase of exposure and adoration of the Holy of Holies .
- The sacrament procession has one or more stations - also called " altars " - at which the sacramental blessing is given with the holy of holies.
- The procession ends with the sacramental blessing (at the destination or back in the starting church), then the Holy of Holies is repositioned in the tabernacle .
On the way, psalms , litanies and alternating prayers as well as the rosary are prayed and hymns are sung, often accompanied by a brass band .
In the Rhineland, the Eucharistic procession is in some God costume called (of MHG. Trahte to noun wear ).
Individual evidence
- ^ Hans Bernhard Meyer: Eucharist. History, theology, pastoral care ; Church service. Handbook of Liturgical Studies, Part 4; Regensburg 1989; ISBN 3-7917-1200-4 ; P. 595.
- ^ Kluge, Friedrich: Etymological Dictionary of the German Language , 23rd edition, Berlin 1999, ISBN 3-11-016392-6 , 830