Double of the First Class Feast of Corpus Christi

Missa "Cibávít eos"

White Vestments

   This feast is celebrated on the Thursday after Trinity Sunday and is the feast where we celebrate the Most Blessed Sacrament of the Altar - the Body and Blood, Soul and Divinity of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ confected in the Roman Canon of the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass at the most sacred Consecration.

   There are indulgenced ejaculations which express admirably the scope and purpose of this feast such as "May our Lord Jesus Christ in the Most Blessed Sacrament be praised, adored and loved, with grateful affection, at every moment, in all the tabernacles of the world, even to the end of time" and "O Sacrament most holy! O Sacrament divine! All praise and all thanksgiving be every moment Thine!"

   The traditional custom is the Corpus Christi procession in which the faithful manifest their Faith to the world by marching behind the Blessed Sacrament held aloft in a Monstrance by the priest while processing outside the church.

   The feast of Corpus Christi commemorates the institution of the Holy Eucharist. Celebrated on the Thursday after Trinity Sunday, it parallels Maundy Thursday (Holy Thursday), which also commemorates Our Lord's institution of the Eucharist. Because Holy Thursday is in Holy Week, a season of sadness the celebration Corpus Christi was introduced so that the faithful would not lose sight of the institution of the Holy Eucharist.

   Corpus Christi became a mandatory feast in the Roman Church in 1312. But nearly a century earlier, Saint Juliana of Mont Cornillon, promoted a feast to honor the Blessed Sacrament. From early age Juliana, who became an Augustinian nun in Liége, France, in 1206, had a great veneration for the Blessed Sacrament, and longed for a special feast in its honor. She had a vision of the Church under the appearance of the full moon having one dark spot, which signified the absence of such a solemnity. She made known her ideas to the Bishop of Liége, Robert de Thorete, to the Dominican Hugh who later became cardinal legate in the Netherlands, and to Jacques Panaléon, at the time Archdeacon of Liége and who later became Pope Urban IV. Bishop Robert de Thorete ordered that the feast be celebrated in his diocese.

   Pope Urban IV later published the Papal Bull Transiturus (September 8, 1264), in which, after having extolled the love of Our Savior as expressed in the Holy Eucharist, ordered the annual celebration of Corpus Christi on the Thursday after Trinity Sunday. More than four decades later, Pope Clement V published a new decree which embodied Urban IV's decree and ordered the adoption of the feast at the General Council of Vienna (1311). Pope John XXII, successor of Clement V, urged this observance.

   The processions on Corpus Christi to honor the Holy Eucharist were not mentioned in the decrees, but have become a principal feature of the feast's celebration by the faithful, and became a tradition throughout Europe. These processions were endowed with indulgences by Popes Martin V and Eugene IV and continue today in traditional parishes.

    Resources: We are grateful to Friends of Our Lady of Fatima for providing the Propers for the faithful. Sources: Saint Andrew Daily Missal and the Marian Missal , 1945


Missa "Cibávít eos"

Go to the ORDINARY OF THE HOLY MASS THE MASS OF THE CATECHUMENS

INTROIT: Psalm 80: 17
      Cibávít eos ex ádipe fruménti, allelúja: et de petra, melle saturávit eos, allelúja, allelúja, allelúja. (Ps. 80: 2) Exsultáte, Deo adjutórí nostro: jubiláte Deo Jacob. v. Gloria Patri et Filio et Spiritui Sancti sicut erat in principio et nunc, et semper, et saecula saeculorum. Amen.
      Repeat Cibávít eos...
      He fed them with the fat of wheat, alleluia; and filled them with honey, out of the rock, alleluia, alleluia, alleluia. (Ps. 80: 2) Rejoice in God, our Helper sing aloud to the God of Jacob. v. Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Ghost, as it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be, world without end. Amen. RepeatHe fed them...
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      COLLECT
      Dominus vobiscum.
      R. Et cum spiritu tuo.

      Oremus. Deus, cui nobis sub Sacraménto mirábili passiónis tuae memóriam reliquísti: tríbue, quaesum:rs; ita nos córporis et sánguinis tui sacro mystéria venerári, ut redemptiónís tuae fructum in nobis júgiter sentiámus. Qui vivis et regnas, cum Deo Patre in unitáte Spíritu Sancti, Deus,
      Per omnia saecula saeculorum.
      R. Amen.

      Collect for God's Holy Church
      Orémus. Ecclésiæ tuæ, quæ-sumus, Dómine, preces placátus admítte: ut, destrúctis adversitátibus et erróribus univérsis, secura tibi sérviat libertáte. Per Dóminum nostrum Jesum Christum Fílium tuum, qui tecum vivit et regnat in unitáte Spíritus Sancti, Deus,
      Per omnia saecula saeculorum.
      R. Amen.
      The Lord be with you.
      R. And with thy spirit.
      Let us pray. O God, Who in a wonderful Sacrament hast left unto us the memorial of Thy Passion; grant, we beseech Thee, that we may so venerate the sacred mysteries of Thy Body and Blood as to experience continually within ourselves the fruit of Thy Redemption. Who livest and reignest, with God the Father, in the unity of the Holy Ghost, God,
      Forever and ever.
      R.Amen.

      Collect for God's Holy Church
      Let us pray. Graciously hear, O Lord, the prayers of Thy Church that, having overcome all adversity and every error, she may serve Thee in security and freedom. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, Thy Son, Who liveth and reigneth with Thee in the unity of the Holy Ghost, God,
      Forever and ever.
      R.Amen.

      EPISTLE: 1 Corinthians 11: 23-29
      Apóstoli ad Corinthios: Fretres, ego enim accépi a Dómino quod et trádidi vobis, quóniam Dóminus Jesus, in qua nocte tradebátur, accépit panem, et grátias agens fregit et dixit: Accipíte et manducáte: hoc est corpus meum, quod pro vobis tradétur: hoc fácite in meam commemoratiónem. Simíliter et cálicem, postquam coenávit, dicens: Hic calix novum testaméntum est in meo sánguine: hoc fácite quotiescúmque bibétis, in meam commemoratiónem. Quotiescúmque enim manducábitis panem hunc, et cálicem bibétis: mortem Dóminum annuntiábitis donec véniat. ltaque quicúmque manducáverit panem hunc, vel bíberit cálicem Dómini indígne, reus erit cáórporis et sánguinis Dómini. Probet autem seípsurn homo: et sic de pane illo edat, et de cálice bibat. Qui enirn mandúcat et bibit indígne.: judícium sibi mandúcat, et bibit non dijúdicans corpus Dómini. Deo grátias.
      Lesson from the First Epistle of Blessed Paul the Apostle to the Corinthians. Brethren, I have received of the Lord, that which also I delivered to you that the Lord Jesus, the same night in which He was betrayed, took bread, and giving thanks, broke, and said: Take ye and eat, this is My Body which shall be delivered for you; this do for the commemoration of Me. In like manner also the chalice, after He had supped, saying: This chalice is the new testament in My Blood; this do ye, as often as you shall drink, for the commemoration of Me. For as often as you shall eat this bread and drink this chalice, you shall show the death of the Lord until He come. Therefore whosoever shall eat this bread, or drink of the chalice of the Lord unworthily, shall be guilty of the Body and the Blood of the Lord. But let a man prove himself; and so let him eat of that bread, and drink of the chalice. For he that eateth and drinketh unworthily, eateth and drinketh judgment to himself, not discerning the Body of the Lord. Thanks be to God.

      GRADUAL: Psalm 144: 15, 16
      Oculi ómnium in te sperant, Dómine: et tu das iliis escam in témpore oppórtuno. V. Aperis tu manum tuam, et imples omne ánimal benedictióne. Allelúja, allelúja. V. (John 6: 56) Caro mea vere est cibus, et sanguis meus vere est potus qui mandácat meam carnem, et bibit meum sánguinem, in me manet, et ego in eo. Allelúja.
      The eyes of all hope in Thee, O Lord, and Thou givest them meat in due season. V. Thou openest Thy hand, and fillest living every creature with Thy blessing. Alleluia, alleluia. V. (John 6: 56) My Flesh is meat indeed and My Blood is drink indeed: he that eateth My Flesh and drinketh My Blood, abideth in Me, and I in him. Alleluia.

      SEQUENCE FOR CORPUS CHRISTI
      Lauda Sion Salvatórem,
      Lauda ducem et pastórem
      In hymnis et cánticis.
      Quantum potes, tantum aude:
      Quia major omni laude,
      Nec laudáre súfficis.
      Laudis thema speciális,
      Panis vivus et vitális,
      Hódie propónitur.
      Quem in sacræ mensa coenæ,
      Turbæ fratrum duodénæ,
      datum non ambígitur.
      Sit laus plena, sit sonóra:
      Sit jucúnda,sit decóra
      Mentis jubilátio.
      Dies enim solémnis ágitur,
      In qua mensæ prima recólitur
      Hujus institútio.
      In hac mensa novi Regis,
      Novum Pascha novæ legis
      Phase vetus términat.
      Vetustátem nóvitas,
      Umbram fugat véritas,
      Noctem lux elíminat.
      Quod in coena Christus gessit,
      Faciéndum hoc expréssit
      In sui memóriam.
      Docti sacris institútis,
      Panem, vinum, in salútis
      Consecrámus hóstiam.
      Dogma datur Christiánis,
      Quod in carnem transit panis,
      Et vinum in sánguinem.
      Quod non capis, quod non vides,
      Animósa firmat fides,
      Præter rerum ordinem.
      Sub divérsis speciébus,
      Signis tantum, et non rebus,
      Latent res exímiæ.
      Caro cibus, sanguis potus:
      Manet tamen Christus totus
      Sub utráque spécie.
      A suménte non concísus,
      Non confráctus, non divísus,
      Integer accípitur.
      Sumit unus, sumunt mille:
      Quantum isti, tantum ille:
      Nec sumptus consúmitur.
      Sumunt boni, sumunt mali,
      Sorte tamen inæquáli
      Vitæ vel intéritus.
      Mors est malis, vita bonis:
      Vide paris sumptiónis
      Quam sit dispar éxitus.
      Fracto demum Sacraménto,
      Ne vacílles, sed meménto
      Tantum esse sub fragménto
      Quantum toto tégitur.
      Nulla rei fit scissúra:
      Signi tantum fir fractúra:
      Qua nec status nec statúra
      Signáti minúitur.
      Ecce panis Angelórum,
      factus cibus viatórum,
      Vere panis fíliórum.
      Non mittendus cánibus
      In figúris præsignátur,
      Cum Isaac immolátur:
      Agnus paschæ deputátur
      Datur manna pátribus.
      Bone pastor, panis vere,
      Jesu, nostri miserére:
      Tu nos pasce, nos tuére,
      Tu nos bona fac vidére
      In terra vivéntium
      Tu, qui cuncta scis et vales,
      Qui nos pascis hic mortáles,
      Tuos ibi commensáles,
      Cohærédes et sodles,
      Fac sanctórum cívium.
      Amen. Allelúja.
      Sion, lift up thy voice and sing:
      Praise thy Savior and thy King,
      Praise with hymns
      thy shepherd true.
      All thou canst, do thou endeavor,
      Yet thy praise can equal never Such as merits thy great King.
      See today before us laid
      The living and life-giving Bread!
      Theme for praise and joy profound!
      The same which at the sacred board
      Was, by our incarnate Lord,
      Giv'n to His Apostles round.
      Let the praise be loud and high:
      Sweet and tranquil be the joy
      Felt today in every breast.
      On this festival divine
      Which records the origin
      Of the glorious Eucharist.
      On this table of the King,
      Our new Paschal offering
      Brings to end the olden rite.
      Here, for empty shadows fled,
      Is reality instead;
      Here, instead of darkness, light.
      His own act, at supper seated,
      Christ ordain'd to be repeated,
      In His memory divine;
      Wherefore now, with adoration,
      We, the Host of our salvation,
      Consecrate from bread and wine.
      Hear, what holy Church maintaineth,
      That the bread its substance changeth
      Into Flesh, the wine to Blood.
      Doth it pass thy comprehending?
      Faith, the law of sight transcending
      Leaps to things not understood,
      Here beneath these signs are hidden
      Priceless things, to sense forbidden
      Signs, not things, are all we see.
      Flesh, from bread, and Blood from wine,
      Yet is Christ in either sign,
      All entire, confessed to be.
      They, who of Him here partake,
      Sever not, nor rend, nor break:
      But, entire, their Lord receive
      Whether one or thousands eat,
      All receive the self-same meat,
      Nor the less for others leave,
      Both the wicked and the good
      eat of this celestial Food;
      But with ends how opposite!
      Here 't is life:
      and there 't is death:
      The same, yet issuing to each
      In a difference infinite.
      Nor a single doubt retain,
      When they break the Host in twain,
      But that in each part remains
      What was in the whole before;
      Since the simple sign alone
      Suffers change in state or form
      The signified remaining one
      And the same for evermore.
      Lo! upon the altar lies,
      Hidden deep from human eyes,
      Bread of Angels from the skies,
      Made the food of mortal man;
      Children's meat to dogs denied,
      In old types presignified:
      In the manna Heaven-supplied
      In Isaac, and the Paschal lamb.
      Jesu! Shepherd of the sheep!
      Thou Thy flock in safety keep,
      Living Bread! Thy life supply:
      Strengthen us, or else we die:
      Fill us with celestial grace!
      Thou, who feedest us below!
      Source of all we have or know!
      Grant that with Thy Saints above,
      Sitting at the feast of love,
      We may see Thee face to face.
      Amen. Alleluia

      GOSPEL:    John 6: 56-59
      Dominus vobiscum.
      R. Et cum spiritu tuo.
      Sequentia sancti Evangelii secundum Joannem
      R.Gloria tibi, Domine

      In illo témpore: Dixit Jesus turbis Judæórum: "Caro mea vere est cibus: et sanguis meus vere est potus. Qui mandúcat meam carnem et bibit meum sánguinem, in me manet, et ego in illo. Sicut misit me vivens Pater, et ego vivo propter Patrem: et qui mandúcat me, et ipse vivet propter me. Hic est panis qui de coelo descéndit. Non sicut manducavérunt patres vestri manna, et mórtui sunt. Qui mandúcat hunc panem, vivet in ætérnum.
      Laus tibi Christe.

      The Lord be with you.
      R. And with thy spirit.
      The continuation of the holy Gospel according to John. R. Glory to Thee, O Lord

      At that time, Jesus said to the multitude of the Jews: "My Flesh is meat indeed, and My Blood is drink indeed. He that eateth My Flesh, and drinketh My Blood, abideth in Me, and I in him. As the living Father hath sent Me, and I live by the Father, so he that eateth Me, the same shall also live by Me. This is the Bread that came down from Heaven. Not as your fathers did eat manna and are dead. He that eateth this bread shall live forever."
      Praise be to Christ

      Return to the ORDINARY OF THE HOLY MASS CREDO
      OFFERTORY:    Leviticus 21: 6
      Dominus vobiscum.
      R. Et cum spiritu tuo.

      Sacerdótes Dómini incensum et panes ófferunt Deo: et ídeo sancti erunt Deo suo, et non pólluent nomen ejus, allelúja.
      The Lord be with you.
      R. And with thy spirit.

      The priests of the Lord offer incense and loaves to God, and therefore they shall be holy to their God, and shall not defile His Name. Alleluia.
      Return to the ORDINARY OF THE HOLY MASS THE OFFERTORY
      SECRET
      Ecclésiæ Tuæ, quæsumus Dómine, unitátis et pacis propítius dona concéde: quæ sub oblátis munéribus mystice designántur. Per Dóminum nostrum Jesum Christum Fílium tuum, qui tecum vivit et regnat in unitáte Spíritus Sancti, Deus, Per omnia saecula saeculorum.
      R. Amen.

      Secret for God's Holy Church
      Prótege nos, Dómine, tuis mystériis serviéntes: ut divínis rebus inhæréntes, et córpore tibi famulémur et mente. Per Dóminum nostrum Jesum Christum Fílium tuum, qui tecum vivit et regnat in unitáte Spíritus Sancti, Deus, Per omnia saecula saeculorum.
      R. Amen.
      Graciously bestow on Thy Church, we beseech Thee, O Lord, the gifts of unity and peace, which are mystically shown forth in the gifts now offered. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, Thy Son, Who liveth and reigneth with Thee in the unity of the Holy Ghost, God, Forever and ever.
      R.Amen.

      Secret for God's Holy Church
      Protect us, O Lord, who assist at Thy mysteries, that, cleaving to things divine, we may serve Thee both in body and in mind. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, Thy Son, Who liveth and reigneth with Thee in the unity of the Holy Ghost, God, Forever and ever.
      R.Amen.
      PREFACE   For the Nativity of Our Lord
      Dominus vobiscum.
      R. Et cum spiritu tuo.
      Sursum corda.
      R.Habemus ad Dominum.
      Gratias agamus Domino Deo nostro.
      R. Dignum et justum est.

      Vere dignum et justum est, aequum et salutare, nos tibi semper, et ubique gratias agere: Domine sancte, Pater omnipotens, aeterne Deus: Quia per incarnati Verbi mysterium, nova mentis nostrae fulsit: ut dum visibiliter Deum cognoscimus, per hunc in invisibilium amorem rapiamur. Et ideo cum Angelis et Archangelis, cum Thronis et Dominationibus, cumque omni militia caelestis exercitus, hymnum gloriae tuae canimus, sine fine dicentes:
      SANCTUS, SANCTUS, SANCTUS...
      The Lord be with you.
      R. And with thy spirit.
      Lift up your hearts.
      R.We have lifted them up to the Lord.
      Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.
      R. It is meet and just.

      It is truly meet and just, right and for our salvation, that we should at all times and in all places, give thanks unto Thee, O holy Lord, Father almighty, everlasting God, for through the Mystery of the Word made flesh, the new light of Thy glory hath shone upon the eyes of our mind, so that while we acknowledge God in visible form, we may through Him be drawn to the love things invisible. And therefore with Angels and Archangesl, with Thrones and Dominations, and with all the hosts of the heavenly army, we sing the hymn of The glory, evermore saying:
      HOLY, HOLY, HOLY...

      Return to the ORDINARY OF THE HOLY MASS THE CANON OF THE MASS
      COMMUNICANTES - INVOCATION OF THE SAINTS IN THE CANON
      For the Nativity of Our Lord
      Communicantes, et diem sacratissimum celebrantes, quo beatae Mariae intemerata virginitas huic mundo edidit Salvatorem: sed et memoriam venerantes, in primis ejusdem gloriosae semper Virginis Mariae, Genetricis ejusdem Dei et Domini nostri Jesu Christi: sed et beatorum Apostolorum ac Martyrum tuorum, Petri et Pauli, Andreae, Iacobi, Ioannis, Thomae, Iacobi, Philippi, Bartholomaei, Marrhaei, Simonis, et Thaddei: Lini, Clet, Clementis, Xysti, Cornelii, Cypriani, Laurentii, Chrysogoni, Ioannis et Pauli, Cosmae et Damianis: et omnium Sanctorum tuorum; quorum meritis, precibusque concedas, ut in omnibus protentionis tuae muniamur auxilio. Per eumdem Christum Dominum nostrum. Amen.
      Communicating, and keeping this most holy day, on which the spotless virginity of blessed Mary brought forth a Savior to this world; and also reverencing the memory first of the same glorious Mary, ever Virgin, Mother of the same our God and Lord Jesus Christ: as also of the blessed Apostles and Martyrs Peter and Paul, Andrew, James, John, Thomas, James, Philip, Bartholomew, Matthew, Simon, and Thaddeus; Linus, Cletus, Clement, Xystus, Cornelius, Cyprian, Lawrence, Chrysogonus, John and Paul, Cosmas and Damian, and of all Thy Saints, through whose merits and prayers, grant that we may in all things be defended by the help of Thy protection. Through the same Christ our Lord. Amen.

      Return to the ORDINARY OF THE HOLY MASS THE CANON OF THE MASS


      COMMUNION:   1 Corinthians 11: 26, 27
      Quotiescúmque enim manducábitis panem hunc, et cálicem bibétis: mortem Dómini annuntiábitis donec véniat:ítaque quicúmque manducáverit panem hunc, vel bíberit cálicem Dómini indigne: reus erit córporis et sánguinis Dómini, Allelúja.
      As often as you shall eat this bread, and drink the chalice, you shall show forth the death of the Lord, until He come: therefore whosoever shall eat this Bread or drink the Chalice of the Lord unworthily shall be guilty of the Body and Blood of the Lord. Alleluia

      POSTCOMMUNION
      Dominus vobiscum.
      R. Et cum spiritu tuo.
      Oremus.
      Fac nos, quæsumus Dómine, divinitátis tuæ sempitérna fruitióne repléri: quam pretiósi córporis et sánguinis tui temporális perceptio præfigúrat. Qui vívis et regnas, cum Deo Patre in unitáte Spíiritus Sancti, Deus,
      Per omnia saecula saeculorum.
      R. Amen.

      Postcommunion for God's Holy Church
      Orémus. Quæsumus, Dómine Deus noster, ut quos divína tribuis participatióne gaudére, humánis non sinas subjacére perículis. Per Dóminum nostrum Jesum Christum Fiiium tuum: Qui tecum vivit et regnat in unitate Spíritus Sancti, Deus.
      Per omnia saecula saeculorum.
      R. Amen.
      The Lord be with you.
      R. And with thy spirit.
      Let us pray.
      Make us, we beseech Thee, O Lord, to be filled with the eternal enjoyment of Thy Divinity, which is prefigured by the reception in this life of Thy precious Body and Blood. Who livest and reignest with God the Father in the unity of the Holy Ghost, God,
      Forever and ever.
      R. Amen.

      Postcommunion for God's Holy Church
      Let us pray. O Lord our God, we pray Thee that Thou suffer not to succumb to human hazards those whom Thou hast been pleased to make sharers of divine mysteries. Through the Lord Jesus Christ, Thy Son, Who liveth and reigneth with Thee in the unity of the Holy Ghost, one God
      Forever and ever.
      R. Amen.
      Return to the ORDINARY OF THE HOLY MASS CONCLUSION OF THE HOLY MASS


      Novena Preceding the Feast of the Sacred Heart begins on the Feast of Corpus Christi

          To all the faithful who devoutly participate at a public novena held in honor of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, whether this exercise is to be held immediately before the Feast or at another time of the year, is granted: Indulgence of 10 years each day. -- Plenary, if they were present at least five times at these exercises, after Confession, Communion, and a prayer for the intention of that the Pope will be in full accord with God's holy will for His Church.

          To those, however, who perform privately these pious exercises with the intention to do so nine consecutive days, is granted: Indulgence of 7 years, once a day. -- Plenary, on the usual conditions, for the complete novena, if they are hindered by any reasonable cause from performing these exercises in public. -- P.P.O. n. 218.]

Feast of Corpus Christi