Feast of Corpus Christi
"My flesh is true food, and my blood is true drink. Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood remains in me and I in him." (John 6:55-56)
The Solemnity of the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ, also known as the Feast of Corpus Christi, is a celebration of the real presence of Christ in the Eucharist. On this day, we recall the institution of the Eucharist at the Last Supper.
While the Last Supper is also commemorated on Holy Thursday, the Solemnity of the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ focuses solely on the gift of the Eucharist. The mood is also more joyous than that felt on Holy Thursday, the day before Christ's Passion and death.
The traditional date for the Feast of Corpus Christi is the Thursday after Trinity Sunday. However, in the United States, the solemnity is shifted to the following Sunday. In 2026, it is on June 7.
Eucharistic Processions and Celebrations
The feast is often marked by eucharistic processions, during which the Blessed Sacrament is carried in a monstrance through the church and into the streets. To bring the Blessed Sacrament into the public provides a unique opportunity for him to move people in ways that we do not know and may never understand. It is also an opportunity to unite ourselves to his prayer to the Father that all people find salvation and fulfillment in him, especially praying that his grace move the hearts of the people. You'll find a list of some parish celebrations below.
Holy Family Parish, Greenville
On Sunday, June 7, a eucharistic procession will be held from Holy Family Church, 145 Pritham Avenue in Greenville, to the town gazebo and then return to Holy Family for Benediction followed by a luncheon. The procession will begin at 10 a.m., following a 9 a.m. Mass. There will not be Masses in Greenville or Rockwood on Saturday, June 6, with all encouraged to attend the Sunday celebration.
Parish of the Holy Eucharist, Falmouth
The Parish of the Holy Eucharist's celebration of the Solemnity of the Most Holy Body & Blood of Christ will begin with overnight eucharistic adoration at Sacred Heart Church, 326 Main Street in Yarmouth, from 6 p.m. on June 6 until 9 a.m. on June 7. There will then be a speical Mass at 10 a.m., which will be followed by a eucharistic procession and Benediction. In addition, eucharistic adoration will be held at Holy Martyrs of North America Church, 266 Foreside Road in Falmouth, on June 7 from 11:30 a.m. to 5:15 p.m.
Parish of the Holy Savior, Mexico
On June 7, the Parish of the Holy Savior will hold a graduation Mass at 9:30 a.m. at St. Athanasius & St. John Church, 126 Maine Avenue in Rumford. All high school seniors and their families, regardless of faith tradition, are invited to attend to receive a special blessing. The Mass will also include a Corpus Christi procession at the church.
Parish of the Precious Blood, Caribou
The Parish of the Precious Blood will host a eucharistic procession at 10:30 a.m., preceding and 11 a.m. Mass at Holy Rosary Church, 34 Vaughn Street in Caribou. Following the Mass, the parish will host a parish picnic, with food, games for children, entertainment, and more.
Portland Peninsula & Island Parishes
On Sunday, June 7, following the 10 a.m. Mass at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception, 307 Congress Street in Portland, there will be a Feast of Corpus Christi eucharistic procession with the Blessed Sacrament through the streets of Portland to bear public witness to our faith in the real presence of Christ in the Eucharist. All families, parish groups, and ministries are encouraged to attend this beautiful tradition.
Prince of Peace Parish, Lewiston
On Sunday, June 7, a Corpus Christi procession will be held from Holy Family Church, 607 Sabattus Street in Lewiston, to the Basilica of Ss. Peter & Paul, located at 122 Ash Street in Lewiston. The procession will begin following the 11 a.m. Mass at Holy Family.
St. Joseph Parish, Bridgton
A Corpus Christi Sunday procession will be held on June 7 following the 10:30 a.m. Mass at St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Church, 857 Main Street in Fryeburg.
St. Mary of the Visitation Parish, Houlton
A Corpus Christi procession will begin at St. Mary of the Visitation Church, 110 Military Street in Houlton, at 10:15 a.m. and continue throughout downtown, returning to the church.
St. Michael Parish, Augusta
St. Michael Parish will hold a Solemnity of Corpus Christi procession and celebration on June 7 at St. Augustine Church, 75 Northern Avenue in Augusta. There will be a family cookout from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. on the lawn adjacent to the church. The celebration will also honor Father Antonidass Amirthanathan, HGN, who will be leaving the parish.
At 2 p.m., a eucharistic procession will be held from St. Augustine Church, up Kendall Street, across the parking lot, back by Washington Street and the into the church for resposition. Eucharistic adoration will then take place in St. Monica Chapel, 5 Kendall Street, from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m.
Origins of the Feast Day
The origins of the Feast of Corpus Christi date back to the 13th century and Pope Urban IV, who was influenced by two separate occurrences.
The first was a vision experienced by Sister Juliana of Mont Cornillion, a nun from Belgium who, from an early age, had a great love for the Blessed Sacrament. She believed a special feast should be held in its honor and is said to have had a vision of the Church as a full moon with a dark spot, symbolizing the absence of the feast. She took her cause to Church leaders including the Bishop of Liege and the Archdeacon of the Cathedral of Liege. The bishop began celebrating the feast in his diocese. The archdeacon would go on to become Pope Urban IV, who would become further convinced after witnessing a eucharistic miracle.
It took place outside of the little Italian town of Orvieto. A priest who experienced doubts regarding the true presence of Christ in the Eucharist was offering Mass at a small chapel, when suddenly the host began to bleed. Not sure what to do, he traveled to the neighboring city of Orvieto, where Pope Urban resided at that time. After hearing his account, the pope asked the bishop to investigate and to bring the blood-stained host back to Orvieto. The pope and a delegation met the bishop at his return and processed with the miraculous host to the cathedral, where the host remains to this day.
As word of the eucharistic miracle spread, a special feast day was designated, first locally, and then, in 1254, Pope Urban issued a papal bull establishing the feast for the universal Church, placing it on the Thursday after Trinity Sunday. Unfortunately, Pope Urban died one month later, and the feast would not become more widely celebrated until the 14th century.
Pray the Eucharistic Revival Corpus Christi Novena
