As National Holiday in most of Germany Corpus Christi with Processions are still Popular with Thousands on the Streets


In Germany, Corpus Christi, known as Fronleichnam, has traditionally/historically(see video below) been celebrated with large processions on the streets.  Even today, Corpus Christi is still a national holiday in most parts of Germany and thousands gather around the country to honor Jesus. The videos below show the crowds at a Corpus Christi procession just after WWII and today.
Where does the word "Fronleichnam" come from?  The word comes from Middle High German. It contains "fron" and "lichnam". That means "Lord" and "Body". Corpus Christi means as much as the "Feast of the Body of Christ".
At the Corpus Christi processions, the faithful accompany the monstrance with a host in a procession through the flower petal covered streets.  Corpus Christi is a solemnity in the Catholic Church. The feast is related to the Last Supper, which Jesus held with his disciples shortly before his crucifixion. During the meal, he gave his followers the living body of the Lord in the form of bread and wine. On Corpus Christi, the Catholics celebrate with festive processions that with the bread and the wine Jesus is really with them. This festival dates back to the Augustinian nun Juliana of Liège, who had a vision in 1209. Pope Urban IV made it a feast for the universal Church. Corpus Christi is always the second Thursday after Pentecost.
 

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