compulsory attendance in church. Services include a solemn procession with the Consecrated Holy Eucharist which proclaims the fact that Jesus resides within every baptized Christian. The Latin name, Corpus Christi is understood as 'the body of Christ'. The feast itself was promoted by Saint Juliana of Mt. Cornillon, a nun who was in awe of the Eucharist. She yearned for a solemn feast to venerate the Eucharist; according to her not observing such a solemn feast was not befitting the Church and proposed her views to Robert de Thorete, the Bishop of Liège. Bishop Robert de Thorete then convened a synod (council) and hence, initiated the celebration of the feast of Corpus Christi in 1246. The feast gained a universal momentum only after Pope Urban IV issued a charter in 1264, asking Christians to observe the Thursday after Trinity Sunday as the feast dedicated to the Eucharist, giving the feast a solemn status. Pope Urban also requested St. Thomas Aquinas to compose special hymns and prayers to commemorate the feast. The Query: Why is there a special feast to commemorate the Holy Eucharist when we already celebrate it on Maundy Thursday? Maundy (Holy) Thursday, as you know, celebrates the feast of the Last Passover, which in essence, is the Institution of the Eucharist. Maundy Thursday, undoubtedly, celebrates Jesus' Sharing of Bread with His apostles; besides, it also commemorates the institution of priesthood, and of the commandment of 'doing unto others as Christ had done to them (the disciples)'. However, the solemn feast gets subdued by Christ's death on the cross, becoming the greatest Sacrifice of Christ. On the Feast of Corpus Christi, just like on Maundy Thursday, the Altar is stripped off the Missal and stand, post Communion to set the Monstrance in which is placed the Consecrated Host. The Priest, Deacon or the celebrant then genuflects before the exposed Blessed Sacrament, the congregation follows suit and a few minutes of silence is observed. The Priest/Deacon recites the 'Tantum Ergo' after which the Congregation moves silently in procession. The Eucharist is a Sacrament and is a means of conveying the Grace of the Lord to those who are willing to receive it worthily. It is known as the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass through which atonement and forgiveness for sins can be achieved. In the Orthodox church, the Eucharistic is known as the Divine Liturgy and the Eucharist is considered to be a mystery than a sacrament like it does in the west. In the Lutheran Church, it is considered to be a Sacramental Union, i.e., Christ's presence is manifested in, with and under the bread and wine. The Holy Eucharist gives the church an opportunity to enter into a communion with Christ both in love and spirit. The Eucharist is a means to enter salvation for it is said in John 6:51- 58; : The transforming of bread and wine into the most precious Body and Blood of Christ is called the transubstantiation. Transubstantiation is essentially not a mere process of substitution of the Body for the bread and Blood for the wine, but, actual transformation or conversion into the sacred elements. In simplified words, the bread and wine is blessed to reveal Jesus' presence. The consecration prayers that are recited are akin to the Lord's Supper when Jesus offers His disciples bread and wine and says, The solemn feast is celebrated with a procession that is led by the Priest who carries the Most Holy Eucharist that is consecrated during the Eucharistic celebration. The procession that is carried out immediately after the mass, is in essence, the prolongation of the celebration of the Eucharist. The procession is a means for the Christians to publicly display their faith and reverence for the Blessed Sacrament. During the procession, the congregation follows the priest bearing the Blessed Sacrament with lit candles, proclaiming their belief in the real presence of Jesus. The procession proceeds slowly and solemnly with the congregation partaking in hymns and prayers during the procession. The procession culminates in the Church where it is followed by Benediction, after which the Blessed Sacrament is exposed on the altar of Repose. The Christians partake in the Mystery by attending mass, and receiving Holy Communion. It is considered an auspicious day for those receiving the Body and Blood of Christ for the very first time. The Procession of the Blessed Sacrament is welcomed with a carpet of red and white flower petals and banners depicting any of the Corpus Christi symbols. The color of the day is white with red or red with white, symbolizing the Body and Blood of Christ. The priests, deacons and altar servers wear vestments in white and red. The altar, too, is decorated with red and white flowers with altar cloths of the same colors. During the exposition of the Blessed Sacrament, the altar is decorated with six candles; three on either side of the monstrance. The other symbols include Bread and Wine or the Paten and Chalice. A loaf of broken bread and a bunch of grapes are other symbols of this solemn feast. A peacock feeding on a bunch of grapes is another symbol used to commemorate Corpus Christi. Corpus Christi is a feast to proclaim our solidarity with Christ and with our neighbor. Venerating Jesus through the Holy Eucharist and The Blessed Sacrament, we stand to testify the grace of Christ, and with one voice we can truly sing, "We are one, one in Jesus, we are One in the Lord, one in heart, one in soul." Have a Blessed Feast!