Feast of Corpus Christi
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| - | '''Mystery plays''' are among the earliest formally developed plays in [[medieval]] [[Europe]]. Their origin is obscure, but may be related to ancient Greek mystic cult initiation rites, from which developed religious ceremonies consisting of dramatic performances including purifications, sacrificial offerings, feasts, processions, songs, and dances associated with worship of deities, cultural practices, and educational instruction. Medieval mystery plays focused on the representation of [[Bible]] stories in [[church]]es as [[tableau vivant|tableaux]] with accompanying [[antiphon]]al song, such as the ''quem quaeritis'', a short musical performance set at the tomb of the risen Christ. These simple structures were developed with ''[[Trope (linguistics)|tropes]]'', verbal embellishment of the liturgical text, and became more elaborate. As these liturgical plays became more popular, vernacular analogues began to develop as traveling companies of players and civic theatrical productions became more common in the late Middle Ages. | + | The '''Feast of Corpus Christi''' ([[Latin language|Latin]] for ''[[Body of Christ]]''), also known as '''Corpus Domini''', is a [[Latin Rite]] liturgical [[solemnity]] celebrating the tradition and belief in the body and blood of [[Jesus Christ]] and his [[Real presence of Christ in the Eucharist|Real Presence]] in the [[Eucharist]]. It emphasizes the joy of the institution of the Eucharist, which was observed on [[Holy Thursday]] in the somber atmosphere of the nearness of [[Good Friday]]. |
| - | These vernacular religious performances were, in some of the larger cities in England such as [[York]], performed and produced by [[guild]]s, with each guild taking responsibility for a particular piece of scriptural history. From the guild control they gained the name mystery play or just mysteries, from the Latin ''mysterium'' (meaning ''handicraft'' and relating to the guilds). Mystery plays should not be confused with ''Miracle plays'', which specifically re-enacted episodes from the lives of the [[saint]]s; however, it is also to be noted that both of these terms are more commonly used by modern scholars than they were by medieval people, who used a wide variety of terminology to refer to their dramatic performances. | + | In the present [[Roman Missal]], the feast is designated the solemnity of ''The Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ''. It is also celebrated in some [[Anglicanism|Anglican]], [[Lutheranism|Lutheran]], and [[Old Catholic Church]]es that hold similar beliefs regarding the Real Presence. |
| - | The mystery play developed, in some places, into a series of plays dealing with all the major events in the Christian calendar, from the Creation to the Day of Judgment. By the end of the 15th century, the practise of acting these plays in cycles on festival days (such as ''[[Corpus Christi (play)|Corpus Christi]]'', performed on the [[Corpus Christi (feast)|Feast of Corpus Christi]]) was established in several parts of Europe. Sometimes, each play was performed on a decorated cart called a ''pageant'' that moved about the city to allow different crowds to watch each play. The entire cycle could take up to twenty hours to perform and could be spread over a number of days. Taken as a whole, these are referred to as ''Corpus Christi cycles''. | + | The feast is liturgically celebrated on the Thursday after [[Trinity Sunday]] or, "where the Solemnity of the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ is not a [[Holy Day of Obligation]], it is assigned to the Sunday after the Most Holy Trinity as its proper day". At the end of [[Holy Mass]], there is often a [[procession]] of the [[Blessed Sacrament]], generally displayed in a [[monstrance]]. The procession is followed by [[Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament]]. |
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| + | A notable Eucharistic procession is that presided over by the [[Pope]] each year in [[Rome]], where it begins at the [[Archbasilica of St. John Lateran]] and makes its way to the [[Basilica of Saint Mary Major]], where it concludes with Benediction. | ||
| - | The plays were performed by a combination of professionals and amateurs and were written in highly elaborate stanza forms; they were often marked by the extravagance of the sets and 'special effects', but could also be stark and intimate. The variety of theatrical and poetic styles, even in a single cycle of plays, could be remarkable. | ||
| - | ==See also== | ||
| - | * [[Biblical Magi]] | ||
| - | * [[Chester Plays]] | ||
| - | * [[Easter drama]] | ||
| - | * [[Liturgical drama]] | ||
| - | * [[Medieval theatre]] | ||
| - | * [[Passion play]] | ||
| - | * [[York Mystery Plays]] - a collection of forty-eight mystery plays | ||
| - | * [[Wakefield Cycle]] - a collection of thirty-two mystery plays performed in medieval and early Renaissance England. | ||
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Revision as of 21:31, 18 January 2013
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The Feast of Corpus Christi (Latin for Body of Christ), also known as Corpus Domini, is a Latin Rite liturgical solemnity celebrating the tradition and belief in the body and blood of Jesus Christ and his Real Presence in the Eucharist. It emphasizes the joy of the institution of the Eucharist, which was observed on Holy Thursday in the somber atmosphere of the nearness of Good Friday.
In the present Roman Missal, the feast is designated the solemnity of The Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ. It is also celebrated in some Anglican, Lutheran, and Old Catholic Churches that hold similar beliefs regarding the Real Presence.
The feast is liturgically celebrated on the Thursday after Trinity Sunday or, "where the Solemnity of the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ is not a Holy Day of Obligation, it is assigned to the Sunday after the Most Holy Trinity as its proper day". At the end of Holy Mass, there is often a procession of the Blessed Sacrament, generally displayed in a monstrance. The procession is followed by Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament.
A notable Eucharistic procession is that presided over by the Pope each year in Rome, where it begins at the Archbasilica of St. John Lateran and makes its way to the Basilica of Saint Mary Major, where it concludes with Benediction.
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