The Second Annual Eucharistic Procession for the Solemnity of Christ the King
Image Courtesy of Pat Ryan
By Zachary Lichter
CUA’s Campus Ministry and St. John Paul II (JPII) Seminary celebrated the Solemnity of Christ the King on November 24 with their second annual Eucharistic Procession from the St. Vincent de Paul Chapel to the JPII Seminary following the 11 a.m. Mass. The procession was organized by Father Bernard Knapke, the Chaplain for Worship, and Father Chris Seith, the Coordinator of Spiritual Formation for the JPII Seminary.
The Solemnity of Christ the King takes place on the last Sunday of the liturgical year. It was instituted by Pope Pius XI in 1925 as he responded to the growing atheism and secularism threatening the Catholic Church in countries like Mexico, Russia, and other parts of Europe. This solemnity reminds people that while governments change, Christ will remain King forever.
Father Brendan Glasgow, the Coordinator of Propaedeutic Formation, was the main celebrant and homilist. The concelebrants were Father Carter Griffin, the Rector of the JP II Seminary, Father Seith, and Father Bernard.
Jacob Brown, a junior philosophy major, read the First Reading from the Book of Daniel (Dn. 7:13-14), and Tanner Brady, a freshman media and communications major, read the Second Reading from the Book of Revelation (Rev. 1:5-8). Father Bernard then read the Gospel from the Gospel of Mark (Mk. 11:9, 10).
Father Glasgow said in his homily that the Solemnity of Christ the King is a timeless message: “We proclaim our loyalty, fidelity first and foremost to the King of Kings and Lord of Lords.” In every single prayer of the Mass, people pray for the kingdom to come through our Lord Jesus Christ, who lives and reigns in the unity of the Holy Spirit. God forever and ever.
After Communion, an altar server came out of the sacristy with a monstrance. Father Bernard exposed the Blessed Sacrament. After Father Glasgow made his way to the front of the altar, he incensed the Blessed Sacrament. Everyone knelt behind him in the aisle as the JPII Seminary choir sang O Salutaris Hostia (O Saving Victim in Latin).
An altar server put the humeral veil on Father Glasgow, and he went behind the altar to pick up the monstrance. The Eucharistic Procession began with an altar server carrying the cross and two altar servers carrying candles on each side of him. There was an altar server carrying the boat with incense inside and two carrying thuribles who rotated every few minutes, incensing Father Glasgow with the Blessed Sacrament.
Father Glasgow was standing inside a canopy held by four members of the Knights of Columbus. The choir processed behind Father Glasgow and led everyone in singing Godhead Here in Hiding twice, along with Jesu Dulcis Memoria (The Sweet Memory of Jesus in Latin) and Pange Lingua.
The procession began with Father Glasgow meeting the four members of the Knights of Columbus at the St. Vincent de Paul Chapel as they carried the canopy heading towards Flather Hall. Everyone made a left turn up the path to Centennial Village up to the cul-de-sac and turned right on Fort Slemmer Dr. Everyone turned right onto Harewood Rd. The procession turned left onto Taylor St. where DPS blocked off traffic and rode their bikes alongside the procession.
The procession turned left onto the entrance of the JP II Seminary, where everyone knelt for Benediction.
Father Glasgow placed the Blessed Sacrament on an outdoor altar placed outside the doors of the JP II Seminary. Once everyone knelt for Benediction, he chanted, “You have given them bread from heaven,” and chanted the Prayer for the Blessed Sacrament. He blessed everyone with the Blessed Sacrament, and everyone prayed the Divine Praises.
The procession finished with everyone singing Holy God, We Praise Thy Name. Students could go to Eucharistic Adoration in the chapel where Father Glasgow placed the Blessed Sacrament.
Father Bernard commented on what he enjoyed about the Eucharistic Procession for the Solemnity of Christ the King.
“It’s an opportunity to outwardly express the great love that we have for Jesus Christ and to show that to the world in a very public and solemn manner,” Father Bernard said. “It’s a great opportunity on this Feast of Christ the King.”
Anna Vredenburg, a sophomore elementary education major, commented on what made this Eucharistic Procession special.
“I think there is just a greater solemnity to the procession and to help us, and to at least help me recognize more that Christ is King and to help me honor Him in that way,” Vrendenburg said.
