Corpus Christi in Torun Poland

A special experience yesterday during our journey through Poland. I attended mass at St. John’s Cathedral in the medieval city at 9am. The Mass began with the robust sound of the church’s pipe organ heralding in the procession,

The music was of a more traditional flavor than seems to be the norm these dates in the States – reverent and spiritual. The whole body of the assembly sang – without the aid of music misssls in the pews.

Following Mass, the Bishop began the Corpus Christi procession carrying the Eucharist out of the church into the city streets. Soon the few hundred attendees of the Cathedral mass were joined by thousands in the streets for this procession. Commerce in the main city was virtually shut down in the morning.

The procession proceeded to four different Catholic Churches in the city, stopping at an outside altar before each for prayers which all could here on a modern wireless audio sound system. The procession was led by church ministers, followed by nuns, children dressed in white outfits, a small band of musicians and the throng of thousands. People knelt in the streets as the Eucharist passed by and at the appropriate times during the prayers.