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| Josephine | Monday, 11. June 2007, 12:57 |
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Back in the 1870s, I think, the Duke of Norfolk of the time was visiting a village somewhere in Italy. He was so impressed by the devotion of the people who made carpets of flowers in the streets for the Blessed Sacrament to be carried over in procession on the feast of Corpus Christi, that he took the idea home with him to Arundel, Sussex. Ever since then, with only one break (in 1919 because of the war), there has been a carpet of flowers the length of the nave in the cathedral in Arundel. It is laid on the Monday preceding Corpus Christi and can be viewed on the Tuesday, Wednesday and during the day of the Thursday. There is solemn high Mass at 5.30 pm, followed by a procession with the Blessed Sacrament from the cathedral through the streets to Arundel Castle. There is Benediction in the grounds in the open air and procession back to the cathedral where there is Benediction again. On returning to the cathedral the bishop carries the Blessed Sacrament over the carpet of flowers. At the head of the procession are the children who have recently received Holy Communion for the first time. This year they came from St. Philip's school near the cathedral, St. Wilfrid's parish and English Martyrs' parish, Goring-by-Sea. Also in the procession are Knights and Dames of Jerusalem, Knights and Dames of Malta, and of St. Gregory, and others whose names I don't know; members of Legion of Mary; Knights of St. Columba; the current Duke and Duchess of Norfolk and members of their family; acolytes, deacons, priests and, of course, Bishop Kieran Conry carrying the Blessed Sacrament under a canopy (beautifully embroidered), and then anyone else who wishes to take part. The flower-strewers immediately in front of the Blessed Sacrament sre from St. Philip's School, the cathedral parish. There are loudspeakers in trees and on posts along the way and someone in the cathedral leads the singing, litanies and prayers as you go along. Knights of St. Columba distribute booklets so all can join in. As the procession passed St. Nicholas (the Anglican parish church just along the road from the cathedral there was another group waiting to join in with their own banner embroidered with a chalice, etc. St. Nicholas must be unique because behind the altar it has big glass doors and through these you can see the tombs of the ancestors of the Duke of Norfolk. Their part of the church is accessible through a door in the castle grounds. The big glass doors have been opened on special occasions. It is a while since I've been in there so I'm sorry for being a bit vague on the details but it must be the only church which is part Catholic and part Anglican. People come from all over the diocese and beyond for the Corpus Christi procession - and in the days beforehand people come in coaches from all over to see the carpet of flowers. Someone told me there was a group from a Catholic secondary school in Bristol, Somerset brought by their teacher who grew up locally. There were photos of last year's procession in the West Sussex Gazette for sale on the day. No doubt, there will be pics of this year's procession in the next issue. I think it is published on a Wednesday. I'm sorry I can't do the bringing pictures from other places. I always make a mess of it btu the paper must have a website so try and have a look there. I've been going to this celebration at Arundel for some years and it is well worth the effort. We have been fortunate taht the weather has been kind for some years now. If it is too windy, we just have to process around inside the cathedral. As Arundel is situated on top of a hill, there is usually a bit of breeze but the force of the wind is crucial. After it is all over the children are very keen to walk on the carpet of flowers - particularly small boys who especially seem to indulge in a scuffling style of walk as they move over it. Little girls tend to pick up the flower heads to keep as souvenirs. Sorry for such a long post - but it is such a wonderful event ! Josephine |
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| Corpus Christi · Our Lord's Feast Days | |
4:13 PM Nov 25