Corpus Christi Procession in Oxford
For the last ten years, the north Oxford deanery has held a Corpus Christi Procession that begins in the Oxford Oratory (St Aloysius) and makes its way through the centre of Oxford to the Oxford University Catholic Chaplaincy. En route, the procession stops in Blackfriars priory church, where the friars greet the Blessed Sacrament by singing the sequence ‘Lauda Sion’, written by St Thomas Aquinas. A sermon is then preached before the procession continues on its way.
This year’s procession had a significant Dominican involvement. fr Richard Ounsworth OP preached the sermon, in which he likened the Eucharist to a mother breast-feeding, and thus giving her very life to her child. So it is when Mother Church gives us the Bread of Life. He also recalled Christ’s Passion, which the Mass recalls, and said we should consider ourselves blessed, if, when we processed with the Lord through the city, we might even be mocked and so share in Christ’s sufferings.
The procession walked past the Ashmolean Museum and down Cornmarket, one of Oxford’s busiest shopping thoroughfares. On either side of the Blessed Sacrament were the deacon, fr David Rocks OP, and the acolyte, fr Robert Gay OP. The Blessed Sacrament was carried from the Oratory to Blackfriars by Fr Robert Byrne, Cong. Orat., Provost of the Oratory, and then from Blackfriars to the Chaplaincy by fr Benjamin Earl OP. fr Benjamin also gave Benediction at the close of the Procession which took place in the Chaplaincy’s main hall.
Below are photos from the procession:
Fr Dominic Jacob, Cong. Orat., with some Dominicans who had gathered in the Oratory church for the start of the procession. Behind the friars is Sr Louise OP who made her final profession in March and who has recently joined the sisters’ community in Oxford.
The Blessed Sacrament is exposed on the altar of St Aloysius’ church
The priory church is packed for the Corpus Christi sermon
fr Richard Ounsworth OP preaching the sermon
fr Benjamin Earl OP incenses the Blessed Sacrament in Blackfriars priory church
The procession leaves the choir
The Procession goes past the Sackler Library on St John’s Street
The canopy over the Blessed Sacrament is carried by four students of the University
The procession in Cornmarket, passing some of Oxford’s oldest landmarks
fr Benjamin Earl OP, assisted by his Dominican brothers, incenses the Blessed Sacrament at its final station in the Chaplaincy
Fr Benjamin blesses the people with the Most Holy Eucharist
The procession ends in the Chaplaincy building with the singing of the ‘Salve Regina’
