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Catholics celebrate Corpus Christi: processions bring hope to Mainz
Corpus Christi 2025 in Rhineland-Palatinate: tradition, community and the celebration of the Eucharist in Mainz and Speyer.
Catholics celebrate Corpus Christi: processions bring hope to Mainz
On June 19, 2025, Catholics in Rhineland-Palatinate celebrated Corpus Christi with festive masses and colorful processions. This solemnity, also known as Corpus Christi, is dedicated to the Eucharist and the real presence of Jesus Christ in the bread and wine. The name “Corpus Christi” comes from Middle High German and means “the body of the Lord” ( catholicnewsagency.com ).
In Mainz, Bishop Peter Kohlgraf spoke in his sermon about the important role of community: “The meaning of my life is to be for others and with others.” This message was well received by those present. The bishop emphasized that bread and wine are not just symbols, but represent Jesus' devotion and his abiding love for people ( n-tv.de ). In Speyer, Bishop Karl-Heinz Wiesemann interprets the procession as an expression of hope in God's presence. He emphasized that having hope is a challenge and our faith plays a crucial role in it.
History and tradition of the Corpus Christi festival
The festival has its origins in the 13th century, when Saint Juliana of Liège recognized in her visions that the Church lacked a celebration of the Eucharist. Their stories led Bishop Robert of Liège to introduce the festival for his diocese in 1246, and the first Corpus Christi procession took place in Cologne in 1279. Pope Urban IV introduced the festival for the entire Latin Church in 1264 ( katholisch.de ).
The procession is the most characteristic element of the festival, in which the consecrated host is carried through the streets in a monstrance. This procession begins with a holy mass and stops at four stations where prayers and singing take place. The theological basis is based on the words of Jesus at the Last Supper and in the Gospel of John, which describe the change of bread and wine as transubstantiation ( catholicnewsagency.com ).
Current challenges and hopes
In his sermon, Bishop Wiesemann compared today's time with the exodus of the Israelites from Egypt. He emphasized that freedom does not come easy and people often call for strong leaders. At the same time, he warned against the temptation to retreat to old concepts. Finally, he appealed to want to face the challenges of today's world with strong faith.
Although Corpus Christi is celebrated as a public holiday in many Catholic countries, it is at the discretion of the local bishops whether and how the processions take place. Today shows that despite all the challenges, faith and community are at the center and bring people together ( n-tv.de ).