ROME – BELMONTE, by Maria Fischer •
The Feast of Corpus Christi was celebrated at the Vatican on Thursday, in Italy, however, on the following Sunday, and for that matter the celebration was also held the following Sunday at Santa Gema parish in Rome. Late in the afternoon of a very hot summer day, Santa Gema parish, whose real name is Santa Rufina and Santa Segunda, began to fill for the celebration of the Holy Mass with the faithful of the community and from the International Schoenstatt center at Belmonte that is right in front. It is the first time that the Feast of Corpus Christi was celebrated since the death of Father Federico Pirozzi, who was the pastor of the community for many years. He felt profoundly united to the Matri-Ecclesiae Shrine since the cornerstone was laid. On Palm Sunday and on the Feast of Corpus Christi, he would lead the faithful of the parish to the shrine to pray the Holy Rosary, for catechesis, and the Stations of the Cross.
From the parish to the shrine
Of course this year, the Corpus Christi procession was also carried out from the parish to the Schoenstatt Shrine. This year the number of participants was smaller, because the neighboring parish was welcoming the image of the Our Lady of Fatima at the same time. And despite the heat, the faithful were heartily present. After the rector of the shrine, Father Daniel Lozano, con-celebrated Mass, the Blessed Sacrament in the monstrance was carried toward the Shrine amid songs and prayers.
The first station, decorated with flowers for the occasion, was before the cross of glass blocks – a gift from the Schoenstatt Youth from the Archdiocese of Freiburg. After the prayer and the Eucharistic blessing, the procession continued on the circular road towards the Shrine. The children scattered rose petals along the road. It seemed that a storm was approaching, the sky was gray, but it did not rain and the temperature dropped a little bit.
At the door of the Shrine
The second and the last station was at the door of the shrine; before the Eucharistic blessing, everyone joined in a moment of adoration wherein petitions for the Church and the world were presented to the Lord.
The worldwide Church – priests, sisters and lay people from Italy, Brazil, Argentina, Africa and Germany.
Many entered the Shrine to pray for a moment, as it is befitting.
Then small groups gathered in front of the Shrine to converse with each other…
Photos
 |
| 8 de junio de 2015 – Corpus Christi Belmonte |
