Muslim woman wearing face veil snaps picture of Eucharistic Procession
Yesterday evening's Eucharistic Procession was so glorious. I know there is something in the 39 Articles in the Book of Common Prayer that opposes such things. I will not miss seeing them turfed. What a witness this was! Jesus Himself, hidden in the Eucharistic bread, traveled from the cathedral in Gatineau, Quebec, across the Ottawa River, past all the downtown monuments such as the National Gallery, the War Memorial and stops for prayers and adoration on Parliament Hill, on the steps below the Peace Tower of Centre Block that houses both the House of Commons and the Senate.
The Blessed Sacrament rests atop the Ark of the New Covenant, a symbolic object that traveled throughout Canada in advance of the 2008 Eucharistic Congress. Clad in icons, it resembles both a ship and the Ark of the Covenant, though it travels mostly on a little cart because it is awfully heavy to be carried on the shoulder for long distances.
The streets were full of tourists, this being Ottawa's annual Tulip Festival. The joy of these young people, who were smiling, waving and singing, was contagious and mirrored back to them by the festival crowds, many of whom snapped pictures, including the Muslim couple above. More pictures on my blog and Archbishop Prendergast's, including a great Pentecost homily.
Clergy kneel on Parliament Hill before the Blessed Sacrament
The Archbishop and other clergy kneeling on the steps of the Hill
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Thank you for sharing the glorious Eucharistic Procession. Your posts about Pro-Life and Eucharistic Procession are surely a sign of contradiction. This shows a stark contrast between young people kneeling before the Blessed Sacrament in public and an increasingly materialistic society.
What a wonderful sign of hope in the fearless proclamation of the Gospel on the streets of Canada. That is why we need priests to wear clericals as street wear – and maybe even a cassock, so that people can see and identify them.
So great to see so many young people proud of the Christian faith and showing such reverence to the Presence of Jesus in the sacrament.
Thank you Deborah for sharing these experiences with all of us.
We have been following the various postings on the blogs from the southern part of the dark continent, and that way keep ourselves informed of the developments.
We have been privileged over a number of years to have close personal ties with the clergy of Opus Dei and the Roman Catholic Church as well as the coptic Orthodox Church in our neck of the woods, and we have benefited enormously in our spritual growth as a result.
We wish you all a Blessed Pentecost.
Deborah:
Delightful reporting.