Pope to give traditional blessing for Corpus Christi Feast

(June 10,2009): In Rome, thousands of faithful are approaching Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament in the Basilica of St. Mary Major, where the age-old tradition of the 40 Hours Devotion has been taken up in preparation for this Thursday's feast of Corpus Christi. The basilica dedicated to the Virgin Mary, is part of the Pope's traditional celebration of the feast of the Body of Christ. Here, Pope Benedict XVI will give the blessing with the Blessed Sacrament at the end of the procession that starts after Mass in the Basilica of St. John Lateran.
The 40 hours devotion was promoted by Cardinal Bernard Law, the archpriest of St. Mary Major Basilica. The period of adoration began Monday morning with a solemn Mass presided over by Cardinal Law. It will end on Thursday. In his homily during Mass, Cardinal Law affirmed that " It is in the Eucharistic mystery that we encounter the 'yes' of the Lord Jesus. In his death on the cross, we understand the infinite love that God has for us,” he said. Numerous groups and religious communities have taken an hour of adoration at the basilica.
On Tuesday, ambassadors from various nations accredited to the Holy See were among the adorers. Paraguay’s Ambassador Geronimo Navaèz Torres said that even though not all of the ambassadors to the Holy See are Catholic, prayer brings them to find a "common point among all religions."