The Feast of Corpus Christi has been celebrated since the 13th century, following a decree from the Church that wanted a special day on which people could commemorate the most holy mystery of the altar with the greatest reverence and solemnity. They should celebrate this day as a day of thanksgiving, in gratitude for the fact that God is among us.

This year, several hundred believers followed the church's instructions and gathered in the courtyard of Jaidhof Castle for the most beautiful celebration of the whole year, the celebration of Corpus Christi. The weather was kind to us; it was neither too hot nor too cold, and the rain did not arrive until an hour after the celebration had ended. So all the many people were able to attend the Holy Mass, which was celebrated as a blessing mass in front of the exposed Blessed Sacrament and as a levitated high mass, outdoors. The celebrant was the district superior of the Austrian district, Father Johannes Regele, assisted by Father Emmerich Jeindl and Father Michal Frej as Levites. A further seven priests took part in the Holy Mass.

Google-Translation

In his sermon, Father Regele pointed out that in the 21st century we too must guard this most holy mystery of the altar, which is Jesus Christ himself - with His body, His blood, His soul and His divinity - with all our strength; this will be our greatest achievement in our day. We should all be lovers of the traditional Mass, we should become apostles of the traditional Mass so that we can lead as many people as possible to this mystery. The world cannot exist without the Holy Mass and people must be made aware of this again; it is the centre of our lives, the source of all graces, the place where these graces are dispensed. People forget God again and again, all too easily, all too quickly, all too often. This is the greatest misfortune of our lives, that we do not walk in the living presence of God; we sin because we forget God. That is why our Saviour instituted this most holy sacrament - and with it the Feast of Corpus Christi - so that we can overcome forgetfulness of God.

After the high mass, the festive procession with the Blessed Sacrament moved partly through the late spring, deep green forest to four magnificently decorated altars, which were located on the east side of the castle, at the chapel of St. John Nepomuk, at the back of the ice house and at the Joseph chapel. At each of the altars, a different intention was prayed for in the oration: that we properly venerate the holy mysteries of His body and blood, for peace and protection from enemies, for protection from natural disasters and for protection from war, illness and insecurity. On the way between the altars, the rosary was prayed and the brass band accompanied the festive singing. Children scattered flower petals from their baskets and the sacramental blessing was given at each altar. From the main altar, Father Regele gave the final blessing and sang the solemn Te Deum.

The musical accompaniment was very worthy of the occasion: the Voxair ensemble sang the Kronstorfer Choral Mass by Anton Bruckner, and also the Locus iste and the Tantum Ergo by the man whose 200th birthday we are celebrating this year. Also performed were the Ave verum by William Byrd and Ubi Caritas by Ola Gjeilo.

After the great celebration of the day, a snack could be enjoyed in the castle courtyard before the first drops of rain fell and the believers, strengthened in body and soul, began their journey home.

The recently deceased Bishop Vitus Huonder celebrated this great feast with us in Jaidhof in 2022. He wrote about it: "In Jaidhof I was able to experience the most beautiful Corpus Christi procession of my life." Everyone who was present this year will surely agree with him! (fsspx.at)