"Participating" in the Corpus Christi Procession

[Tis_Bearself]

The Manual of Indulgences gives a plenary for “participating” in a Eucharistic Procession, especially for Corpus Christi.

Some parishes and shrines have such processions where people can get in line and walk behind the priest bearing the Blessed Sacrament, which makes it very clear what “participation” is. You walk in the procession.

However, what if your church has the procession with the priest holding the Blessed Sacrament, some other clergy and servers, and some ushers carrying the canopy, but the program/ bulletin/ priest directs all the lay people attending to just stay kneeling in their pews as the priest and company process around the church past the kneeling people? Since you are not permitted to join the procession and walk, does it count as “participation” if you sing the processional hymn, devoutly watch Jesus pass you, and pray to him? A priest in a homily likened this to being in the crowd watching Jesus pass in Jerusalem on his way into the city or out to Calvary. It seems like participation to me since you’re not allowed to join the procession, but just wondered what others thought.

 

[Irishmom2]

I would consider it participating. You are there, you are doing what the priest directed you to do.

 

[Maxwell03]

That is clearyly participating but I can see why you were confused because the word “participating” wasn’t clear enough… they should reallymake things clearer

 

[DeniseNY]

I definitely seems like participation to me as this is what your pastor instructed the congregation to do.