Corpus Christi 2

Recognize in this bread what hung on the cross, and in this chalice what flowed from His side... whatever was in many and varied ways announced beforehand in the sacrifices of the Old Testament pertains to this one Sacrifice which is revealed in the New Testament.
St. Augustine

 Since we celebrated our TLM Corpus Christi Mass and Procession on the actual Feast Day on the Thursday, some of our choir headed down to the ceremony at St. John Cantius in Chicago.

 After running (not litereally) into a bike race that caused us to find a detour in the wrong direction ... thanks to 2 policemen who don't know their way around town  .... we arrived at the train station with 2 minutes to spare.  I think my husband enjoys it when I call in a panic and say, "Where am I?"  He's getting really good at setting me back on course when I tell him, "We are at a corner with a church."  Really, I think he enjoys this because it happens frequently and he still takes me out to dinner.

 Taking a seat upstairs in the train. This was the first picked seats. We began a case of, "We've never been on a train, we must try every seat on board til we find just the right one."

 Miss G came along with us, which added an extra bit o' fun.

 Frodo was very intrigued....

 .... especially with what he thought were monkey bars.  The children also got a kick out of the "Lavatory".

 This was about the 4th or 5th seat.

 When the ticket man came around I told him that the 4 children were mine to which he nodded up and down, "And they are all under 11?"  To which 3 rode free and only Sam and I needed tickets.  I made sure to say a Hail Mary for his kindness.

 Really, life doesn't get much more exciting than riding a train and finding out that you can also turn your seat around. Really, we tried it all ("we" did not include me, I sat in 1 seat the whole time)

 Having rarely been in a city the size of Chicago, my children found railroad crossing bars on the sidewalks rather humorous.

 I have promptly forgotten what the major landmarks are (it is the church in the background, not the shell station sign that I'm referring to)

 This is the largest church in North America, if I remember correctly, but we thought it was the Church of the Weeping Angels.  (for any Dr. Who fans out there.... bow ties are also cool)

 We arrived at the train station in Chicago with about 20 minutes to get us to the Church.

 Ooohhh... an escalator.  The boys decided we needed one of these in our house.

 Oooohh... a rotating door... don't ask how many times Frodo went around... I'm not sure.

 Miss G trying to get a limo driver to give us a ride at cab prices!

 It took us a while to get a cab because *blush* we were standing hailing cabs in the "drop off" lane.  Ok, so we aren't city people.  In the end we found a cab that was large enough for all 6 of us. I was glad, that is for sure.

 It is totally alright for anywhere to smell like chocolate!

 We're getting there!

 I will admit, I was prepared not to be amazed since I've seen many churches over the years in my travels but I was blown away with extreme delight when I walked into the church.  Absolutely gorgeous.  The story of this parish is well worth a listen to (HERE) !  Just goes to show Faith goes a very long ways.

 We had the blessed privilege to sit in the SECOND ROW. It was splendid, the choir was magnificent!

 Following Mass was a beautiful Eucharistic Procession. My pictures will show little justice so you can view their pictures from a previous year HERE.

 This is Altar One, at each altar there was a Gospel sung, Tantum Ergo, Benediction and all knelt on the rough pavement. It was beautiful.  We processed to 4 Altars and then back inside to the High Altar.  It was truly incredible.

 There were 3 choir lofts!

 A relic of a piece of Saint Padre Pio's cloth that he wore to cover the stigmata.

 The absolutely gorgeous Infant of Prague.

 The hand-carved confessions were gorgeous and they were all around the Church.  So were altars. It must have been like Heaven when all the altars he Masses going on at the same time. The only place I ever saw that happen was in Rome.  The main Mass was being said and other priests were saying private Masses at the various altars. How many graces!

 A wonderful statue of St. Padre Pio (I know "Padre" really isn't necessary but it just goes... you know?)

 We could not help but climb the stairs to the main choir loft.

 I thought I was going to faint but I had to take the picture.  I'm not a heights kind of person.

 We spoke with their charming organist for a while and he directed us to the little museum off to the side of the choir loft.

 NUN DOLLS!  I'm so disappointed the picture is so blurry. I'm a doll person there is no doubt but nun dolls are exquisite!

 Hand transcripted chant... in giant format.

 Monstrances.

 An incredible Nativity Set.

 An exquisite monstrance and stole!

 Now these were beautiful, cute, darling, very much "I want one"  replicas.

 The boys were intrigued by the the altar cards that matched the ones we have at our parish.

 A gorgeous gonfalon.

 A picture of Our Lady that is called "the Madonna of Chicago" I believe.

 The small organ that is used for Vespers. At the end of our visit they sang Vespers. I wish we had been able to stay for the whole thing as their chanting was absolutely beautiful! It was definitely a piece of Heaven.

 More relics!

 Another fascinating pulpit.

 St. Cecilia.

 St. Peter, just like the one in Rome! With the same foot rubbed off!

 The children with St. John Cantius.

 Another "weeping" angel.  (I know, we are odd)

 This was one of those days that goes down as an epic of life.

 The place we did not eat for lunch (but found the sign comical)

 The place we did go for lunch

 Enough to make one dizzy!

Nothing like ending a beautiful day with a beautiful sunset! God is so Good!