Corpus Christi, the ‘festival divine,’ stands among the great feasts of the Church’s year, celebrating the astonishing mystery of Christ’s presence in the Holy Eucharist.

At the heart of its liturgy is the Lauda Sion, the great sequence composed by St Thomas Aquinas at the behest of Pope Urban IV. Rich in imagery, doctrine and devotion, its centuries-old verses proclaim the mystery of the Blessed Sacrament and the presence of Christ under the appearances of bread and wine.

In This Festival Divine, Father Joseph takes the reader verse by verse through the Lauda Sion, drawing out some of the treasures contained within this remarkable hymn of adoration. Through a series of short reflections, he explores the Real Presence, the mystery of transubstantiation and the place of the Holy Eucharist at the heart of Catholic faith and worship.

Although written principally for Catholics, this book is for anyone wishing to deepen their understanding of the Eucharist. This Festival Divine offers an opportunity to rediscover both the richness of Corpus Christi and the profound mystery the feast celebrates.