The feast of Corpus Christi (Boze Cialo),
the day on which the Catholic Church commemorates the institution
of the Holy Eucharist, is celebrated with great pomp and solemnity
throughout Poland and Polonia. As the Eucharist is the central feature
of Catholicism, made present in the Sacrifice of Holy Mass, this
Feast is of enormous importance. The celebration of Corpus Christi,
common to the pre-Vatican II American Catholic church, seems foreign
to many contemporary Americans. However, this perception is generally
out of touch with world Catholicism, wherein this feast is celebrated
vigorously, esp. throughout Europe, including Poland and Polonia
worldwide. Three important rituals form the core of Polish Roman
Catholic Corpus Christi devotions: Corpus Christi Altars
(Bozy Domek), Greenery, and the Corpus Christi Procession
(Procesja Bozego Ciala).
