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Officially abolished, still alive in Poland
The octave, an eight-day extension of the celebration of an important ceremony, has been a permanent element of the liturgical calendar for centuries. However, in 1955, Pope Pius XII, as part of a reform simplifying the rites, abolished most octaves, including those associated with Corpus Christi. In the entire Catholic Church, only the octaves of Christmas and Easter remain.
So why do we still see daily processions in Polish churches? This is the result of a request made by Polish bishops to the Holy See. Due to the deep roots of this custom in Polish piety, The Polish Episcopate received consent to preserve it. Formally speaking, the octave of Corpus Christi in Poland does not have a liturgical rank, but is a cherished custom.
What do the celebrations of the Corpus Christi octave look like?
For eight days after Corpus Christi the faithful gather for evening services combined with a Eucharistic procession around the church. These processions are usually shorter than the main one on the day of the celebration. Often, at the end of the octave, on the last Thursday, the procession stops again at the four altars, symbolizing the four directions of the world and the four Gospels. It is a public declaration of faith and a joyful extension of the celebration of Christ’s presence in the Eucharist.
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The culmination of the octave, i.e. the blessing of wreaths
The last day of the octave is also the time of one of the most beautiful folk customs – blessings of wreaths. They are woven from the first summer flowers and medicinal herbs such as mint, thyme, sedum, chamomile and jasmine. Blessed wreaths are taken home and hung next to doors, over holy images or in farm buildings. According to ancient beliefs, they were supposed to protect household members and their belongings from:
- storms and lightning strikes,
- fire and other disasters,
- diseases and evil powers.
The dried wreath was kept for a whole year, and the old one was burned before a new one was brought. Although today we look at the magical properties of herbs with a grain of salt, the tradition of blessing wreaths is perceived as an expression of gratitude to God for the gifts of nature and a request for protection of the fields and crops.
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