Colorful hearts and creative ideas: Experience Corpus Christi in Gunzenhausen!
Colorful hearts and creative ideas: Experience Corpus Christi in Gunzenhausen!
Eichstätt, Deutschland - Corpus Christi is traditionally celebrated in Eichstätt on June 16, 2025 with colorful flower carpets and happy children's processions. This festival, which is reminiscent of the last sacrament of Jesus with his disciples, has a long tradition in the Catholic Church. Anna Wagner, the pastoral officer in Gunzenhausen, says that the celebrations are faced with challenges, especially in the procurement of flowers and the low participation of the children in the festivities. Nevertheless, the anticipation remains for the motto of the year: "My heart for Jesus".
In order to actively integrate the children and their families, Wagner launched creative handicrafts. During Lent, 1,000 small wooden hearts have already been prepared, which the children can design with their own ideas. This should not only make the festival being experienced up close, but also raise awareness of the meaning of Corpus Christi. Wagner informed numerous daycare centers and schools in Gunzenhausen about this handicraft campaign and even introduced lessons to reach children without denominational religious education. "Corpus Christi is a friendship festival with Jesus," said Wagner, who ensures that all children are included in the celebrations.
children at the center of
Corpus Christi invites the little ones to be part of the service. Children sprinkle flower leaves on the way on which the host, symbol for the body of Christ, is worn. This is an important part of the festival that has been celebrated by Catholics for many centuries. The children are seen as active members of the community and their creativity is emphasized as a valuable asset to the community service. The Eucharist itself, in which bread and wine are shared, forms the central point of Corpus Christi and is a solemn memory of the last sacrament.
to decorate the "children's altar" in the falcon garden-a popular beer garden in Gunzenhausen-a large cardiac garland is stretched on Corpus Christi. It used to be custom that the altar servers make it beautifully, but many are absent due to vacation trips. After the celebration, the colorful hearts are exhibited in the “show-male-clean room” of the parish church, where they serve as souvenirs to visitors.
a look into the past
The term "Corpus Christi" comes from the Middle High German and means something like "The Festival of the Leiben Christi". At this festival you can think of Jesus' presence in the Eucharist. In the services, the procession is a highlight in which the priest carries the host in an artistically designed monstrance while the community sings and prays. This tradition has been firmly anchored for centuries and is kept alive by celebrating as in Eichstätt.
Last year, the children made 900 mailboxes for the children's altar to send messages to God. This shows once again how much joy and commitment the youngest bring to the celebrations. The coexistence on this day, and the creation of common memories, is the true core of Corpus Christi and that is exactly what Anna Wagner's initiatives put on this. In summary, it can be stated that Corpus Christi is not only a religious festival, but also offers an opportunity to strengthen the community and to facilitate access to the Church and its faith for the youngest. Today's day becomes a colorful celebration of faith and the community, and everyone is invited to become part of this lively tradition.For more information about Corpus Christi and the associated customs, read here: Bistum Eichstätt , Kindergottesdienst Katholisch and katholisch.de .
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| Ort | Eichstätt, Deutschland |
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