The Thursday after Trinity Sunday is the day in the Church’s calendar that has traditionally been set aside as a day of thanksgiving for Holy Communion. These days, the Church of England calls this day by the rather lengthy title of The Day of Thanksgiving for the Institution of Holy Communion, whilst the Roman Catholic Church simply calls it The Body and Blood of Christ. Many of us will know it by its more traditional name, Corpus Christi.
This year, the Thursday after Trinity Sunday falls on the 11th June, which is the feast day of St Barnabas, who accompanied St Paul on his first missionary journey, took part in the Church Council of Jerusalem, and later, returned to his homeland of Cyprus to preach the Gospel.
As the Church of England places equal importance on both of these festivals, I have provided the propers for both.
Corpus Christi
Entrance Antiphon
The Lord fed his people with the finest wheat and honey; their hunger was satisfied.
The Collect
Lord Jesus Christ,
we thank you that in this wonderful sacrament
you have given us a memorial of your passion:
grant us so to reverence the sacred mysteries of your body and blood
that we may know within ourselves,
and show forth in our lives,
the fruits of your redemption:
for you are alive and reign with the Father,
in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and for ever.
Amen.
The Readings
Missal (St Mark’s) Deuteronomy 8:2-3, 14-16
Psalm 147: 12-end
1 Corinthians 10:16-17
John 6:51-58
RCL (St Gabriel’s) Genesis 14:18-20
Psalm 116:10-17
1 Corinthians 11:23-26
John 6:51-58
St Barnabas
Entrance Antiphon
Blessed are you, St Barnabas;
you were a man of faith, filled with the Holy Spirit and counted among the Apostles.
The Collect
Bountiful God, giver of all gifts,
who poured your Spirit upon your servant Barnabas and gave him grace to encourage others,
help us, by his example, to be generous in our judgements
and unselfish in our service:
through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord,
who is alive and reigns with you,
in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and for ever.
Amen.
The Readings
Missal (St Mark’s) Acts 11:21-26, 13:1-3
Psalm 98
Matthew 10: 7-13
RCL (St Gabriel’s) Job 29:11-16
Psalm 112
Acts 11:19-30
John 15:12-17
Parish Church of St Mark Chadderton 