On June 26, the solemn feast of the Body and Blood of Jesus Christ, the parishioners of St. Mary, St. John Nepomuc, and St. Lawrence O’Toole Parishes participated in the first-ever Eucharistic procession in Fennimore.
Over 165 people participated and some came from as far away as Dodgeville and Prairie du Chien.
At 1 p.m. Fr. John Sasse emerged from the parish hall carrying the monstrance with the precious body and blood of Our Blessed Lord Jesus Christ. Once he was situated under the canopy, the procession began northward down Jefferson St.
Christ himself points out that when Moses lifted the bronze serpent on the staff to save the Jews who had been bitten by the plague of serpents sent as a punishment for their idolatry (symbolic of the sting of sin from Satan which kills our souls and the possibility of happiness after death), those who looked upon the serpent on the staff were healed.
Jesus says in these following passages that this was a prefiguring of the eternal salvation he would bring to those who looked up to him on the cross:
“And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the desert, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up, that those who believe in him may not perish, but may have life everlasting” (John 3:14).
“And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all things to myself” (John 12:32).
Our Lord’s passion, death, and resurrection made the Eucharist possible and all of the superabundant graces in it flow from his sacrifice. Now in the procession Our Blessed Lord is lifted up for all to look upon him and hopefully begin a path towards salvation.
This year people processed through all four quadrants of the city (divided by Lincoln and 12th St.). In the years to come we can complete the procession if those who live in each quadrant put up an altar (one in each quadrant, four in total). The procession pauses at each altar the monstrance is placed on the altar; there is a Gospel reading, prayers, and Benediction. Thus each of the four quadrants of the city receive a special blessing from the Lord, and this represents the four principle directions (north, south, east, west) and the “four ends of the earth” over all of which Christ the King reigns and all of whose inhabitants he seeks to save.
So next year come out and walk and pray with us, or line the route to pay homage to Christ the King!
Fr. John Sasse, a priest of the Legionaries of Christ, is parochial administrator of the parishes in Fennimore, Castle Rock, and Mt. Hope.