...we went, singing hymns and led by a great Processional Cross, acolytes with candles, and a great papal flag...
The Procession of the Blessed Sacrament linking London's two Cathedrals - Westminster and St George's, Southwark - has a traditional feel to it, but is actually something fairly new. It was begun just four years ago, to mark the first anniversary of the State Visit of Pope Benedict XVI to Britain. His visit was at the end of September, and its climax was the beatification of Bl. John Henry Newman, whose feast is on October 8th. So the Procession is timed for early October.
It's very much a London thing. We had Sisters from various London convents, Knights of Our Lady in white cloaks, a good many people who are regulars at Westminster Cathedral, families from south of the river, and...well...just a great concourse of the faithful. The Blessed Sacrament was carried by Bishop Nicholas Hudson, flanked of course by acolytes with candles and incense....the whole route was marshalled by Knights of St Columba (wearing impressive blue sashes and medals of office) and Catenians. As the head of the procession was turning off down to Rochester Row, the Blessed Sacrament was just leaving the Cathedral piazza. The rear of the procession was marked by another flag-bearer with the golden and white Papal flag.
In traditional style, one part of the procession was singing one hymn while a section further back had embarked on another, and a couple of groups in the middle were at differenmt stages of the Rosary....but all went well, and the singing was hearty, helped by excellent booklets produced by
Westminster Cathedral and handed out to all. We had to make a detour near St George's as there are massive roadworks there - but this had all been carefully planned in advance, and in fact the last stretch, walking up alongside the Cathedral worked rather well, with a final surge of singing. Then a glorious Benediction...
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Yes it is good to feel that this procession is now firmly established and long may it continue to give witness to the Faith across London.
You mention the difficulty in keeping the singing together. I found myself in between two 'sections' and at several points could not work out which hymn to join in - the one in front or the one behind! This is a pity. There was a very impressive male voice behind me but unfortunately he was at a different stage of the hymns to those in front. If such singers could be found and perhaps placed at intervals in the procession perhaps this would help keep the singing together.
I once joined a Blessed Sacrament procession across Paris. The singing both in French and Chinese was perfectly synchronised due to a very large and obviously strong young man who carried loudspeakers on his back! A very moving experience indeed although to be able to join in one in our capital city is even more special.
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