Corpus Christi

                                                   CUZCO, PERU    MAY 1997

What is happening, I look out my hotel window and the streets are alive with people and music?   Today and tomorrow are the exciting days leading up to the celebration of Corpus Christi.   As a convert of 8 years my Catholic years were formed in a small parish in McCall, Idaho.  I had never experienced what I  am now seeing  in the city of Cuzco, in Peru.

Cuzco is located in the Valley of the Huntanay River in Peru’s southeastern Andes.  It is located at approximately 12,000 ft. above sea level.  I am there to start a six day trek in the Andes mountains from the town of Mollepata to the Sun Gates of Machu Picchu to visit the mysterious ruins of this Inca city.

  In the days leading up to this FEAST all the churches in the area process their statues into the Cathedral.  The statues called “Santos”are their Saints.  Each Church has its own procession.  First comes a very loud band.  Then 12 teenage boys carry the large base for the Santos and next comes the Parish Priest followed by the Indians called Quecuas, the indigenous ones.  The Quecuas are dressed in various costumes and do all types of dancing as they process.  Then a group carrying the very large candles, which are placed around the Santos once it is placed inside the Cathedral. Now comes the Santos and this is carried on the shoulders of twelve very strong men.  More dancing Quecuas and the parishioners follow.  Before going into the Cathedral they process several times around a large square called Plaza oe Armas.

The Cathedral named the Church of Triumph was opened in August 1669.  It is made up of a Latin cross-shaped first floor, with processional aisles and ambulatories.  The Jesuit priests who arrived in Cusco in 1571 ordered its construction.

For this Feast Day all the pews had been taken out and all the Santos have  been placed on the inner circle or entrance to the Altar.  The large candles are giving the only light in the Church.  There was a Archbishop, two Bishops and about 30 Priest and Monks attending.  The Mass was said in Spanish and was absolutely beautiful with all the Pomp.

Meanwhile, around the outside of the Cathedral, the various parishes have claimed their spot for a place to eat, drink and rejoice with gala.  The outside square had about 20,000 people.  There were lots of festivities, all the bands playing, the Indians dancing with whips.  One street was full of food venders and places to sit down relax, a eat or drink.  The Corpus Christi “special of the day” was; Seared or roasted Guinea pig, corn on the cob and “chiriuchu” and alcohol made from corn. I was a little hesitant to try the Guinea pig.

At the end of the Mass, a very large “Monstrance” was brought out and placed in the back of a decorated float.  The kneeler was placed in front of the Monstrance.  The Archbishop kneels before the Monstrance and the float is driven so very slowly around the square and then back to the Cathedral.

These days were filled with so much excitement for me, as I had never seen this type of celebration before. I went to all the masses and stayed for hours in the square.  I found out you just don’t receive the Eucharist as easily as we do at home, you have to be in the first four or five rows and be good at elbowing your way up to the altar,an experience I will never forget.

Cuzco was an exciting city for me. When your airplane lands at the local airport and you step out, you immediately are greeted by a bright blue sky surrounded by snow capped mountains at the exhilarating height of 12,000ft,

Marge Prothman, Catholic Idaho Register