Feast of the Body and Blood of Christ - History

The full name of this feast is Corpus et Sanguis Christi or The Body and Blood of Christ. "The feast of the Blessed Sacrament was established in 1246 by Bishop Robert de Thorte of Liege at the suggestion of St. Juliana of Mont Carvillon. [It was] extended to the universal Church by Pope Urban in 1264. The office composed by St. Thomas Aquinas and customary procession was approved by Popes Martin V and Eugene IV. Celebrated in June, the first Sunday after the feast of the Trinity." 

St. Juliana, a Belgian nun in Retinne, lived at the time of St. Thomas Aquinas and St. Louis. She received this inspiration from Our Lord for the following reasons: 1) that the Catholic doctrine receive aid from the institution of this festival at a time when the faith of the world was growing cold and heresies were rife; 2) that the faithful who love and seek truth and piety may be enabled to draw from this source of life new strength and vigor to walk continually in the way of virtue; 3) that irreverence and sacrilegious behavior towards the Divine Majesty in this adorable Sacrament may, by sincere and profound adoration, be extirpated and repaired; 4) to announce to the Christian world His will that the feast be observed. 

Worldwide Day of Eucharistic Adoration 2nd June, Solemnity of Corpus Christi

In Ireland the Eucharistic Holy Hour 
will take place at 4pm 
on Sunday 2nd June 

in union with Pope Francis 
and Catholics throughout the world.  

Pope calls for solidarity, walks Corpus Christi procession

Above link to: Rome Reports: Corpus Christi Procession in Rome

(Vatican Radio) A crowd of about 20,000 gathered for an outdoor mass with Pope Francis on Thursday at the Basilica of Saint John Lateran to celebrate the Feast of Corpus Christi.

In his homily, the Pope commented on the day’s reading from the Gospel of St. Luke, which recounts how Jesus fed 5,000 people with five loaves of bread and two fish. The Gospel, he said, recalls three key words—discipleship, fellowship and sharing—and calls us to solidarity.

“Jesus speaks in silence in the Mystery of the Eucharist,” he said, “and every time reminds us that to follow Him means to come out of ourselves and make of our own lives, not a possession, but a gift to Him and to others.”

Above from and continued here:  Vatican Radio - Corpus Christi Procession

In Ireland, the Feast of Corpus Christi was moved from the Thursday to the Sunday after Trinity Sunday.  In Italy the Feast is held traditionally on the Thursday. 

Adorers rejoice at papal invitation to Eucharistic Adoration next Sunday 2nd June - Feast of Corpus Christi

The National Apostolate of Adoration has reacted with delight to the announcement that Pope Francis will next Sunday, 2nd June 2013, take part in a period of Eucharistic Adoration, which will be televised live throughout the world at 4.00pm (Irish time). 

The Pope has invited every parish in the world to have a time of Eucharistic Devotion on the same day, Feast of the Solemnity of the Body and Blood of Christ.

John Howard from the National Apostolate of Perpetual Eucharistic Adoration said that from the time of Pope John Paul II, there has been great support from popes for Eucharistic Adoration.  “Scarcely a month went by when the pope did not mention the power of prayer before the Blessed Eucharist,” he told told Catholic Ireland,  but said Mr Howard, this initiative of inviting the faithful to pray before the Eucharist with the pope was a “thrilling” development.

According to the National Co-Ordinator in Ireland and England, Eucharistic Adoration is on the rise all the time. “A few years ago there were a few hundred centres of adoration in Ireland. Today there are more than 2,000,” said Mr Howard.

The adoration is happening in parish churches, convents and monasteries.

In 2000 there were only two diocesan Adoration Committees, but with the support of the bishops, today nineteen of the twenty -six diocese have their own committees. Parishes are invited to set up a “viable weekly adoration programme”.   “This means there should be three to four people doing adoration each hour,” Mr Howard explains.

Such has been the effect and success of the movement in Ireland, that members of the National Apostolate of Adoration were invited to the diocese of Arundel and Brighton last year to set up a diocesan Adoration Committee there, and this is now being replicated in other English dioceses.

Above from and continued here:  Catholic Ireland News

Corpus Christi 2nd June Worldwide Prayer and Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament

On the Solemnity of Corpus Christi (2nd Jun), the Holy Father will preside over a special Eucharistic adoration that will extend at the same time all over the world involving the cathedrals and parishes in each diocese. 

For an hour, at 5pm (Rome time), 

the whole world will be united 

in Prayer and Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament.