CorpusChristi

CORPUS CHRISTI - CUZCO, PERU MAY 1997

For the Idaho Catholic Register - by Marge Prothman

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 Church celebration of Corpus Christi. As a convert of eight 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. (3658 m) 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 and Santos, first comes a very loud band, then twelve teenage boys carry the large base for the Santos, next comes the Parish Priest followed by the Indians called Quecuas, the indigenes ones.

Getting ready to process a Santos

The Quecuas are dressed in various costumes and do all types of dancing as they process. Then comes the group carrying very large candles, which are set around the Santos once it is placed inside the Cathedral. Next comes the Santos, this is carried on the shoulders of twelve very strong men. More dancing Quecuas and then the parishioners bring up the rear. 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 around the Santos are providing the only light in the Church. The Archbishop, two Bishops and about 30 Priest and Monks were in attendance. The Mass was said in Spanish and was absolutely beautiful with all the Pomp.

Santos processing into the Cathedral

Meanwhile, around the outside of the Cathedral, the various parishes have claimed their spot for a place to eat or drink and the parishioners rejoice with gala. The outside square had about 10,000 people milling around. There were many festivities, all the bands playing, the Indians dancing with their whips.

One street was full of food venders where you could sit down and relax and have something to eat or drink. The Corpus Christi 'special of the day' was seared or roasted Guinea pig, corn on the cob and 'chiriuchu' an 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, a kneeler was placed in front of the Monstrance and the Archbishop knelt before the Monstrance, then the float was driven very slowly around the square and back to the Cathedral.

These days were filled with so much excitement for me; 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 do not receive the Eucharist as easily as we do at home, you have to be in the first four or five rows, and then be good at elbowing your way up to the Altar. An experience I will never forget.

Cuzco was a wonderful 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 12,000 ft (3658 m).

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