The next apostolic visit of Leo XIV to Madrid on the occasion of Corpus Christi will not only mobilize thousands of the faithful and a large part of the Church in Madrid. It will also involve the silent work of monasteries and contemplative communities that, from their cloisters and convents, are preparing some of the liturgical elements the Pontiff will use during the great Eucharistic celebration scheduled for June 7 in Plaza de Cibeles. According to the Archdiocese of Madrid, several religious congregations have taken part in making liturgical cloths, sacristy towels and other items for the Mass presided over by the Holy Father.
The Discalced Carmelites make the Pope’s liturgical cloths
Among the communities involved are the Discalced Carmelites of the Monastery of Santa Teresa de Jesús de Ponzano, who are responsible for producing the altar set that Leo XIV and the concelebrants will use during the Corpus Christi Eucharist.
The set includes the corporal, purificators, manuterge and altar cloth, made with simple and elegant embroidery in keeping with the liturgical solemnity of the celebration. The commission was given by the Marías de los Sagrarios, a work founded in 1911 by St. José María Rubio with the aim of spiritually accompanying the Lord in the tabernacles and promoting eucharistic reparation.
The Archdiocese thus highlights the discreet yet essential role of contemplative life in the life of the Church, a mission that Leo XIV himself described a few months ago as “silent, fruitful and irreplaceable.”
Carthusians and Oblates will also collaborate in the celebration
In addition to the liturgical cloths, the sacristy prepared in the Real Casa de Correos will feature other items made by religious communities. The monks of the Charterhouse of Miraflores in Burgos have produced the flower and essence soaps the Pope will use before the Mass, the result of the traditional manual work of the Carthusians.
For their part, the Oblates of Christ the Priest have embroidered the papal coat of arms on the sacristy towels intended for the celebration.
More than 2,000 pyxes and several eucharistic churches around Cibeles
The Archdiocese of Madrid has also prepared six eucharistic churches in the vicinity of Plaza de Cibeles. In these churches, Holy Mass will be celebrated on the morning of Corpus Christi to consecrate the hosts that will later be distributed among those attending the Eucharist presided over by Leo XIV.
The liturgical cloths for these churches have been made by various congregations and ecclesial realities, including Discalced Carmelites, Oblates of Christ the Priest, Handmaids of the Blessed Sacrament and groups of embroiderers linked to Madrid parishes.
It is planned to use 2,300 pyxes with 200 hosts each, in what will be one of the largest eucharistic deployments organized in Madrid in recent years. In addition, several parishes will remain open until two in the afternoon to facilitate communion for those who cannot receive it during the main celebration, including specific attention for people with celiac disease.