[L.; = Christ’s body.] R. C. Ch. The Feast of the Blessed Sacrament or Body of Christ, observed on the Thursday after Trinity Sunday.
In many places (e.g., at York and Coventry) it was regularly celebrated by performance of the Sacred Plays or Pageants: hence Corpus Christi play.
1377. Langl., P. Pl., B. XV. 381. As clerkes in corpus-christi feste singen & reden.
c. 1415. Crowned King, 19. On Corpus Christi even.
1476. in York Myst., Introd. 37. All þe artificers belonging to Corpus Xti Plaie.
1535. Stewart, Cron. Scot., III. 108. This samin tyme … Completit wes … or Corpus-cristie the solempnitie.
c. 1540. J. Heywood, Four P. P., in Hazl., Dodsley, I. 374. This devil and I were of old acquaintance; For oft, in the play of Corpus Christi, He hath played the devil at Coventry.
1656. Dugdale, Antiq. Warwickshire, 116/1. The pageants that were play’d therein, upon Corpus-Christi day.
1863. Longf., Wayside Inn, Theol. Tale, 25. He … At plays of Corpus-Christi oft was seen.
1885. Catholic Dict., 227/1 s.v., This custom of carrying the Blessed Sacrament in procession on Corpus Christi.
