Holy Blood Relic Procession Draws Faithful Despite Threat of Rain in Bad Wurzach
A centuries-old tradition persevered in Bad Wurzach this past Sunday as a procession carrying a reliquary containing the holy blood of Christ proceeded despite a gloomy weather forecast. The event, a cornerstone of the annual Holy Blood Festival, drew a large crowd of believers who demonstrated unwavering faith in the face of potential downpours.
The procession began on the monastery square, with participants prepared for inclement weather, having equipped themselves with rain jackets and umbrellas. According to reports, Pastor Stefan Maier acknowledged the uncertain conditions, stating that the procession would be “an adventure with an open outcome.” Despite initial raindrops, the atmosphere remained calm and reverent.
A Tradition Rooted in History
The Holy Blood Festival itself dates back to 1933, with the procession – beginning with two stanzas of the Holy Blood song – serving as its traditional prelude. This year’s event featured the city chapel and the church choir, providing a dignified musical accompaniment throughout the journey to the Gottesberg. Participants engaged in a rarely heard “heart-jesu litanei,” invoking the mercy of Jesus Christ.
Theological Significance of the Relic
Pastor Maier’s sermon centered on the “heart of Jesus Festival,” emphasizing the profound theological implications of Christ’s sacrifice. He highlighted the tearing of the temple curtain at the moment of Jesus’s death – described as 18 meters high and 30 centimeters thick – as a symbolic opening of access to God. “God has opened up to us,” he proclaimed, further connecting the lance wound on the cross to the sacraments of baptism and the Eucharist. He asserted, “Cross and altar belong together,” echoing the early Church Fathers’ interpretation of the blood and water flowing from Christ’s side as the source of these sacred rites.
The sermon also recounted the story of Josef of Arimathea, a disciple of Jesus who secured permission to bury his body. Maier then turned to the story of Thomas the Apostle, who initially doubted Jesus’s resurrection until presented with tangible proof of his wounds. This narrative underscored the theme of “blissful are those who don’t see and yet believe.”
A Bavarian Parallel: The Oversized Side Wound
The article draws a parallel to a striking depiction of the crucified Jesus in the monastery church in Altenhaupt, Bavaria. There, the open heart of the figure is rendered large enough for a hand to fit inside, serving as a focal point for prayer and supplication. Believers visit this representation to offer their concerns and seek divine support.
Procession Concludes with Blessings and Song
Following an initial blessing with the relic, Pastor Maier led an impressively long procession through the city. Remarkably, the weather cooperated, and the procession reached the Marienbrunnen without incident. There, Pastor Patrick Meschenmoser offered Mary’s blessing after intercession, and the assembled faithful joined in singing “bless du Maria.” The light procession concluded on the monastery square with a final blessing from Pastor Stefan Maier and a final stanza of the pilgrimage song: “Sing all the price of the Lamme, price of the blood that shed it, as it was dying on the tribe of his heart to us all!”
The event, documented by Uli Gresser, underscores the enduring power of faith and tradition in the face of uncertainty.
