Processions

There were two kinds of processions, simple and ceremonial.  Simple processions, involving only the clergy, took place on Sundays, Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays and special feast days. They would remain inside the church and the adjacent cloister, generally involving stational liturgy with designated stopping points.  Thus, the clergy might process out of the choir through the north lateral gate, head east to the axial chapel of the Virgin Mary known as the Petite Paroisse where prayers and anthems might be offered.  Returning down the south choir aisle the procession might pass into the nave where another station might be sung.  On saints' days stations might be made at the chapel of the particular saint.

Ceremonial public processions took place on some of the great feast days to excite the piety of the the faithful by the contemplation of the mysteries which they represent and to render thanks to God for blessings received, to implore his help in times of necessity.  [They] should be celebrated with particular devotion above all by ecclesiastics who are obliged to teach the people by word and by example.... (Villeman).  The great feast days included Candlemas, Palm Sunday, and Ascension.  Processions on these days might include layfolk as well as clergy and would traverse the streets of Amiens.