Class 3: Sacraments of Initiation THE SACRAMENT OF THE HOLY EUCHARIST

Class 3: Sacraments of Initiation

• THE SACRAMENT OF THE HOLY EUCHARIST

From the Prayer Before Study

by Thomas AquinasIneffable Creator...You are proclaimed the true font of light and wisdom,and the primal origin raised high beyond all things.Pour forth a ray of Your brightness into the darkened places of my mind; disperse from my soul the twofold darknessinto which I was born: sin and ignorance.You make eloquent the tongues of infants. Refine my speech and pour forth upon my lips the goodness of Your blessing.

Grant to me keenness of mind,

capacity to remember,

skill in learning,

subtlety to interpret,

and eloquence in speech.

May You guide the beginning of my work,

direct its progress,

and bring it to completion.

You Who are true God and true Man,

Who live and reign,

world without end.

Amen

Introduction

• 1. Completion of Christian Initiation (CCC 1322)

• 2. Perpetuation of the Sacrifice of the Cross (CCC 1323)

• 3. “Source and Summit” of Christian life

• 4. Communion in the Divine Life: Sign and Cause (CCC 1325; cf. 260)

The Holy Eucharist: consider….

• Why did Jesus give us the Holy Eucharist?

• How is the Eucharist important for Evangelization?

• What is transubstantiation? Is it biblical?• What does the Eucharist do to people?• What is the relationship the Eucharist

and joy?

Introduction

5. Two-fold participation (CCC 1326)

A. In the heavenly liturgy

B. In Eternal Life/ Resurrection

Names of the Eucharist

CCC 1328

Eucharist -- to give thanks

1. Creation

2. Redemption

3. Sanctification


Memorial of the Lord’s Passion and Death


Holy SacrificeHoly and Divine LiturgyMost Blessed SacramentHoly CommunionThe Holy Things“Communion of Saints” (1331)

Names of the EucharistHoly Mass

1. Concludes with Ite Missa Est

2. The sending of the prayers to God with Christ

3. The sending of the Sacrifice itself to God


Holy MassAnd from this the mass derives its name missa;

because the priest sends [mittit] his prayers up to God through the angel, as the people do through the priest. or else because Christ is the victim sent [missa] to us: accordingly the deacon on festival days "dismisses" the people at the end of the mass, by saying: "Ite, missa est," that is, the victim has been sent [missa est] to God through the angel, so that it may be accepted by God.

(St Thomas Aquinas)

http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/12406a.htm

http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/12345b.htm


http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/01476d.htm


http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/08374c.htm

http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/04647c.htm


http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/01476d.htm


The Eucharist in the Old Testament

1. The Fruit of the Tree of Life (Gen 2-3)2. The Bread and Wine of Melchizedek (Gen 14:18)3. The Sacrifice of Isaac and “the lamb of God”

(Gen 22:1-8)4. The Passover Sacrifice (Ex 12)5. The Bread from Heaven (Ex 16)

1. The Manna2. The Quail

6. The Tabernacle of Moses (Ex 25)1. The Bread of the Presence

The Bread of Life Sermon (Jn 6)

• The context: Passover (Jn 6:4); cf. Ex 12• Feeding the five thousand

• Prefigures “superabundance” of the Eucharist (CCC 1335)

• He blessed, he broke, he gave (Matt 14:19; Luke 22:19)

• “When he had given thanks” (eucharistesas) Jn 6:11• Response of crowd: the New Moses (cf. Deut 18:15-

19)


The demand for a sign: Moses and Manna (John 6:30; Exodus 16)


• The Bread of life discourse: Two interpretations• Metaphorical (eating = believing)• Sacramental (refers to the Eucharist)• “Caphernetic” (cannibalism)


•Part One: The Necessity of Faith ( John 6:35-47)• Importance of belief in the Son •Faith as a gift from the Father


•Part two: The necessity of the Eucharist (John 6:48-58)•The New Manna “comes down from heaven” and “gives eternal life”

•“is my flesh”• Jews understand him literally, and he does not correct them


•The Necessity of eating his flesh and drinking his blood (John 6:55)

•The disciples’ response: “a hard saying” and they depart

•Key: resurrection and ascension: Jesus risen flesh (CCC 1392)

•The “flesh is useless”

John 6

• Jesus use of the words “phagein” and “trogein”

The Last Supper: The Institution of the Eucharist (Lk 22)

• The context of the Last Supper: The Jewish Passover (GK Pascha) (Ex 12)• Kill the lamb (Ex 12:6, 46)• Dip a hyssop branch in the blood of the lamb • Sprinkle the blood on the doorposts and lintel• Eat the flesh of the lamb• Sign of the covenant is the blood of the lamb (Ex

21:13; cf. Ezek 9, Rev 7)• Passover: a “day of remembering” to be observed

forever (Ex 12:14, 24)• A night of watching (Ex 12:40-42)


• The New Passover: transfiguration topic; “Behold I make all things new” (Rev 21:5)• The New Lamb: Jesus himself• The New Sacrifice: Bread and wine• The New temple: Jesus’ body (cf. John 2)• The New priesthood: Jesus and the twelve• The New Covenant: the family of God restored (Jer

31:31-33)• The New Israel: the 12 tribes restored (Luke 22:28-

30)• The New Creation: bread and wine transformed into

Jesus’ Body and Blood


• What is the link between this “new” Passover and the crucifixion?

One explanation: the fourth cup in the Passover meal


• THE FOURTH CUP:• Jewish passover liturgy had multiple cups

• 3rd cup: The “cup of blessing” (cf. 1 Cor 10:16-17)• Singing of the final Hallel (Psalm 116)• 4th cup: The “Cup of Consummation”


• THE FOURTH CUP:• Jesus does not complete the Passover!

• He vows not to drink of the fruit of the vine again (Mt 26:29)

• They sing the hymn then leave! (Mt 26:30)• Jesus in the garden: “Take this cup from me) Mt 26• Jesus does not drink on the way to the cross (Mt

27:34)• The Crucifixion (John 19:25-30)

• I thirst• He drinks: “It is finished..”

Three-fold dimension of the Eucharist

1. Thanksgiving and Praise to the Father

2. Sacrificial memorial

3. The Presence of Christ

Thanksgiving and Praise to the Father

• CCC 1359• Most basic motif: act of thanksgiving for ALL: creation, redemption, sanctification

• Offered on behalf of all creation: to the Father, through and with Christ.

Sacrificial Memorial

• CCC 1362• Memorial of Christ’s passover• Anamnesis: recalling and making present (“in memory of his death and resurrection, we offer you Father….”

• This mighty deeds become present and real (CCC 1363)


• Sacrificial character in Christ’s own words:• This is my body which is given for you• This cup which is poured out for you is the New

Covenant in my blood


• The Eucharist “re-presents” the Sacrifice of the cross (makes present) (CCC 1366)

• This is ONE SINGLE SACRIFICE (CCC 1367)

The Presence of Christ in the Eucharist

• CCC 1373• “by the power of his word and the Holy Spirit”

The Presence of Christ in the The Presence of Christ in the Eucharist Eucharist

CCC 1373

“by the power of his word and the Holy Spirit”

Various “modes” of Christ’s presence at Mass

Most especially in the Eucharistic Species

Unique: the end toward of all the other sacraments

Ipse Christus

The Presence of Christ in the The Presence of Christ in the Eucharist Eucharist

CCC 1374

The Eucharist is Jesus Christ:

Body, Blood, Soul, and DivinityHumanity and Divinity

The Whole Christ is truly, really, substantially contained.

“real” in the fullest sense

Substantial: whole and entire

TransubstantiationTransubstantiationCCC 1376

Whole substance of bread and wine into whole substance of Christ

CCC 1377

Doctrine of Concomitance: whole Christ present in the species and in each of their parts (He is not divided though the species are)

““Substance”: an appropriate Substance”: an appropriate word?word?

Used officially at Fourth Lateran Council in 1215

Biblical usage: Our Father—epi-ousios

St. Ambrose’s De Sacramentis (AD 380):

We receive the “figura” of the body and blood of Our Lord” Figura= substantia

Council of Trent Council of Trent Formulated our doctrinal language for the Eucharist with precision

CCC 1376

cf. 13th session of Trent

Heretical theories of Heretical theories of Eucharistic PresenceEucharistic Presence

Symbolic Presence

Eucharist is purely symbolic

Ulrich Zwingli (a father of the reformation)

Baptists, many non-denominational protestants


Spiritual Presence

Christ’s SPIRIT is present, not his bodyJohn CalvinAnglican ChurchMany non-denominational ProtestantsModernist Catholics


Consubstantiation

Christ’s body and blood exist alongside the bread and wine

Incarnational analogy makes it believable

Competitive nature of human nature is the problem

Martin Luther (impanation)

Some Anglicans

Worship of the Worship of the EucharistEucharist

Paul VI: The Church has always offered and continued to offer the “cult of adoration” not only during Mass but outside of it. (CCC 1378)

Importance of Eucharistic adoration (CCC 1380-1381)

Holy CommunionHoly CommunionRequirements for reception (CCC 1385)

Preparation (CCC 1386-88)

Minimal requirements (1389)

Fruits of Holy Fruits of Holy CommunionCommunion

CCC 1391Augments of Union with ChristNourishes spiritual lifeSeparates us from sinWipes away venial sinsPreserves from future mortal sins“makes” the Church (CCC 1396)Commits us to the poor (e.g., Mother Theresa)

For next time....For next time....

Read introduction (p. 1-15), Ch 1 (p. 1-23) of the GIRM and familiarize yourself with the layout

Read Catechism section on Sacraments of Healing

Be ready for quiz on the Holy Eucharist

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General Instruction of the General Instruction of the Roman MissalRoman Missal

Third edition of the Roman Missal Third edition of the Roman Missal promulgated in 2001 (in Latin)promulgated in 2001 (in Latin)

November 12, 2002, Bishops in November 12, 2002, Bishops in USCCB approved Institutio Generalis USCCB approved Institutio Generalis Missalis Romani, confirmed by Holy Missalis Romani, confirmed by Holy See in 2003See in 2003

It is the authoritative norm of It is the authoritative norm of interpreting and celebrating the 2002 interpreting and celebrating the 2002 MissalMissal

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Layout of GIRMLayout of GIRM

Preamble Preamble Importance/Dignity of the MassImportance/Dignity of the Mass Structure of the MassStructure of the Mass Duties and Ministries of the MassDuties and Ministries of the Mass Different forms of the MassDifferent forms of the Mass Arrangement, FurnishingsArrangement, Furnishings Requisites of the MassRequisites of the MassAlso….Also….

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Layout of GIRMLayout of GIRM

The choice of the Mass and partsThe choice of the Mass and parts Various circumstances, Masses for Various circumstances, Masses for

deaddead Adaptations for Bishops, conferencesAdaptations for Bishops, conferences IndexIndex

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Highlights of the GIRMHighlights of the GIRM

Common issues....Common issues....

Documents

Class 3: Sacraments of Initiation THE SACRAMENT OF THE HOLY EUCHARIST