Sacrament of the Sacrament of the EucharistEucharist

““Amen, amen, I say to you, unless you eat the Amen, amen, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you do not have life within you.” you do not have life within you.”

John 6:53John 6:53

Overview• This chapter explores the sacrament of the

Eucharist as the completion of the Sacrament of Initiation and the source and summit of the Christian life.

• The newly baptized Christians join with the community of the faithful at the table of the Lord. The Body of Christ.

• Jesus instituted the Eucharist at the Last Supper. There, Jesus took bread and wine, blessed it, and it was his body and blood. The disciples were commanded to “Do this in remembrance of me” (1 Corinthians 11:24)

• There are many names Christians have used throughout our Tradition to help explore and understand the meaning of this sacrament.

• The rite of the Eucharist includes two main parts – the Liturgy of the Word and the Liturgy of the Eucharist.

The Eucharist: The Eucharist: The Source and Summit of the Life The Source and Summit of the Life

of the Churchof the Church• The Institution of the EucharistThe Institution of the Eucharist - -

took place at the Last Supper. Jesus took place at the Last Supper. Jesus took bread and wine and said it was took bread and wine and said it was his body and blood to eat and drink. his body and blood to eat and drink. He commanded the disciples, “Do He commanded the disciples, “Do this in remembrance of me”. this in remembrance of me”.

• This memorial meal of the Lord’s This memorial meal of the Lord’s Passover, of his passion and Passover, of his passion and resurrection, is at the center of the resurrection, is at the center of the Church’s life.Church’s life.

• By this sacrifice he pours out the By this sacrifice he pours out the graces of salvation on his Body graces of salvation on his Body which is the church. CCC. 1407which is the church. CCC. 1407

• There are many names Christians have used There are many names Christians have used throughout our tradition to help understand the throughout our tradition to help understand the meaning of the sacrament: meaning of the sacrament:

* * The Lord’s SupperThe Lord’s Supper: points out the connection : points out the connection between the Eucharist and the Last Supper. between the Eucharist and the Last Supper.

* * Breaking of the BreadBreaking of the Bread: was used by the first : was used by the first Christian to profess the belief “We are and form the Christian to profess the belief “We are and form the one Body of Christ.”one Body of Christ.”

* * Synaxis:Synaxis: “gathered assembly”, the whole church, “gathered assembly”, the whole church, the Body of Christ, Head and members, join as the Body of Christ, Head and members, join as one in blessing and giving thanks to the Father. one in blessing and giving thanks to the Father.

* * MemorialMemorial: Christ’s Paschal mystery; the sacrifice : Christ’s Paschal mystery; the sacrifice Christ offered once for all on the cross remains ever Christ offered once for all on the cross remains ever present. present.

* * Holy Sacrifice:Holy Sacrifice: Christ sacrifice completes and Christ sacrifice completes and surpasses all the sacrifices of the Old Covenasurpasses all the sacrifices of the Old Covenant.

* Holy and Divine Liturgy and Sacred MysteriesHoly and Divine Liturgy and Sacred Mysteries: : the Eucharist is the most intense expression the Eucharist is the most intense expression of our faith were all sacraments and ministries of our faith were all sacraments and ministries are linked to it.are linked to it.

* * Most Blessed SacramentMost Blessed Sacrament: the Body and Blood : the Body and Blood of Jesus, kept, or reserved, in the tabernacle. of Jesus, kept, or reserved, in the tabernacle.

* The primary purpose of reserving is the * The primary purpose of reserving is the administration of viaticum - Holy Name when administration of viaticum - Holy Name when is given to the dying; in Latin it means “food is given to the dying; in Latin it means “food for the journey.”for the journey.”

** Holy Communion Holy Communion: sharing in the Eucharist : sharing in the Eucharist unites us to Christ and to all the faithful.unites us to Christ and to all the faithful.

* * The Holy MassThe Holy Mass: Latin term missa, which refers : Latin term missa, which refers to the dismissal of the faithful to fulfill God’s to the dismissal of the faithful to fulfill God’s will in their daily lives. will in their daily lives.

• The Rite of the Eucharist: The Liturgical The Rite of the Eucharist: The Liturgical Celebration of the EucharistCelebration of the Eucharist

A.A.Introductory Rites: gathering and preparing Introductory Rites: gathering and preparing the community to listen to God’s Word and the community to listen to God’s Word and celebrate the Eucharist properly.celebrate the Eucharist properly.

B.B.Liturgy of the Word: the proclamation of Liturgy of the Word: the proclamation of the Word that includes:the Word that includes:

• * Readings from both the Old Testament * Readings from both the Old Testament and the New Testament.and the New Testament.

• * * The Homily – helps us understand and live The Homily – helps us understand and live out the Word of God.out the Word of God.

• * Expressing our beliefs in the Nicene Creed* Expressing our beliefs in the Nicene Creed• * * Intercessions or prayers of the faithful – Intercessions or prayers of the faithful –

praying for the needs of the Church and all praying for the needs of the Church and all people.people.

C. Liturgy of the Eucharist: Only validly ordained C. Liturgy of the Eucharist: Only validly ordained priests can preside at the Eucharist and priests can preside at the Eucharist and consecrate the bread and wine.consecrate the bread and wine.

• * Preparation of the Gifts and Altar – a collection * Preparation of the Gifts and Altar – a collection of money was taken at this time to help those in of money was taken at this time to help those in need and presented with the gifts of the bread need and presented with the gifts of the bread and wine.and wine.

• * * Anaphora: the Eucharistic Prayer – this includes Anaphora: the Eucharistic Prayer – this includes the prayer of thanksgiving. The Holy Spirit is the prayer of thanksgiving. The Holy Spirit is invoked to make the bread and wine into the Body invoked to make the bread and wine into the Body and Blood of Jesus and to make present once and Blood of Jesus and to make present once again the memorial of the death and resurrection again the memorial of the death and resurrection of Jesus in our mist.of Jesus in our mist.

• * Communion Rite: The Lord’s Prayer and * Communion Rite: The Lord’s Prayer and exchange the sign of peace. The breaking of the exchange the sign of peace. The breaking of the bread takes place and distributed among the bread takes place and distributed among the gathered together.gathered together.

D. Concluding Rite (Dismissal): We D. Concluding Rite (Dismissal): We are to seek to do God’s will in our are to seek to do God’s will in our daily lives. We are to live as Jesus’ daily lives. We are to live as Jesus’ disciples and announce the Good disciples and announce the Good News. News.

        The essential elements of the rite The essential elements of the rite consist:consist:

* The bread and wine* The bread and wine* The invocation of the Holy Spirit upon the * The invocation of the Holy Spirit upon the

bread and winebread and wine• The words of consecration spoken by Jesus The words of consecration spoken by Jesus

at the Last Supper that are repeated by a at the Last Supper that are repeated by a validly ordained priest. validly ordained priest.

• The Eucharist is a sacramental sacrifice – it The Eucharist is a sacramental sacrifice – it is a reminder of the heavenly banquet that is a reminder of the heavenly banquet that we will celebrate after our life here on we will celebrate after our life here on earth, when we will join with all of the earth, when we will join with all of the faithful departed around the heavenly faithful departed around the heavenly table.table.

• Transubstantiation: is the term we use to Transubstantiation: is the term we use to describe the change of bread and wine into describe the change of bread and wine into the Body and Blood of Christ.the Body and Blood of Christ.

The fruits of the Eucharist:The fruits of the Eucharist:

* it increased our union with Christ* it increased our union with Christ

* in unity as part of the Body of Christ* in unity as part of the Body of Christ

* the forgiveness of venial sins* the forgiveness of venial sins• The Church invites us to celebrate the The Church invites us to celebrate the

Eucharist every Sunday and on holy Eucharist every Sunday and on holy days of obligation, and to receive the days of obligation, and to receive the Eucharist at least once a year at Easter.Eucharist at least once a year at Easter.