The Sacrament of the Eucharist

Chapter 5

SOURCE AND SUMMIT• What does this mean?• Compare the Eucharist to a family dinner table

– Ties us to the past, makes the present come alive, and sets us on the course for which we are called at the end of our lives

• The word means “to give thanks”• Assimilates us into Christ

– We are what we eat– Allows us to continue Jesus’ work of spreading the Gospel and sharing

God’s love with others

• Our daily food for the spirit• The sacrament of the sacrifice of Jesus on the cross

UNDERSTANDING THE SACRAMENT OF THE EUCHARIST

• Bread and wine become the Body and Blood of Christ through invocation of H.S.– A request for God’s help

• Bread and wine signify the goodness of God’s creation– Offered in sacrifice among the first of fruits of earth (OT)– The manna the Israelites ate in the desert– “Cup of blessing” during Jewish Passover

• Difficult for some people to accept this command of Jesus– Don’t believe in Christ’s actual presence in the species– Even the Apostles struggle with this

• “Do you also want to leave?”

The Institution of the Eucharist

• Jesus Anticipates his Passion and Death and interprets them in terms of the Jewish Passover.– His sacrifice transcends time, winning justification

for all the faithful– Because Apostles have power to change bread and

wine into Blood and Body, Jesus is accessible 24/7

The Eucharist Through the Age of the Church

• Rooted in Jewish faith– Morning prayer in Temple; Evening meal and

Eucharist– After Temple destroyed celebrated both together in

evening• Mass of Catechumens (Liturgy of Word); Liturgy of

Eucharist

• Throughout history we see it organically grow into how we celebrate the Eucharist today.– Second Vatican Council

CELEBRATING THE SACRAMENT OF THE EUCHARIST

• Precondition– The gathering of people in one place

• The High Priest of the ceremony = Christ– He is the invisible presider of all Eucharistic

celebrations (Mass)

• Bishops and priests act in the person of Christ– Preside over a particular celebration

Order of the Mass

• Introductory rites

• Liturgy of the Word

• Liturgy of the Eucharist

• Concluding rites

Introductory Rites• Purpose is to help the

assembled people to become a worshipping community and prepare them for listening to God’s Word and celebrating the Eucharist

• Procession and entrance song– Priest greets people

• Penitential rite– Invitation to repent of sin

• Confetitor (“I Confess”)– Prepares one to receive God’s

grace

Liturgy of the Word• First reading

– OT, Acts, or Revelation

• Responsorial Psalm• Second reading (Only on

Sundays & Holy Days)– Usually NT letters

• Alleluia (Gospel Acclamation)• Gospel reading

– Priest or Deacon

• Homily– Catechumens dismissed

• Nicene Creed• Prayers of the Faithful

Liturgy of the Eucharist• Presentation of the Offering• Eucharistic Prayer

– Preface– Epiclesis– Words of Institution– Anamnesis– Intercessions for the entire

Church– Doxology– Great Amen

• Communion Rite• Concluding Rite

Presentation of the Offering• Also known as Offertory

– Tradition dates back to giving gifts for Apostles and the poor

• Gifts of bread and wine presented• Wine poured into chalice

– Drop of water added; symbolizes the human nature of Jesus that coexists his divinity

• Vessels of hosts are placed on corporal (white cloth) and are readied for consecration

• “Pray , my brothers and sisters, that our sacrifice may be acceptable to God…”

• “May the Lord accept the sacrifice at your hands..”

Eucharistic Prayer• The Church’s great prayer of praise and thanksgiving to God

– 4 main Eucharistic prayers in Roman rite– High point of the Mass

• Preface - prayer of thanksgiving, Sanctus (“Holy, Holy, Holy”)• Epiclesis - Invocation of the H.S. to sanctify bread and wine and

make them Body and Blood of Christ– Not by power of presider but by the Holy Spirit

• Words of Institution - The words said by Jesus over the bread and wine at the Last Supper. The priest repeats these words over the species as they are changed into the actual Body and Blood of Christ

• Anamnesis - means “memorial”; call to mind Jesus’ Passion and resurrection (“Christ has died….”)

• Intercessions for entire Church - living and dead• Doxology - A prayer of praise to the Blessed Trinity• Great Amen - “So be it” or “I agree”

– The affirmation by the people to the entire Eucharistic Prayer

The Communion Rite

• Prepares the faithful to receive the Lord• Consists of:

– Lords Prayer (“Our Father”)– Rite of Peace– Fraction Rite: when priest breaks the Body of Christ

• Puts piece of Body in Blood to symbolize the unity between the two

– Reception of Communion– Prayer after Communion

• Concluding rite - people sent out into the world– Charged to “love and serve the Lord”; be Christ for others

THE GRACES OF HOLY COMMUNION

• Principle effect: it strengthens our union with Christ

• We are strengthened to love others because God first loved us

• Not only enables us to love others in imitation of Christ but also to be united with Christ in a way that reveals himself to others through us

Unity with Christ

• Christ becomes a part of us and we become a part of him

Separation from Sin• Holy Communion cleanses the soul of

venial sins– Venial sin = weakens our relationship with

God

• Our unity with Christ makes it difficult for us to break away from him by mortal sin– However, does not forgive us of mortal sins

• Mortal sin = full consent of the will to violate God’s law of love; results in loss of sanctifying grace

– Not intended to; reserved for Reconciliation

Becoming Church

• “Because the loaf of bread is one, we though many, are one body, for we all partake of the one loaf” (1 Cor 10:17)– We not only are united with Christ but with the

other faithful as well

• As a sacrament of initiation the Eucharist does two main things:– Continually incorporates us more into the Church– Nourishes us spiritually to become the Church

• Evangelize to and serve others

To Be Eucharist for Others

• Through the Eucharist we become the bread others need– We love because of how God

has loved us; compassion and mercy

– Provide physical as well as emotional, psychological, and spiritual needs of others

Requirements for Formal Reception• Examination of conscience

– Must be properly disposed• Right mindset; willfully accept Trinity in your life

– Must be in a state of grace• We are not in communion with God if we have sinned mortally

– Must be reconciled

• At least once a year at Easter– Church encourages on Sunday, feast days, and even more

so daily

• One hour fast before Communion from food and drink– Except water

• First Communion– 7 years of age

WE ARE SENT• Mass comes from Latin missa,

which means “dismissal”– Meant to encourage outreach by

those who participated• Dismissal rite

• Because of the Eucharist just celebrated Christ is with us and within us– Be the Eucharist for others; mission– Why it is the “source and summit of

our Christian life”• Keeps us connected to Christ• Gives is the ability to continue Christ’s

ministry