The Sacrament of the Eucharist

RCIA – October 21, 2014

What do Catholics believe about the

Eucharist?

Catechism of the Catholic Church (CCC 1322-1323, 1409)

What is the Eucharist?

Catechism of the Catholic Church When did Jesus Christ institute the Eucharist? (1337)

What does the Eucharist represent in the life of the Church? (1324)

Minister, Matter and Form

Who is the minister for the celebration of the Eucharist?

What are the essential and necessary elements for celebrating the Eucharist?

Beyond the Veil For the people in Nazareth in Jesus’ day, Jesus’ divinity went unnoticed - until announced in the synagogue he was the fulfillment of Isaiah’s prophecy.

A lack of understanding Jesus’ Real Presence is not new: The Emmaus Problem (story)

So, now that we know what the Eucharist is…

What does it mean for us?

7 Secrets of the Eucharist

Vinny Flynn

#1 The Eucharist is Alive Question – “If a non-believer knew nothing about the Eucharist, and watched the way we receive the Host, would they know this (that the Eucharist is alive)?

#2 Christ is not alone At the Consecration every particle (Host) and drop (Precious Blood) is all of Jesus (Body, Blood, Soul, and Divinity) is present – the entire Jesus (human & Divine)

At the Mass, heaven and Earth unite –

all beings in heaven (human and angelic)

#3 There is only one Mass Just as there’s a veil over the Eucharist, there’s a veil over the Mass itself – keeping us from seeing the awesome mystery we are invited to enter.

TIME vs. ETERNAL NOW – the human perception of time, sequentially past, present, future; vs. God’s experience (not limited by time and space)

#4 Not just one miracle Odds are, right now, somewhere in the world, there’s a priest celebrating Mass.

Masses can be different in some ways, but essentially each Mass is the same. Remember the Eternal Now - there is only one Mass, and it is perpetual.

#5 We don’t just receive Mother Teresa explains, Jesus is “hungry for souls,” and He’s calling us to come to Him and satisfy that hunger - calling us to not merely receive Communion, but to enter into communion.

“Throw melted wax into melted wax, and the one interpenetrates the other perfectly. In the same way, when the Body and Blood of Christ are received, the union is such that Christ is in the recipient and he in Christ.” St. Cyril of Jerusalem

#6 Every reception is different The previous five secrets express the “good news” about the wonderful things Jesus wants to do for us through our reception of Communion. Here’s the bad news: none of it happens if our attitude isn’t right. “In a false person the sacrament does not produce any effect.” St. Thomas Aquinas

Each time we receive can be significantly different - depending on our spiritual disposition before, during, and after receiving the sacrament will determine whether the sacrament will produce good fruit in us, have no effect at all, or result in condemnation.

#7 There is no limit In his Summa Teologica, St. Thomas Aquinas talks about two ways of receiving: sacramental and spiritual.

So why do we need to receive sacramentally? Because Jesus made it very clear that He wants us to: “Unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink His blood, you do not have life within you.” (Jn. 6:53)

Which “Secret” did you find most profound?

#1 The Eucharist is Alive

#2 Christ is not alone

#3 There is only one Mass

#4 Not just one miracle

#5 We don’t just receive

#6 Every reception is different

#7 There is no limit