The EucharistThe Source and Summit of the Christian Faith

The 3rd Sacrament of InitiationThe Body and Blood, Soul and Divinity of Jesus

Homework: Read John 6: Bread of Life Discourse

Bring bible to class tomorrow.

3/26 Daily Mass Collect Prayer O God, who willed that your Word should take on the reality of human flesh

in the womb of the Virgin Mary, grant, we pray, that we, who confess our Redeemer to be God and man, may merit to become partakers even in his divine nature.

Who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever.

Introductions The Last Supper, the Passion of Christ, and

the Mass are mystically the same event. Christ is Priest and Victim in the

Sacrament He makes himself present in his entire Person

for us to consume in Communion. The Mass is the fulfillment of Old

Testament Worship

Vocabulary

Vocabulary Adoration Age of Reason Anaphora Benediction Communion Consecration Covenant Epiclesis Eucharist Sacrifice Spiritual Communion State of Grace

Excommunication Koinonia (Communio) Mass Missal Missalette Monstrance Paschal Lamb Passover Real Presence Sacramental Presence Tabernacle Transubstantiation Victim

The Road to Emmaus Day of Resurrection Two Disciples Women found the tomb empty. Risen from the dead said the angel. Disciples were discussing A man came along. Began to talk to him about the events They had hoped Jesus was the promised Messiah

who had come to redeem Israel, yet he had been condemned and crucified.

Luke, Chapter 24 25

And he said to them, "Oh, how foolish you are! How slow of heart to believe all that the prophets spoke!

26 Was it not necessary that the Messiah should suffer

these things and enter into his glory?" 27

Then beginning with Moses and all the prophets, he interpreted to them what referred to him in all the scriptures.

But the disciples didn’t recognize Jesus…

Luke, Chapter 24 28

As they approached the village to which they were going, he gave the impression that he was going on farther.

29 But they urged him, "Stay with us, for it is nearly

evening and the day is almost over." So he went in to stay with them.

30 And it happened that, while he was with them at table,

he took bread, said the blessing, broke it, and gave it to them.

31 With that their eyes were opened and they recognized

him, but he vanished from their sight.

Introductions The Breaking of the Bread

Early Church term for celebration of the Eucharist Christ’s presence was unmistakably revealed

Highlights a great mystery of the Christian faith

Christ remains physically present with us in the Sacrament of the Eucharist

Introductions Last Sacrament of Initiation Jesus gives his own Body and Blood as spiritual

nourishment Keeps the ‘flame’ of sanctifying grace burning Unites us more fully with his Body, the Church

How is it like other Sacraments? Grace of God is mediated through it.

How is it different from the other Sacraments? Not just grace, but Christ himself

Road to Emmaus teaches 2 things We encounter Christ in the Eucharist We need the Eucharist to recognize Jesus.

Exodus to the Last Supper

The Passover LambThe Passover Meal

The Cups of Passover

Exodus Seder Meal - Yearly Remembrance 4 Cups with Hymn between 3 & 4 Cup of Consummation was final Hyssop - Blood - Blood was the sign of the

Covenant - the people did their part, God saw the blood and did his

Lamb - unblemished - eaten - its blood Anything else?

The Institution of the Eucharist

The Last Supper of Jesus

Institution - The Last Supper Something very different. No doubt it stood out! His

last Last Supper too. When unleavened bread was eaten (also part of Passover meal) Mt 26:26-28

Wait a minute - In the middle of this important custom, maybe 1000 years old, he says THIS!? While they were eating (important part of Passover) Jesus

took bread, said the blessing, broke it, and giving it to his disciples said, “Take and eat; this is my body.”

Must have been shock! What all the Gospel writers purposefully leave out?

The LAMB!! So important, yet instead of the lamb, we have the words of Christ. He is replacing the old Covenant with a new one.

Institution – The Last Supper

What did it mean? Then he took a cup, gave thanks, and gave it to

them, saying, “Drink from it, all of you, for this is my blood of the covenant, which will be shed on behalf of many for the forgiveness of sins.” – Mt 26:28

They knew Scriptures - Blood of the Covenant Referred to establishing the Cov. Btw God and Israel Exodus 12 – blood of the covenant was that of the lamb

Did this mean a NEW COVENANT? Jesus himself then is the sacrifice for the blood? His sacrifice and blood would start a new age? Bread and wine, now body and blood??

Institution - Cup of Consummation So he changes the eating of the lamb and the drinking of the cup of blessing After Cup of Blessing, what were they to do?

Hymn and Cup of Consummation - ending and fulfilling. The final thing bringing it all together.

What does Scripture say they did? Hymn then they leave! The cup to consummate it hasn’t happened yet.

Jesus sends them out before the most important part! Culminating act! He decides its not time for it. What does he say? When? Jesus does speak again of the 4th and final cup.

Garden of Gethsemene Prayer – if this cup should pass father, but not my will but yours. To Peter

Clear - This 4th cup not drunk during the meal - the cup of consummation would be what?

His death It would bring about the New Covenant.

Institution - The Cross At the cross we see the 4th cup. What does Jesus say?

I Thirst What do the soldiers do?

Give him wine mixed with vinegar How? Reference to the first Passover? Yes

Same branch for sprinkling blood – on hyssop Jesus is indicating He is the lamb to take away the

sins of the world. John’s Gospel has Pilate order the crucifixion at the 6th hour

on the day of preparation! The same hour Passover lambs were sacrificed.

Through Death on the Cross Old Covenant is fulfilled and New Covenant established.

Institution - The Cross Jesus’ last words before he breathes his

last: “It is Finished” Actual translation: It is Consummated. The cup of consummation has been drunk.

Jesus takes the OLD COVENANT, and replaces it with the NEW COVENANT, and just as they participated in it by eating of the lamb, so too Jesus allows for us to freely participate by eating of the lamb.

Recap Jesus gave new meaning to:

Passover Paschal Lamb Cup of Consummation Blood of Covenant - Through connecting Last Supper with his Passion and

Death. So the Cross is linked to the cup of blood offered at the last supper for

the apostles to drink.

His passion and death are purposefully and intimately linked to the Last Supper

Just as The Covenant between God and the people was the lamb, eaten and blood as sign, the New Covenant has the same.

Just as every generation participated in the original covenant and first Passover every time they participate in the Seder meal, so too at the Mass, Christians participate in the first Last Supper, and the body and blood of the New lamb.

The Bread of Heaven Discourse

Bread of Life The Last Supper was not first time Jesus

spoke about eating his Body and drinking his Blood.

Jesus is at the peak of popularity right now.

What happened just before this passage? So the first line sets the tone…

Read John 6: Bread of Life Discourse There are 4 distinct groups. What are they?

At first, John is referring to the crowd. Jesus speaks with them until verse 40, when he says what? A good heavy saying. Because of this, in verse 40/41 there is a

shift. What is it? What happens? What do you think happened to the crowds?

Verses 41-59 who is he talking to? What advantage does he have with ‘the Jews’ over ‘the

crowds’? What is his teaching in verse 41? How did they react? Read again vs 50-51. What does Jesus ADD to vs 41 here? How do they respond to this? Clear now Jesus, who lost the crowds, is now about to lose

the Jews. What does he say in 53-59 that he did not say in 51?

In verses 60-66 attention shifts. From whom to whom? What can we assume happened to the previous group?

Now Jesus was left with what two groups? What advantage would he have with a smaller

and more intimate group of friends and followers?

How do ‘the disciples’ react to his teaching (60-66)?

Now Jesus is left with who at the end?

How does Jesus reconcile the truth of what he is trying to teach with the fact that the more he tries to explain it, the more his followers drift away?

Having lost almost everyone who had been listening to him, what did Jesus ask of the 12? Vs 67.

Based on this section of John’s gospel, what was Jesus teaching in regards to the nature of the Sacrament of the Eucharist? Is it a ‘symbol’ or a ‘representation’ of Jesus, or is it

Jesus himself?

Bread of Life Jn 6:53-58

Now they are disturbed. Eat flesh? Word used is munch/chew/gnaw! Too much for them. Start to leave. They push him further, he doesn’t budge. All leave but the 12 by him.

Bread of Life Two Main teachings on the Eucharist from

this:

Eucharist is spiritual food, which gives grace for everlasting life

Eucharist is truly the Body and Blood of Jesus Christ.

The Real Presence

And Eucharistic Miracles(Laciano Reading)

Handout from “Faith Explained”

What to do: Read the handout.

Find and write two main points from the first section (351-2)

Find and write 4 main points from the 2nd section (The Promise is Kept)

Try to come up with 2 questions based off the reading for discussion. Examples:

Do you agree with his point on page … when he discusses… What do you think he means when he says… Why do you think the author says…

Main points of the Article…

Real Presence Sacrament of Eucharist is

different from others

Baptism Water – still water Chrism oil – still oil

At Consecration, bread and wine become the Body and Blood of Christ, soul and Divinity

True, real, substantial Only the appearance of

bread and wine remain.

This is the doctrine of the Real Presence.

It has been the faith of the Church from the beginning

CCC 1380 It is highly fitting that Christ should have wanted to remain

present to his Church in this unique way. Since Christ was about to take his departure from his own in his visible form, he wanted to give us his sacramental presence;

since he was about to offer himself on the cross to save us, he wanted us to have the memorial of the love with which he loved us "to the end,“ even to the giving of his life.

In his Eucharistic presence he remains mysteriously in our midst as the one who loved us and gave himself up for us, and he remains under signs that express and communicate this love

Eucharist demands literal understanding Recap – All scriptural references demand a literal understanding of

Jesus being present in the Eucharist.

Last Supper and Bread of Life, Greek verb ‘to be’ is used, which has a literal, rather than a symbolic, connotation.

Crowd reaction indicates they understood it literally.

Both crowd and his very own disciples (who would understand him better) understood that we must really eat his flesh and drink his blood.

Jesus doesn’t try to clarify the message, pointing out that didn’t simply misunderstand him.

So if he says we are to truly eat his flesh and drink his blood, is it cannibalism or some other means?

The Last Supper then shows the miracle that ties it all together. Take this bread, it is now my body. Take this wine, it is now my blood.

Real Presence - Transubstantiation Transubstantiation

The change from bread and wine into the Body and Blood of Christ

The entire substance of the bread and the entire substance of the wine are changed into the substance of the Body and Blood of Christ

Only the appearances of bread and wine remain.

(explain substance and accidents)

First Detailed account of Eucharist Celebration – 1 Cor 11:17-34 Meeting in homes to celebrate. Similar to?

The last supper

Writing to the Church in Corinth

Addressing certain abuses that were occurring in the Eucharistic Celebrations

This is coming before the gospels are even written! Read it.

What does Paul say? What does it mean?

Sacrifice and the Eucharist Pagan and OT Sacrifice

Mentioned with 1 Cor 10:16

When one eats food, which has been sacrificed, one participates in the sacrifice itself.

So…by participating in the Eucharistic meal, we participate in the sacrifice of the Body and Blood of Christ.

Discern – perceive the difference between things Example St. Paul is saying what? One must recognize that the

Eucharist is the Body and Blood of Christ and distinguish it from ordinary bread and wine.

Two Early Christian Writers

St. Ignatius of Antioch (107 AD)St. Irenaeus of Lyon (~180 AD)

St. Ignatius of Antioch Understands the Transformation

Be careful, therefore, to take part only in the Be careful, therefore, to take part only in the one eucharist; for there is only one flesh of our one eucharist; for there is only one flesh of our Lord Jesus Christ and one cup to unite us with Lord Jesus Christ and one cup to unite us with his blood, one altar and one bishop with the his blood, one altar and one bishop with the presbyters and deacons, who are his fellow presbyters and deacons, who are his fellow servants. Then, whatever you do, you will do servants. Then, whatever you do, you will do according to God.according to God.

Letter to the Philadelphians

St. Irenaeus of Lyon Understands the Transformation

He declares that the cup, taken from the He declares that the cup, taken from the creation, is his own blood, by which he creation, is his own blood, by which he strengthens our blood, and he has firmly strengthens our blood, and he has firmly assured us that the bread, taken from the assured us that the bread, taken from the creation, is his own body, by which our bodies creation, is his own body, by which our bodies grow…the mixed cup and the bread that has grow…the mixed cup and the bread that has been prepared received the Word of God,…been prepared received the Word of God,…becomes the Eucharist, the body and blood of becomes the Eucharist, the body and blood of Christ.Christ.

~180 AD

Eucharist in Early Church Early Christians understood Eucharist

established at Last Supper fulfilled words of Jesus in John’s Bread of Life Discourse

Was central to their faith Foundation and center of community, prayer,

religious life

Centered on Eucharist, strengthened spiritually, they grew in faith

CCC 1376 Because Christ our Redeemer said that it was

truly his body that he was offering under the species of bread, it has always been the conviction of the Church of God, and this holy Council now declares again, that by the consecration of the bread and wine there

takes place a change of the whole substance of the bread into the substance of the body of Christ our Lord and of the whole substance of the wine into the substance of his blood.

This change the holy Catholic Church has fittingly and properly called transubstantiation.

What happens By God’s actions, after the words of Consecration,

no longer bread and wine.

Every piece of bread and drop of wine has changed.

CCC 1413 Under the consecrated species of bread and wine Christ

himself, living and glorious, is present in a true, real, and substantial manner:

his Body and his Blood, with his soul and his divinity

Real Presence: Church Teaching The WHOLE OF CHRIST is present as a

substance (BBSD, accidents remain)

The WHOLE OF CHRIST is present in each and every part of the Eucharist

The WHOLE OF CHRIST is present even in parts that are divided

The Presence of Christ is sacramental (reality comes through a sign, bread and wine)

The Presence of Christ endures as long as the appearance of bread and wine remain.

Eucharistic Miracles

Read Lanciano (700)Lanciano 2

Orvieto, Italy (1200)O’Cebreiro, Spain (300)

Orvieto, Italy In 1263 a German priest, Peter of Prague, stopped at Bolsena

while on a pilgrimage to Rome. He is described as being a pious priest, but one who found it difficult to believe that Christ was actually present in the consecrated Host.

While celebrating Holy Mass above the tomb of St. Christina (located in the church named for this martyr), he had barely spoken the words of Consecration when blood started to seep from the consecrated Host and trickle over his hands onto the altar and the corporal.

The priest was immediately confused. At first he attempted to hide the blood, but then he interrupted the Mass and asked to be taken to the neighboring city of Orvieto, the city where Pope Ur ban IV was then residing.

The Pope listened to the priest's account and absolved him. He then sent emissaries for an immediate investigation. When all the facts were ascertained, he ordered the Bishop of the diocese to bring to Orvieto the Host and the linen cloth bearing the stains of blood.

Feast of Corpus Christi instituted a year after this event

O’Cebreiro, Spain One icy winter in 1300 a Benedictine priest was celebrating the

sacred Mass in a chapel beside the church of the convent of O’Cebreiro. On that miserable day of unceasing snow and unbearably freezing wind, he thought that no one would dare show up for Mass. He was wrong. A farmer from Barxamaior by the name of Juan Santín, left the convent to attend Mass. The priest saying Mass, who did not believe in the Real Presence of Christ in the Most Holy Sacrament, despised in his heart the farmer’s sacrifice of good will.

He began in this way to celebrate the Mass, and immediately after having professed the words of the consecration, the Host changed to Flesh and the wine changed to Blood, and was expelled from the chalice and stained the corporal.

For almost two hundred years the Host-changed-to-Flesh was left on the paten until Queen Isabella learned about the miracle when she passed through O’Cebreiro while on pilgrimage in Santiago de Compostela.

Sacrifice of the Mass

Old Covenant SacrificesNew Covenant Sacrifice

Old to New Recall, Eucharist is a memorial - ?

Reminder of PDR which brought salvation. More than ordinary memorial:

That sacrifice of Christ is re-presented in the Liturgy of the Eucharist

CCC 1363 In the sense of Sacred Scripture the memorial is not merely the

recollection of past events but the proclamation of the mighty works wrought by God for men. In the liturgical celebration of these events, they become in a certain way present and real. This is how Israel understands its liberation from Egypt: every time Passover is celebrated, the Exodus events are made present to the memory of believers so that they may conform their lives to them.

‘Do this in memory of me’ Christians participate in the main religious expression of the New

Covenant.

Old Sacrifices Melchizedek offers sacrifice of bread and

wine in OT

Many animal sacrifices – thanksgiving not appeasing. ?

Criteria for OT sacrifice…

Criteria for OT Sacrifice… Offered by a priest

In mass it is Christ, eternal High Priest, who offers the sacrifice through the human priesthood.

Victim is unblemished male Christ himself, Lamb of God, resurrected but

‘standing as though it had been slain.’ (Rev 5:6) Offered in remission for sin

Redemption by Christ at Cross becomes our sacrifice for redemption of sin in mass

Destroyed in some way To show offering is not for our own use, but intended

for God. Christ’s body was broken

Old Testament Sacrifice Victim (object of sacrifice) – flesh of lamb

would be consumed. United the priest to the sacrifice

We become united to the sacrifice of Christ precisely when we receive the Eucharist in the reception of Communion.

New Sacrifice OT – imperfect – repeated Christ – perfect. Not to destroy the Old, but to fulfill it. Last Supper

We see Christ embrace Passover and transform it, making it new.

This sacrifice, like God – eternal – infinite value – benefits go to all human history. Never to be sacrificed again.

Didache Mass as Sacrifice

On every Lord’s Day – his special day – come together and break bread and give thanks, first confessing your sins so that your sacrifice may be pure. Anyone at variance with his neighbor must not join you, until they are reconciled, lest your sacrifice be defiled. For it was of this sacrifice that the Lord said “always and everywhere offer me a pure sacrifice; for I am a great King, says the Lord, and my name is marveled at by the nations.

Sacrifice of Eucharist and sacrifice of Christ on the Cross are one and the same. Calvary, Christ offers self to father. In Eucharist, Christ gives himself to us to be offered as

perfect living sacrifice to our Father. CCC 1367

CCC 1376 The sacrifice of Christ and the sacrifice of the Eucharist are

one single sacrifice: "The victim is one and the same: the same now offers through the ministry of priests, who then offered himself on the cross; only the manner of offering is different."

"And since in this divine sacrifice which is celebrated in the Mass, the same Christ who offered himself once in a bloody manner on the altar of the cross is contained and offered in an unbloody manner . . . this sacrifice is truly propitiatory."

Eucharist then transcends time, making that moment 2000 years ago present on the altar today.

Mass in the Early Church

Justin Martyr +

Today has roots in Early Church 1. Acts of the Apostles

Met in Temple for prayer and OT readings Met in homes for breaking bread

Foundation for the two parts of the mass we have today Liturgy of the Word Liturgy of the Eucharist

2. Early Christians Still thought of as Jews believing in Christ Met in Synagogue on Sabbath, Lord’s day in house, under leadership of Apostle or someone they

appointed. Tell stories about Jesus, (no NT yet) then end with Breaking of the Bread

3. Expelled from Jewish places + Gentile Christians Brought together the OT readings in synagogue with Breaking of bread, Both parts now on Sunday morning.

4. Justin Martyr: AD 150…

Recap The Eucharist fulfills and transforms the sacrifices

of the Old Covenant. Every mass is a participation in the Sacrifice of

Christ on the Cross. In the Eucharist, he offers his Body and Blood in a

sacramental, unbloody manner under the appearances of bread and wine. How do Eucharistic miracles strengthen this?

The early Church celebrated the Eucharist in essentially the same way we do today: Liturgy of the Word Liturgy of the Eucharist

Liturgy of the Mass

Liturgy of the WordLiturgy of the Eucharist

Liturgy of the Word Preparation for Mass

Sometime before Water from holy water font, sign of cross. Sign of baptism and prayer for purity. Genuflection – why? How? Silent prayer

Entrance Procession (small or large) Hymns, reflecting theme of mass or season.

Veneration of the altar Priest kisses altar as he enters sanctuary (incense) Begin mass with sign of the cross

Penitential Rite – ‘I confess’ and ‘Lord Have Mercy’ Begin by recognizing faults and asking forgiveness. Humility

Gloria – Praise to God, Father, Son, Holy Spirit Collect – Opening prayer, summarizing intentions and based on

the feast day ect.

Liturgy of the Word Scripture Reading

Old Testament (anyone) Psalm (anyone) Epistle (anyone) Gospel – Reserved for priest or deacon

Homily – thoughts on reading Profession of Faith – Nicene Creed

Response of the faithful to the readings General Intercessions

Prayers for individuals, world, church Close the Liturgy of the Word Early Church this is when the non-baptized left. Still see the transition between the two parts

Priest prepares the altar, collection, singing a hymn.

Mass

1.1. Introductory RitesIntroductory Rites

2.2. Liturgy of the WordLiturgy of the Word3. Liturgy of the Eucharist

4. Concluding Rite

Liturgy of the Eucharist Presentation of

the Offerings (Offertory) Members of the

faithful bring bread, wine, donation to the altar

Prayer that these gifts may be acceptable to God.

Eucharistic Prayer (Primary prayer of Liturgy of the Eucharist: Anaphora) Thanksgiving

Eucharistia – for his gift of salvation Acclamation

Recognizing this liturgy joins liturgy itself, the heavenly liturgy, all sing together the Sanctus (Holy Holy Holy) from Revelation 4:8, which all the angels eternally sing according to John.

Epiclesis Prayer that the Holy Spirit will change the

bread and wine into the body and blood of Christ.

Liturgy of the Eucharist Institution narrative and Consecration***

Recalls Last Supper when Eucharist was instituted. Ends with “This is my Body…this is the cup of my blood.”

With the words of Consecration, the bread and wine become the Body and Blood of Jesus.

Anamnesis Church together remembers the Paschal Mystery

Offering The Church offers the sacrifice of Jesus Asks that it may be acceptable to the Father. Offer themselves too joining into the sacrifice. The faithful become part of the priesthood of Christ here.

Intercessions Asking all the saints to intercede and prayer for us, and we offer

prayers for those in purgatory. Final Doxology

Eucharistic prayers ends with giving praise to God for his gifts.

Liturgy of the Eucharist Communion Rite

Lord’s Prayer Rite of Peace – Remembering that it is a sign of unity, we offer

peace before receiving the prince of peace Breaking of Bread

Imitating action of Christ at Last Supper, the host is broken Small piece placed in chalice signifying the unity of the Church

Agnus Dei – Acknowledging Jesus as the lamb of God, whose sacrifice is the source of our forgiveness and salvation.

Communion – We join the heavenly banquet. Sacrificial meal We partake of the victim that we offered. Unites us and transforms us into the body of Christ.

Concluding Rite Blessing and Commissioning – Go Forth - Mass

Answer the following in Reflection Write a paragraph summarizing the structure of the mass

Compare it to Justin Martyr’s description. Can you find each part? The main parts?

Why is the Mass laid out as it is? What is the Mass and how should it effect one’s life? Honestly to yourself, what is your attitude toward the

mass? How does it effect you? If it doesn’t, why not?

What makes it hard to focus? How can you help yourself approach it in the right way?

Participation in the Mass

Internal PreparationExternal Preparation

Participation – Slide 1 Mass is a Communal Action

Total – What do I mean by total communal participation?

Body and Soul When does it begin?

Enter Church, to blessing self, to focus of mind and heart, to genuflect, to moments of prep.

Meditation during mass on what is going on

Internal Preparation: Considerations 1. Most important event of the day 2. Center of the Christian life

All Other sacraments, prayers devotions apostolate, etc. have mass as central point.

Christian life should depend upon Eucharist What does it mean? Our understanding of Eucharist and presence at

mass/Eucharist effects how we live the Christian life. If mass attendance is abandoned or mindless, Christian life lacks depth

or structure as well. 3. Eucharistic Sacrifice, if we understand all the history behind

it and what Christ meant it to be as last supper fulfillment of OT Covenant sacrifice, is best thing we can offer God.

As baptized into the Body of Christ, we have right and duty to take part in this Sacrifice of the Head of that body.

Church wants us to assist in Mass, not as strangers, or just spectators, but participants with an effort to understand it better every time.

The more we are fully present, the more we are fully transformed.

Internal Preparation: Considerations 4. Pray on the way to mass:

For priest, for self, for congregation etc. 5. Offer in union with the whole Church.

Celebrate the mass not as some isolated event, but feeling as though you are a part of something – The mystical body, the people of God, united to the past, future, present, all over the world. United to the priest, the bishop, the diocese, the pope, the universal Church

6. Be united to the Sacrifice of Christ – through him we offer to God all sacrifices sufferings, struggles, failures, tribulations of our own.

7. Receive the Holy Communion with the right intention Keep the Eucharistic fast

External Preparation: Consideration1. Spirit of Prayer

1. Avoid distractions. Give up personal preferences and desires. Be present to the moment

2. Listen, respond, keep silence, etc. For union with God in your action

3. Sit, stand, kneel – even if others aren’t being respectful. It’s between you and God, not you and them.

4. Be punctual.5. Use your missal. Following along can help you avoid

distractions.6. Dress properly

1. Conveys respect, solemnity, and joy.7. Fast – develop hunger for it. An hour. Respect for what

we are to receive. Not ordinary food.

Reflection Questions Of the 7 considerations for internal prep,

which one do you consider personally the most helpful? Why?

Which of the six points of external participation do you find the most challenging. Why? How could you improve in this regard?

Names of the Eucharist

Textbook page 133

Eucharist Greek – Eucharistein/Eucharistia, meaning

‘to give thanks’ Finds its origin in scripture at Last supper (Ignatius of Antioch says it in 107 AD)

The Lord’s Supper Connection to the last supper Anticipates the wedding feast of lamb in

Heaven.

Breaking of the Bread Jesus broke bread Most often used term at the beginning of

the Church

Eucharistic Assembly Action of the community

Holy Communion United to Christ, and therefore to other

members of the Christian community

Holy and Divine Liturgy Action of the Church We encounter sacred mysteries of Christ

as we participate

Holy Sacrifice Completes and surpasses and perfects OT

sacrifices, each of which point towards Christ’s sacrifice.

Memorial Reminds us of the Passion Death and

Resurrection

Holy Mass Mass – latin – mittere – ‘send forth’ End of Mass: “Ite, missa, est”

Transformed by Eucharist, Christians are sent forth in Christ to transform the world.

Others Bread of Angels Bread from Heaven Medicine of Immortality

Because of the spiritual graces we receive to live the Christian life.

Blessed Sacrament

Devotions Outside of Mass

Eucharistic Practices Early Church

Would set aside Eucharist when mass ended. Why?

Could take it to those who were not able to attend. Why? Unity in the ‘one bread’, uniting them in the community.

Acknowledging Christ in the sacrament led to many devotions – expressions of love and gratitude to Christ present in the Blessed Sacrament.

Major devotions: Benediction, Adoration, Processions

Graphic OrganizerVisit to the Blessed Sacrament

Visiting a tabernacle in which the Eucharist is being reserved to talk to God

Exposition Eucharist is exposed in a monstrance and believers gather to pray and meditate in front of Christ

Benediction A quasi-liturgical service, at the end of which the faithful are blessed with the Eucharist

Eucharistic Processions

Eucharist is carried in a solemn procession to show public adoration of Christ

Ministerial Priesthood

Source of Unity in Christ

Ordinary/ExtraordinaryWho is the minister of the Sacrament? Ordinary Minister

Bishop or priest Ultimately it is Christ, the Ultimate High Priest.

Priest participates in the priesthood of Christ, offering the sacrifice of the Mass and repeating the words of Christ, through which the Bread and wine become the Body and Blood of Christ.

So, where does the priest get the power to change b and w into B and B? – Christ changes it.

Ordinary ministers who distribute Holy Communion are bishops, priests, and deacons Extraordinary ministers of Holy Communion: other

people from the faithful not ordained.

A Source of Unity in Christ

How is the unity of the faithful as the body of Christ created? 1 Cor 10:17 – Because there is one bread, we who are many are

one body, for we all partake of the one bread. Paul taught that Church is body of Christ. We are united to Christ who

is the head. Unity (with union, comm-union)

Established in Baptism Fully Expressed in Eucharist

Paul and Didache we saw earlier – approaching Eucharist while divided shouldn’t be done – it is dishonest. Why?

Expressing a unity that doesn’t exist. Therefore, if we receive Eucharist with knowledge of this and

openness to this, we grow in communion and love with God and each other.

Other ways to see unity in Eucharist Greek term used at time of Christ – Koinonia

Indicated a joint venture – business partnership – worked together for a common good. New Testament writers used this term to refer to the relationship between members of the Church. Usage points to two parts of this concept – vertical and horizontal.

Koinonia Think of owner of a business

Personal stake in the profits of the business. As partner, also relationship and shared

interest with others as well. Similar to Christian Community

Personal relationship to Christ (vertical) and responsible for responding to Christ’s call

Shared relationship between members (horizontal)

Requirements for Receiving

Effective – Proper - Ordinary Baptized Catholic Attained the age of reason Received first reconciliation before first

Eucharist (not for RCIA or those right after baptism)

Fast Sacramental confession before if mortal

sin

Products of Regular Reception of the

Sacrament

Conclusion

Receiving the Eucharist Forgives venial sin Reinforces unity of the Church Strengthens us to avoid grave sin Diminishes selfishness Strength against temptation

Reduces concupiscence Decreases purgatorial debt