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The Sacrament of the Eucharist
1. What is the Eucharist?
The Eucharist is the very
sacrifice of the Body and Blood of the Lord Jesus which he
instituted to perpetuate the sacrifice of the cross throughout the
ages until his return in glory. Thus he entrusted to his Church this
memorial of his death and Resurrection. It is a sign of unity, a
bond of charity, a paschal banquet, in which Christ is consumed, the
mind is filled with grace, and a pledge of future glory is given to
us.
2. When did Jesus Christ institute the Eucharist?
Jesus instituted the Eucharist on Holy Thursday “the night on which
he was betrayed” (1 Corinthians 11:23), as he celebrated the Last
Supper with his apostles.
3. How did he institute the Eucharist?
After he had gathered with his apostles in the Cenacle, Jesus
took bread in his hands. He broke it and gave it to them saying,
“Take this and eat it, all of you; this is my Body which will be
given up for you”. Then, he took the cup of wine in his hands and
said, “Take this and drink of this, all of you. This is the cup of
my Blood, the Blood of the new and everlasting covenant. It will be
shed for you and for all so that sins may be forgive. Do this in
memory of me”.
4. What does the Eucharist represent in the life of the Church?
It is the source and summit of all Christian life. In the
Eucharist, the sanctifying action of God in our regard and our
worship of him reach their high point. It contains the whole
spiritual good of the Church, Christ himself, our Pasch. Communion
with divine life and the unity of the People of God are both
expressed and effected by the Eucharist. Through the Eucharistic
celebration we are united already with the liturgy of heaven and we
have a foretaste of eternal life.
5. What are the names for this sacrament?
The unfathomable richness of this sacrament is expressed in
different names which evoke its various aspects. The most common
names are: the Eucharist, Holy Mass, the Lord’s Supper, the Breaking
of the Bread, the Eucharistic Celebration, the Memorial of the
passion, death and Resurrection of the Lord, the Holy Sacrifice, the
Holy and Divine Liturgy, the Sacred Mysteries, the Most Holy
Sacrament of the Altar, and Holy Communion.
6. Where does the Eucharist fit in the divine plan of salvation?
The Eucharist was foreshadowed in the Old Covenant above all in
the annual Passover meal celebrated every year by the Jews with
unleavened bread to commemorate their hasty, liberating departure
from Egypt. Jesus foretold it in his teaching and he instituted it
when he celebrated the Last Supper with his apostles in a Passover
meal. The Church, faithful to the command of her Lord, “Do this in
memory of me” (1 Corinthians 11:24), has always celebrated the
Eucharist, especially on Sunday, the day of the Resurrection of
Jesus.
7. How is the celebration of the Holy Eucharist carried out?
The Eucharist unfolds in two great parts which together form
one, single act of worship. The Liturgy of the Word involves
proclaiming and listening to the Word of God. The Liturgy of the
Eucharist includes the presentation of the bread and wine, the
prayer or the anaphora containing the words of consecration, and
communion.
8. Who is the minister for the celebration of the Eucharist?
The celebrant of the Eucharist is a validly ordained priest (bishop
or priest) who acts in the Person of Christ the Head and in the name
of the Church.
9. What are the essential and necessary elements for celebrating the
Eucharist?
The essential elements are wheat bread and grape wine.
10. In what way is the Eucharist a memorial of the sacrifice of
Christ?
The Eucharist is a memorial in the sense that it makes present
and actual the sacrifice which Christ offered to the Father on the
cross, once and for all on behalf of all humankind. The sacrificial
character of the Holy Eucharist is manifested in the very words of
institution, “This is my Body which is given for you” and “This cup
is the New Covenant in my Blood that will be shed for you” (Luke
22:19-20). The sacrifice of the cross and the sacrifice of the
Eucharist are one and the same sacrifice. The priest and the victim
are the same; only the manner of offering is different: in a bloody
manner on the cross, in an unbloody manner in the Eucharist.
11. In what way does the Church participate in the eucharistic
sacrifice?
In the Eucharist the sacrifice of Christ becomes also the
sacrifice of the members of his Body. The lives of the faithful,
their praise, their suffering, their prayers, their work, are united
to those of Christ. In as much as it is a sacrifice, the Eucharist
is likewise offered for all the faithful, living and dead, in
reparation for the sins of all and to obtain spiritual and temporal
benefits from God. The Church in heaven is also united to the
offering of Christ.
12. How is Christ present in the Eucharist?
Jesus Christ is present in the Eucharist in a unique and
incomparable way. He is present in a true, real and substantial way,
with his Body and his Blood, with his Soul and his Divinity. In the
Eucharist, therefore, there is present in a sacramental way, that
is, under the Eucharistic species of bread and wine, Christ whole
and entire, God and Man.
13. What is the meaning of transubstantiation?
Transubstantiation means the change of the whole substance of
bread into the substance of the Body of Christ and of the whole
substance of wine into the substance of his Blood. This change is
brought about in the eucharistic prayer through the efficacy of the
word of Christ and by the action of the Holy Spirit. However, the
outward characteristics of bread and wine, that is the “eucharistic
species”, remain unaltered.
14. Does the breaking of the bread divide Christ?
The breaking of the bread does not divide Christ. He is present
whole and entire in each of the eucharistic species and in each of
their parts.
15. How long does the presence of Christ last in the Eucharist?
The presence of Christ continues in the Eucharist as long as the
eucharistic species subsist.
16. What kind of worship is due to the sacrament of the Eucharist?
The worship due to the sacrament of the Eucharist, whether
during the celebration of the Mass or outside it, is the worship of
latria, that is, the adoration given to God alone. The Church guards
with the greatest care Hosts that have been consecrated. She brings
them to the sick and to other persons who find it impossible to
participate at Mass. She also presents them for the solemn adoration
of the faithful and she bears them in processions. The Church
encourages the faithful to make frequent visits to adore the Blessed
Sacrament reserved in the tabernacle.
17. Why is the Holy Eucharist the paschal banquet?
The Holy Eucharist is the paschal banquet in as much as Christ
sacramentally makes present his Passover and gives us his Body and
Blood, offered as food and drink, uniting us to himself and to one
another in his sacrifice.
18. What is the meaning of the altar?
The altar is the symbol of Christ himself who is present both as
sacrificial victim (the altar of the sacrifice) and as food from
heaven which is given to us (the table of the Lord).
19. When does the Church oblige her members to participate at
Holy Mass?
The Church obliges the faithful to participate at Holy Mass
every Sunday and on holy days of obligation. She recommends
participation at Holy Mass on other days as well.
20. When must one receive Holy Communion?
The Church recommends that the faithful, if they have the
required dispositions, receive Holy Communion whenever they
participate at Holy Mass. However, the Church obliges them to
receive Holy Communion at least once a year during the Easter
season.
21. What is required to receive Holy Communion?
To receive Holy Communion one must be fully incorporated into
the Catholic Church and be in the state of grace, that is, not
conscious of being in mortal sin. Anyone who is conscious of having
committed a grave sin must first receive the sacrament of
Reconciliation before going to Communion. Also important for those
receiving Holy Communion are a spirit of recollection and prayer,
observance of the fast prescribed by the Church, and an appropriate
disposition of the body (gestures and dress) as a sign of respect
for Christ.
22. What are the fruits of Holy Communion?
Holy Communion increases our union with Christ and with his
Church. It preserves and renews the life of grace received at
Baptism and Confirmation and makes us grow in love for our neighbor.
It strengthens us in charity, wipes away venial sins and preserves
us from mortal sin in the future.
23. When is it possible to give Holy Communion to other Christians?
Catholic ministers may give Holy Communion licitly to members of
other Catholic or Christian Churches which are not in full communion
with the Evangelical Catholic Church whenever they ask for it of
their own will and possess the required dispositions. Ministers may
licitly give Holy Communion to members of other ecclesial
communities only if, in grave necessity, they ask for it of their
own will, possess the required dispositions, and give evidence of
holding the Catholic faith regarding the sacrament.
24. Why is the Eucharist a “pledge of future glory”?
The Eucharist is a pledge of future glory because it fills us
with every grace and heavenly blessing. It fortifies us for our
pilgrimage in this life and makes us long for eternal life. It
unites us already to Christ seated at the right hand of the Father,
to the Church in heaven and to the Blessed Virgin and all the
saints.
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