MEETING JESUS IN THE

SACRAMENTS
CHAPTER 5
THE SACRAMENT OF THE
EUCHARIST
 Source and Summit
The Eucharist is the “source and summit of the
Christian life.”

Eucharist: “to give thanks”

The Sacrament of the Eucharist

completes Christian Initiation
 Source and Summit

EUCHARIST

The entire Mass, the The consecrated

Church’s official form Body and Blood of
of worshipping the Christ that we receive
Father during Communion
Other Names for
the Sacrament
of the Eucharist

Lord’s Supper
Breaking of the
Bread
Eucharistic
Assembly
Memorial
Holy Sacrifice
Holy and Divine
Liturgy
Holy Communion
Mass
“My flesh is true food, and my blood is true drink.”
 Understanding the
Sacrament of the Eucharist
Bread and wine are at the heart of the Eucharist

The manna in the desert commemorated the

Israelites’ liberation from Egypt.
Jesus’ conversion of water to wine at the Cana
wedding announced his mission.
The Institution
of the Eucharist

Jesus anticipated
his own Passion and
Death and
interpreted them in
terms of the Jewish
Passover and its
sacrifice.

All of the Old

Testament sacrifices
were fulfilled and “This is my body, which will be given for
perfected in the you; do this in memory of me . . . This
sacrifice of Jesus on cup is the new covenant in my blood,
the Cross. which will be shed for you.”
 The Eucharist Through the
Age of the Church
Basic pattern of
readings, homily,
breaking bread
Sunday, when the and reception of
first Christians met the Eucharist
to “break bread” evolved

After 70 AD,
Christians
transferred Temple
service of Scripture
and prayer to the
beginning of the
Eucharistic meal
 The Eucharist Through the
Age of the Church

Council of Trent
established one
uniform way of Benedict XVI issued a
celebrating mass in moto proprio allowing
the Western Church— for a wider celebration
Tridentine (in Latin) of Tridentine mass

Sacrosanctum
Concilium reformed
the liturgy; mass
celebrated in the
vernacular
 Understanding the Eucharist as a Sacrifice
Each Mass is the presence in our midst of the one eternal
sacrifice that Jesus made on the cross more than two
thousand years ago.
Christ’s Presence
in the Eucharist

In the Body and Blood

of Christ, “the whole
Christ is truly, really
and substantially
contained.”

TRANSUBSTANTIATION

Change of substance
Celebrating the
Sacrament
of the Eucharist
Introductory Rites
Liturgy of the Word
First Reading from Old
Testament, Acts, or
Revelation
Responsorial Psalm
Second Reading from New
Testament letter
Gospel reading
Liturgy of the
Eucharist
Presentation of the Offering
Eucharistic Prayer
Communion Rite
Dismissal Rite
 Eucharistic Prayer
 Preface—prayer of  Anamnesis—“memorial”
thanksgiving to the
Father  Intercessions—for all
 Sanctus—“Holy, Holy, gathered; pope, bishop,
Holy” clergy; Catholics in
 Epiclesis—“calling need; faithful departed
down” of the Holy Spirit  Doxology—reminder of
 Words of Institution— our initiation into the life
repeats the words of
Christ at the Last of the Trinity
Supper  Great Amen—“so be it”
 The Graces of Holy Communion

“Were not our hearts burning (within

us) while he spoke to us?”
 Unity with
Christ

Christ
becomes a
part of us

We become a
part of him.
 Separation
from Sin

The more we
share the life
of Christ, the
more difficult
it is to break
away from
him by mortal
sin.
 Becoming Church

Every Eucharist helps us form

and build the Church
 We can participate in the local
parish.
 We can contribute in mission activity.
 We can “animate” our daily activity
with Christian spirit.
 We can engage in evangelization.
 We can build community with the
parish.
 We can help strengthen the unity of
all Christians through prayer.
To Be Eucharist to Others

The Eucharist commits us to the poor. To receive in

truth the Body and Blood of Christ given up for us, we
must recognize Christ in the poorest, his brethren.
 Requirements for
Formal Reception
To prepare for reception, we must examine our
conscience and be in a state of grace.

We must fast for one hour prior to receiving.

 We Are Sent

Missa: “to send forth”

The priest sends us or commissions us to go

out to the world in the name of Jesus and
spread the Gospel into our daily lives.
 The Sunday Obligation
A precept of the Church:
“on Sunday and other holy
days of obligation the
faithful are bound to
participate in the Mass.”

Participation in the
communal celebration of
the Sunday Eucharist is a
testimony of belonging
and of being faithful to
Christ and to his Church.
 St. Juan Diego

A man with an intense

love for the Eucharist

The Blessed Mother

appeared to him

First indigenous
(native) American to
become a saint