Eucharist: mystery of faith and love.

The Eucharist, mistery of faith and love : 

The Eucharist, mistery of faith and love JOOS van Wassenhove The Institution of the Eucharist 1473-75 Oil on wood, 331 x 335 cm Galleria Nazionale delle Marche Urbino

Compendium of the Catechism : 

Compendium of the Catechism 271. What is the Eucharist? 1322-13231409 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.

Introduction : 

Introduction The sacrament of the Eucharist is “the sacrament of sacraments”, the most important of all sacraments, because it contains God’s grace –as do all the other sacraments- and also the author of grace, Our Lord Jesus Christ. We know this, not through our senses, but through faith, because God Himself says it is so. “This is my body which is given for you; do this in remembrance of me” (Luke 22:19). The Eucharist “is the source and summit of the Christian life”, and that “taking part in the Eucharistic sacrifice” the faithful “offer the Divine Victim to God, and offer themselves along with It” (Lumen Gentium, 11). JOOS van Wassenhove The institution of the Eucharist (detail) 1473-75 Galleria Nazionale delle Marche, Urbino

Mass of Bolsena CORPUS CHRISTI : 

Mass of Bolsena CORPUS CHRISTI

Main ideas : 

Main ideas

1. The Eucharist is the source and summit of the life of the Church : 

1. The Eucharist is the source and summit of the life of the Church The Eucharist is the heart of the Church: " the Most Blessed Eucharist contains the entire spiritual boon of the Church, that is, Christ himself". For this reason, “the other sacraments, as well as with every ministry of the Church and every work of the apostolate, are tied together with the Eucharist and are directed toward it” (Presbyterorum ordinis, 5). POUSSIN, Nicolas The Institution of the Eucharist 1640 Oil on canvas, 325 x 250 cm Musée du Louvre, Paris

2. Different names of this sacrament : 

2. Different names of this sacrament The inexhaustible richness of the Eucharist is shown by the different names applied to it. Eucharist, which means an act of thanksgiving to God. The Lord’s banquet, because it was instituted by Christ in the Last Supper on Holy Thursday. The Holy Sacrifice, because it makes present the only sacrifice of Christ on the Cross. Communion, because we unite ourselves with the same Christ when we receive His body and His blood. Holy Mass, because when the faithful are dismissed at the end of Mass, they are sent (“mission”) to do God’s will in ordinary life.

3. The institution of the Eucharist : 

3. The institution of the Eucharist Jesus Christ instituted the Eucharist on Holy Thursday during the Last Supper. He had already announced to the disciples at Capernaum (cf. John 6) that He would give them His own body to eat and His own blood to drink. He had also prepared their faith with indisputable signs: the miracle at the wedding in Cana –He transformed water into wine, and the multiplication of loaves. Thus, upon hearing in the Last Supper the words “This is my body” (Luke 22:19), they would have had the firm conviction that it happened exactly as Jesus said, just as water had been transformed into wine and the loaves of bread multiplied until everybody had been satisfied. BASSANO, Jacopo The Last Supper 1542 Oil on canvas Galleria Borghese, Rome

4. The liturgical celebration of the Eucharist : 

4. The liturgical celebration of the Eucharist The Apostles received a mission from the Lord: “Do this in memory of Me” (Luke 22:19). It is not a mere commemoration but the realization of the memorial of Christ: of His life, of His death, of His resurrection and of His intercession with the Father, which is accomplished in the Eucharist. The broad outline of the celebration of the Eucharist had already been established by the middle of the second century, according to the testimony of St. Justin the martyr. It has remained unchanged up to our day. JUANES, Juan de The Last Supper 1560s Panel, 116 x 191 cm Museo del Prado, Madrid

The "bread" : "must be unleavened, purely of wheat, and recently made," and the wine "fruit of the grape, pure and incorrupt, not mixed with other substances." : 

The "bread" : "must be unleavened, purely of wheat, and recently made," and the wine "fruit of the grape, pure and incorrupt, not mixed with other substances." VALIDITY 4. The liturgical celebration of the Eucharist

MINISTER"The community that gathers for the celebration of the Eucharist absolutely requires an ordained Priest, who presides over it so that it may truly be a Eucharistic convocation," : 

MINISTER"The community that gathers for the celebration of the Eucharist absolutely requires an ordained Priest, who presides over it so that it may truly be a Eucharistic convocation," 4. The liturgical celebration of the Eucharist

Paul writing in 1 Cor 11:23-30 : 

Paul writing in 1 Cor 11:23-30 "For I received from the Lord what I also passed on to you: The Lord Jesus, on the night he was betrayed, took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and said, "This is my body, which is for you; do this in remembrance of me." In the same way, after supper he took the cup, saying, "This cup is the new covenant in my blood; do this, whenever you drink it, in remembrance of me…."

EARLY CHURCH ELEBRATION : 

EARLY CHURCH ELEBRATION St. Justin wrote to the pagan emperor Antoninus Pius (138-161) around the year 155, explaining what Christians did: On the day we call the day of the sun, all who dwell in the city or country gather in the same place. The memoirs of the apostles and the writings of the prophets are read, as much as time permits. When the reader has finished, he who presides over those gathered admonishes and challenges them to imitate these beautiful things. Then we all rise together and offer prayers* for ourselves . . .and for all others, wherever they may be, so that we may be found righteous by our life and actions, and faithful to the commandments, so as to obtain eternal salvation. When the prayers are concluded we exchange the kiss...

EARLY CHURCH CELEBRATION : 

EARLY CHURCH CELEBRATION ... Then someone brings bread and a cup of water and wine mixed together to him who presides over the brethren. He takes them and offers praise and glory to the Father of the universe, through the name of the Son and of the Holy Spirit and for a considerable time he gives thanks (in Greek: eucharistian) that we have been judged worthy of these gifts. When he has concluded the prayers and thanksgivings, all present give voice to an acclamation by saying: 'Amen.' When he who presides has given thanks and the people have responded, those whom we call deacons give to those present the "eucharisted" bread, wine and water and take them to those who are absent.

PARTS OF THE MASS : 

PARTS OF THE MASS LITURGY OF THE READINGS LITURGY OF THE EUCHARIST Preparation of the altar Preparation of gifts and collection Eucharistic prayer (Anafora) Preface Sanctus (Holy, holy, holy…) Epiclesis Consecration Memorial acclamation Intercessions Doxology LITURGY OF COMMUNION

Clean through forgiveness of sins : 

Clean through forgiveness of sins Justin Martyr, 150 AD "We call this food Eucharist, and no one else is permitted to partake of it, except one who believes our teaching to be true and who has been washed in the washing which is for the remission of sins and for regeneration and is thereby living as Christ has enjoined...

Clean through forgiveness of sins : 

Clean through forgiveness of sins Justin Martyr, 150 AD ”... For not as common bread nor common drink do we receive these; but since Jesus Christ our Savior was made incarnate by the word of God and had both flesh and blood for our salvation, so too, as we have been taught, the food which has been made into the Eucharist by the Eucharistic prayer set down by him, and by the change of which our blood and flesh is nourished, is both the flesh and the blood of that incarnated Jesus." (First Apology of Justin)

5. The Eucharist, unbloody renewal of the sacrifice of the Cross : 

5. The Eucharist, unbloody renewal of the sacrifice of the Cross Jesus Christ offered to God the Father the sacrifice of His own life by dying on the Cross. But, even though the value of Christ’s sacrifice on the Cross was infinite and unique, the Lord wanted it to be perpetuated so as to apply the merits of the redemption. Jesus Christ instituted the Eucharist not to perpetuate the Last Supper, but rather the sacrifice of the Cross. Thus, the Eucharist is the unbloody renewal of the sacrifice of Calvary itself. Likewise, the Eucharist is the sacrifice of the Church, because being the body of Christ, she participates along with her Head, who is Christ. CARRACCI, Annibale Crucifixion 1583 Oil on canvas, 305 x 210 cm Santa Maria della Carità, Bologna

6. The sacrifice of the Eucharist and that of the Cross are essentially one and the same : 

6. The sacrifice of the Eucharist and that of the Cross are essentially one and the same Between the Eucharist and the sacrifice of the Cross there is an essential identity and accidental distinctions: The Priest is the same: Christ offered Himself alone on Calvary, whereas in Holy Mass He does it through the priest. The Victim is the same: Christ immolated Himself on the Cross in a bloody manner, whereas in Holy Mass He does so in an unbloody manner. On the Cross, Christ redeemed us from sin and won for us the merits of salvation. During the Mass, these merits are bestowed upon us.

7. The finality, or purpose, of the Mass : 

7. The finality, or purpose, of the Mass The Mass has four aims: to worship God, to give Him thanks, to make petitions to Him and to ask Him to pardon our sins. We can unite our daily endeavours to the Mass and live with the same sentiments that Christ Himself had on the Cross. CRANACH, Lucas the Elder Crucifixion 1503 Pine panel, 138 x 99 cm Alte Pinakothek, Munich

Resolutions for Christian life : 

Resolutions for Christian life

Resolutions to move forward : 

Resolutions to move forward Try to attend Holy Mass as often as you can, with a conscious, active and fruitful participation. Unite your small daily sacrifices with Christ’s sacrifice renewed in the Eucharist. Spend time with the Blessed Sacrament.