the eucharist

The Eucharist

TheEucharist

The Eucharist

KEY DEFINITION

•

• Sacrifice. It makes present Jesus Christ’s sacrifice on Calvary for our salvation.

• Presence. It is Jesus Christ himself under the appearances of bread and wine.

• Food. It is the nourishment of our souls by which we share in God’s own life.

The Eucharist is a sacrifice, a presence and a food:

The Eucharist definition

The Eucharist as Sacrifice

The Seven Sacraments by Weyden

The Eucharist as Sacrifice (1)


The Eucharist is a sacrament established by Christ to nourish the life of grace in us.

Uniquely among the sacraments, however, the Eucharist is also a sacrifice, the sacrifice of Christ himself.



Sacrifices offer something up to God to honour him, to thank him, to gain communion with him and to make expiation for sin.

The Eucharistic sacrifice of Christ achieves all of these perfectly.


Sacrifices in the Old Testament

Altarpiece of the Holy Sacrament by BoutsOld Testament sacrifices on the left prefigure the sacrifice of Christ in the centre.

Sacrifices in the Old Testament (1)


Both unbloody and bloody kinds of sacrifice were prominent in the Old Testament.

Sacrifices without blood included Melchizedech’s offering of bread and wine and the yearly offering of the first-fruits of the harvest.

The pre-eminent blood sacrifice was that of Passover. Shedding the blood of the Paschal lamb and eating its flesh marked the ‘passing over’ from sin and death to freedom and life.

Melchizedech (above)

Passover (below)

Manna (above) Elijah (below)



These sacrifices were commanded by God as provisional and prophetic, offsetting some of the effects of sin. However, these imperfect sacrifices of fallen humanity could never achieve our redemption or unite us to God in familial communion.

For since the law has but a shadow of the good things to come instead of the true form of these realities, it can never, by the same sacrifices which are continually offered year after year, make perfect those who draw near.

Heb 10:1



The Sacrifice of Isaac by Caravaggio


Sacrifices in the Old Testament This picture shows how God tested

Abraham’s faith by asking him to

sacrifice his beloved son Isaac. However, God sent an angel to prevent this at the last moment and

instead provided a ram for a sacrifice, a gift which prefigured the sacrifice of Christ,

the Lamb of God.

Abraham

An angel

Isaac

Ram


The Eucharistic sacrifice of Christ

The Last Supper by SassettaThis depicts the moment when Jesus instituted the Eucharistic sacrifice.

The Eucharistic sacrifice of Christ (1)


The Eucharistic sacrifice of Jesus renders perfect thanksgiving to God and gains mercy for the whole world.

‘Eucharist’ originally meant ‘thanksgiving’.



When Jesus began his mission, John the Baptist declared him to be “the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world” (Jn 1:29).

By these words John indicated that Jesus is the perfect sacrifice prefigured by the Old Testament sacrifices.

The Baptism of Christ by Piero della Francesca



Jesus confirmed that he would offer his flesh for the

life of the world (c.f. Jn 6:51).

At the feast of Passover, he

took bread and wine and

offered up his imminent

death for our salvation.



“Take this, all of you, and eat it: this is my body which will be given up for

you.”

“Take this, all of you, and drink from it: 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 forgiven.”


Jesus added,

Therefore the Church, through

her priests, continues to offer

the same Eucharistic sacrifice.

Christ’s offering on Calvary and its salvific effects are

thereby made present to all ages

until the end of time.


“Do this in memory of me.”



This Eucharistic sacrifice is called the Mass.

The Mass is the centre of the Church’s worship,

“the source and summit of the Christian life”

(Lumen Gentium n. 11).



This Eucharistic sacrifice is called the Mass.

The Mass is the centre of the Church’s worship,

“the source and summit of the Christian life”

(Lumen Gentium n. 11).

The Cross and the Mass

This shows that the

offering of Christ on the cross is re-

presented in the Mass.


SummaryQuestions

to reinforcekey points

Discussionquestions

Practicalactivities

Presentation Part II

Summary Activities I

Please select an activity or go immediately to part II of the presentation

Summary Activities I

Summary

Activities Menu Presentation Part II

• The Eucharist is a sacrifice, the sacrifice of Christ himself. The Eucharistic sacrifice of Jesus renders perfect thanksgiving to God and gains mercy for the whole world.

• At the feast of Passover, Jesus took bread and wine and offered up his imminent death for our salvation.

• Jesus added, “Do this in memory of me.” Therefore the Church, through her priests, continues to offer the same Eucharistic sacrifice. This is called the Mass.

Summary I

Questions to reinforce key points

A Sacrifice

A Presence

A food

What is the Eucharist?


123

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answers

Questions to reinforce key points I

Discussion questions


• Discuss why the Eucharist is also called the ‘Sacrifice of the Mass’.

• Discuss how the Old Testament sacrifices, especially the Passover, prefigure the Eucharist.

• Discuss how the Last Supper, the crucifixion and the Mass are connected.

Select one or more of the following:

Discussion questions I

Practical activities


• Read the Compendium of the Catechism questions 271 - 281.

• Read through the institution of the Eucharistic sacrifice in Matthew 26:26-29; Mark 14:22-25; Luke 22:14-22.

• Visit a church and note any objects or symbols which indicate Calvary or the sacrificial nature of the Mass.


Practical activities I

The Eucharist as Presence

The Communion of the Apostles by Fra AngelicoThis shows the apostles recognising the real presence of Christ in the Eucharist.

The Eucharist as Presence

Is Jesus really present in the Eucharist?

Is Jesus really present in the Eucharist? (1)


Jesus promised to give food from heaven that would be his flesh and blood (Jn 6:51-56).

He fulfilled this promise at the Last Supper, when he took the bread and said explicitly,

“this is my body”

and when he took the wine and said

“this is the cup of my blood”



This gift is also made present to us today. When the priest speaks the words of consecration in the Mass, the bread and wine truly become the body and blood of Jesus Christ. The Church calls this change ‘transubstantiation’ because the substance of bread and wine are really changed, becoming the substance of Jesus Christ himself.



For this reason, uniquely of all things present to our senses in this world, we worship the Eucharist as God.


The Mystic Lamb by Jan van Eyck


Jesus said before his Ascension to the Father,

“I am with you always; yes, to the end of time”

(Mt 28:20).

This promise is fulfilled in the Real Presence of the Eucharist in the tabernacle of every Catholic church.

The Ascension of Christ by Garofalo



We therefore honour Jesus Christ by genuflecting, kneeling and praying before the tabernacle.

Sometimes the Eucharistic host is placed in a monstrance so that we can see the host and offer him adoration.

The Ascension of Christ by Garofalo


The Eucharist as Food

The Institution of the Eucharist by Joos van Wassenhover

The Eucharist as Food (1)


Following Jesus’ command

“Take this, all of you, and eat it ... Take this…and drink from it”

the Eucharist has always been celebrated as a sacred meal.



When Christ publicly declared that all must eat his flesh and drink his blood, many were shocked (Jn 6:60). These actions are fitting, though, because of what a spiritual and sacred meal implies.



Sanctuary lampindicating the presence

of Christ.Chalice and hostsThe body and blood of Christ on the altar of

sacrifice.

The tableresembles the

shape and position of an altar in the apse of a church.

Contemporary figures

remind us that the Mass is for all times

and places.

The jugused for the

washing of the disciples’ feet reminds us of the need for self-giving,

humility and purification.

Jesus feeds his disciples with

Holy Communion.



Union

By consuming his life we become like him, and he dwells within us. For this reason the Eucharist is also called Holy Communion.

As a meal, it also expresses intimacy with Christ and unity with the whole Church (1 Cor 10:17).



Strength

By consuming divine food, we gain nourishment in the divine life that Christ has shared with us. The form of bread under which it appears is a sign that the Eucharist gives us strength for the spiritual journey through life, and at the approach of death.



Promise

By receiving the risen Jesus, we also receive in the Eucharist the power of his Resurrection within us. As he promised,

“He who eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day” (Jn 6:56 and 6:40).



The Mass as a sacred banquet on earth is also our sharing in something far greater in heaven. Scripture refers to a heavenly wedding feast,“Blessed are those who are called to the Marriage Feast of the Lamb” (Rev 19.9).



The Lamb of God

on the altar whose sacrifice is ever before the

Father.

This reminds us of the greater reality of the Eucharist in heaven.

Instruments of the Passion

remind us of the link between Calvary and the

Mass.

The chalicesymbolises the

blood shed for our salvation.

Incensereminds us that this is an offering and a

liturgy.

The saintsare gathered in

heaven because of the Mass.


SummaryQuestions

to reinforcekey points

Discussionquestions

Practicalactivities

Summary Activities IIPlease select an activity or go immediately

to the concluding prayer

Concluding Prayer

Summary Activities II

Summary

Activities Menu

• Jesus promised to give food from heaven that would be his flesh and blood. He fulfilled this promise at the Last Supper and this is also made present for us in the Mass.

• When the priest speaks the words of consecration in the Mass, the bread and wine truly become the body and blood of Jesus Christ. The Church calls this change ‘transubstantiation’.

• We celebrate the Eucharist as a sacred meal in which we consume his flesh and blood. This gives us communion with him, spiritual strength and the promise of eternal life.

Concluding Prayer

Summary II

Questions to reinforce key points

Union

Strength

Promise

What are the effects of receiving the Eucharist?

Activities Menu Concluding Prayer

123

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answers

Questions to reinforce key points II

Discussion questions

Activities Menu

• Discuss how we should treat the Eucharist, given that this is the sacred body and blood of Jesus Christ.

• Discuss some personal experiences of Communion or Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament.


Concluding Prayer

Discussion questions II

Practical activities

Activities Menu

• Read the Compendium of the Catechism questions 282-294.

• Read the Gospel of John chapter 6 on the Eucharist.

• Visit a church and locate the tabernacle. Pray for a few minutes before the presence of Jesus in the tabernacle.


Concluding Prayer

Practical activities II

Final Prayer

Anima Christi Soul of Christ, be my sanctification; Body of Christ, be my salvation; Blood of Christ, fill all my veins; Water of Christ’s side, wash out my stains; Passion of Christ, my comfort be; O good Jesu, listen to me; In thy wounds I fain would hide; Ne’er to be parted from thy side; Guard me, should the foe assail me; Call me when my life shall fail me; Bid me come to thee above, With thy saints to sing thy love, World without end.

Amen.

Final Prayer

Date post:	15-Apr-2017
Category:	Spiritual
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