EUCHARIST

Sacrament of the Eucharist

1. What sacrament completes the Christian initiation?

The Holy Eucharist completes the Christian initiation of adults who join the Church. Those who have been raised to the dignity of the royal priesthood by Baptism, and configured more deeply to Christ by Confirmation, participate with the whole community in the Lord's own sacrifice by means of the Eucharist. [1322].

2. What is the significance of the sacrament of the Eucharist?

The Eucharist is the source and summary of the Christian life. The other sacraments, and indeed all ecclesiastical ministries and works of the apostolate, are bound up with the Eucharist, and are oriented toward it. By the Eucharistic celebration we already unite ourselves with the heavenly liturgy and anticipate eternal life, where God will be all in all. [1407*, 1334-1337].

3. What is the Paschal Mystery?

The Paschal mystery is Christ's work of salvation accomplished principally by his Passion, death, Resurrection, and glorious Ascension. This mystery is celebrated and made present in the liturgy of the Church, and its saving effects are communicated through the sacraments, especially the Eucharist. [glossary, 571, 654, 1362-72].

Institution of the Eucharist

4. When was the Eucharist instituted?

Our Savior instituted the Eucharistic sacrifice of his body and blood at the Last Supper, on the night that he was betrayed, in order to perpetuate the sacrifice of the cross throughout all ages. Jesus instituted the Eucharist as a memorial of his death and resurrection, and commanded his disciples to celebrate it until his return, thereby constituting them as priests. [1323, 1337-1340].

5. What words did Jesus use when he instituted this sacrament?

Jesus said the words of consecration: "and he took bread, and when he had given thanks he broke it and gave it to them saying, "This is my body which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me". And likewise with the cup after supper, saying, "This cup which is poured out for you is the New Covenant in my blood." (Lk 22:7-20; cf. Mt 26:17-29, Mk 14:12-25. 1 Cor 11:23-26). The command of Jesus to repeat his actions and words, is directed at the liturgical celebration of the Mass, to be carried out by the apostles and their successors. From the beginning the Church has been faithful to this command (Acts 2:42, 46). [1339-1342].

Presence of Jesus in the Eucharist

6. What are some modes of God's presence in the world?

There are many ways in which God is present in the world. God is in the world sustaining its existence. Christ and the Holy Spirit are guiding the Church. God is present in the scriptures. The Lord is present to us during prayer. God is present in other sacraments by their grace giving. Christ is present during the entire Mass. Christ Jesus is present in the Eucharist in a special way called the Real Presence. [1374].

7. What is the Real Presence?

The Real Presence is the unique, true presence of Christ in the Eucharist under the species or appearances of bread and wine. The Church invites the faithful to deepen their faith in the real presence of Christ through adoration and communion during Mass, and through adoration outside its celebration. [glossary, 1418*, 1376].

8. How is Christ present in the Eucharist?

The mode of Christ's presence in the Eucharist is unique. The body and blood, together with the soul and divinity, of our Lord Jesus Christ and, therefore, the whole Christ is truly, really, and substantially contained in the Eucharistic species. This presence is called 'real' because it is presence in the fullest sense; that is to say, it is a substantial presence by which Christ, God and man, makes himself wholly and entirely present. By the consecration of the bread and wine there takes place a change of the whole substance of the bread and wine into the body and blood of our Lord. [1374-1376].

9. What is transubstantiation?

Transubstantiation is the scholastic term used to designate the unique change of the entire substance of the Eucharistic bread and wine into the substance of the body and blood of Christ, even though the appearances or species of the bread and wine remain. [glossary, 1376].

10. To what extent and for how long a time is Christ present in the bread and wine?

The Eucharistic presence of Christ begins at the moment of the consecration, and endures as long as the Eucharistic species subsist. Christ is present whole and entire in each of the species, both the bread and the wine, and whole and entire in each of their parts, in such a way that the breaking of the bread does not divide Christ. To emphasize this unity a particle of the consecrated host is dropped into the chalice containing the precious blood during the canon of the Mass. Since Christ is sacramentally present under each of the species, communion under the species of bread alone makes it possible to receive the full fruit of Eucharistic grace. [1377, 1390].

Mass or Celebration of the Eucharist

11. What is the Mass?

The Mass is the Eucharist, or the principal sacramental celebration of the Church, established by Jesus at the Last Supper. During Mass the mystery of our salvation through participation in the sacrificial death and glorious resurrection of Christ is renewed and accomplished, and Jesus becomes truly present in the consecrated bread and wine. [glossary,

1345-55].

12. What is the consecration of the Mass?

The consecration is that part of the Eucharistic prayer of the Mass during which the Lord's words of the institution of the Eucharist at the Last Supper are recited by the priestly minister, making Christ's body and blood sacramentally present under the species of bread and wine. [glossary, 1413*, 1352-53].

13. Who offers the Eucharistic sacrifice?

It is Christ himself, the eternal high priest of the New Covenant who, acting through the ministry of the priests, offers the Eucharistic sacrifice. It is the same Christ, really present under the species of bread and wine, who is the offering of the Eucharistic sacrifice. [1410*].

14. What is Holy Communion?

Holy Communion is the reception of the Body and Blood of Christ in the Eucharist, which ordinarily takes place during Mass. [glossary, 1331, 1382].

Prefigurements, Names, Signs and Fruits of the Eucharist

15. What are some prefigurements of the Eucharistic sacrifice?

Some prefigurements of the Eucharistic sacrifice are the bread and wine brought to Abraham by the king-priest Melchizedek (Gen 14:18), the bread and wine offered in the Old Covenant in sacrifice among the first fruits of the earth , the unleavened bread of the Passover meal, the "cup of blessing" of the passover meal (1 Cor 10:16), the manna fed to the Israelites in the desert during the exodus from Egypt (Deut 8:3), the miracles of the multiplication of the loaves by Jesus (Mt 14:13-21; 15:32-39), the sign of water turned into wine at the wedding feast of Cana (cf. Jn 2:11; Mk 14:25), and the Bread of Life discourse of John (Jn 6:22-71.) [1333, 1334].

16. What are some alternate names for the sacrament of the Eucharist?

The inexhaustible richness of this sacrament is expressed in the different names that we give it. It is called the Lord's Supper because of the circumstances of its institution. It is called the Breaking of Bread because Jesus used this rite at the Last Supper, and some disciples recognized Jesus at the breaking of the bread on the road to Emmaus (Lk 24:13-35). It is called the Holy Sacrifice because it makes present the one sacrifice of Christ the Savior. The terms holy sacrifice of the Mass, sacrifice of praise, spiritual sacrifice, pure and holy sacrifice, are also used. The expression Holy and Divine Liturgy is used because the Church's whole liturgy finds its center and most intense expression in the celebration of this sacrament, which we call the Holy Mass or the celebration of the Sacred Mysteries. We also speak of Most Blessed Sacrament, bread of angels, bread from heaven, and medicine of immortality. It is called viaticum when given in conjunction with the sacrament Anointing of the Sick. [1324-1332, 1524].

17. What are the essential signs of this sacrament?

The essential signs of the Eucharistic sacrament are wheat bread and grape wine, on which the blessing of the Holy Spirit is invoked, and the priest pronounces the words of consecration "This is my body which will be given up for you .... This is the cup of my blood". [1412*, 1333].

18. What are the fruits of Holy Communion?

Holy Communion augments our union with Christ Jesus, making it an intimate union. Holy Communion provides nourishment for our spiritual life. It preserves, increases and renews the life of grace received at Baptism. Holy Communion separates us from sin, cleansing us from past sins, and helping to preserve from future sins. More specifically, it wipes away current venial sins, and gives us grace to resist committing future mortal sins. [1391-1396].

Intercommunion

19. Is intercommunion with other Christian churches permitted?

The Eastern (Orthodox) churches that are not in full communion with the Catholic Church possess true sacraments, including the priesthood and the Eucharist, whereby they are joined with us in closest intimacy. A certain communion in sacris, and so in the Eucharist, given suitable circumstances and the approval of Church authority, is not merely possible, but encouraged. There are Protestant communities derived from the Reformation and separated from the Catholic Church which have not preserved the proper reality of the Eucharistic mystery in its fullness, especially because of the absence of the sacrament of Holy Orders, and the belief that Christ is not truly present in the consecrated bread and wine. For these reasons Eucharistic intercommunion with these communities is not possible for Catholics. [1399, 1400].

20. Under what circumstances can Non-Catholics receive sacraments?

When in the Ordinary's judgment a grave necessity arises, Catholic ministers may give the sacraments of Eucharist, Penance and Anointing of the Sick to other Christians not in full communion with the Catholic Church, who ask for them of their own free will, provided they give evidence of holding the Catholic faith regarding these sacraments, and possess the required dispositions. [1399-1401].