Sacraments of
Initiation: The
Eucharist
CHAPTER 13
Eucharist: giving Thanks
• OLD TESTAMENT ROOTS
• The Passover Lamb
• Manna in the wilderness
• Todah – thank offering
• Instituted by Christ
• The Last Supper
• A pledge of his love
• The New Covenant
The Real Presence
• Gospel writers use “to be” –this is a literal
connotation, not a metaphorical one
• “Do this in memory of me” gives Apostles
authority to transform bread and wine into his
body and blood
• Substance is changed by Holy Spirit acting
through Christ. The Eucharist is Christ, under
the appearance of bread and wine.
The Real Presence
• Our human senses perceive bread and wine,
but we know through faith that Christ is truly
present.
• The change of bread and wine is referred to as
transubstantiation (CCC#1376)
• Really, truly, substantially present
• Sts. Ignatius of Antioch and Iranaeus of Lyons
The Real Presence
• Let’s watch a summary from a Youth Minister
to recap:
• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gs20m1mN
Gdw
Miracles of the Eucharist
• Lanciano, Italy: 8th century
• Bread and wine changed to flesh and blood
• Flesh has been tested; 1981 determined to be
heart tissue
• Bolsena, Italy: 13th century
• Blood seeped from the host
• Host and linen enshrined in Cathedral
Miracles of the Eucharist
• Amsterdam, Holland: 14th century
• Viaticum- Communion given on deathbed
• Unburned and cold to touch after being placed in
fire
• Siena, Italy: 18th century
• Ciborium with hosts stolen
• Returned and un-deteriorated 300 years later
• These miracles are private revelations, and not
added to the Deposit of Faith
Celebration of Eucharist
• A Holy Sacrifice
• The Holy Sacrifice of the Mass re-presents
Christ’s sacrifice on the Cross
• Christ’s sacrifice was perfect, only needing to
be offered once
• Eucharist is a “memorial” and a re-presentation
• We are able to participate in Christ’s Sacrifice in
the Mass
Celebration of Eucharist
• Celebrated as part of Mass.
• Outside of Mass, adoration, Benediction, and
Eucharistic processions allow Catholics to
worship the Real Presence of Jesus
• May be received outside of Mass by the sick,
hospitalized, homebound, or incarcerated.
Who can Receive?
• One must:
•
•
•
•
•
•
Be a baptized Catholic
Be in a state of grace
Be free of any awareness of mortal sin
Be prepared to understand Church teaching
Approach sacrament with reverence
Fast from food/drink for 1 hour
• First Communicants need instruction and to
have received Sacrament of Reconciliation
Who can Receive?
• Since the Eucharist is a sign of union
(communion), the Church does not permit
reception by non-Christians and separated
brethren
• Would represent union that does not exist
• This is the same reason Catholics shouldn’t receive
communion in Protestant churches
• Intercommunion between Catholics and Orthodox
is not permitted
Matter, Form, Minister
• Matter: Bread made from wheat flour, wine
from grapes
• In the Latin rite, bread must be UNLEAVENED
• Form: the words of Consecration pronounced
by priest acting in persona Christi
• Minister: priests, bishops, deacons
(distribution), extraordinary ministers (lay
people)
Structure of Mass
• Two Parts
• Liturgy of the Word: 1st half of Mass, including
all prayers and scripture readings until the
intercessions/petitions.
• Liturgy of the Eucharist: 2nd half of Mass,
preparation of the altar/gifts, prayers,
Consecration, peace, Holy Communion, and
Concluding Rite.
Liturgical Tour through
the Bible
• The Liturgical Year directs our scripture passages
used during Mass; cover most of the Bible in a
year just by attending Mass regularly
• Advent-Christmas
• Ordinary Time
• Lent-Easter
• Ordinary Time
• The Proper of Saints (Feast Days)
Rite of Holy Communion
• Christ becomes present in the Eucharist
• Frequent Communion is encouraged, but only
required once a year.
• Latin rite receives Communion just as we do at
Mass on Tuesdays.
• The Eastern Rite does it a little differently.
Eastern Reception of
Holy Communion
• Use leavened bread instead of unleavened
• Unleavened hosts offer both species through
intinction, dipping the host into the chalice
before consumption
• With leavened bread, the procedure is a little
different. A soaked cube of the consecrated
bread is placed in the communicant’s mouth
along with the priest’s statement.
Undistributed Hosts
• Those not consumed during Mass are reserved
in the tabernacle
• Can be used for communion rites outside of
Mass
• Christ is present there (in the Tabernacle)
• Adoration; Time in the Presence of Christ
An Ending or Beginning?
• Conclusion is a Commission: the Mass sends us
forth to bring the mystery of Christ into the
world
• Serve others and bring them to faith
Effects of the Eucharist
• The spiritual food converts us into Christ
• Graces received in the Eucharist
•
•
•
•
•
Strengthens and increases our union with Christ
Reinforces unity in the Church
Increases graces and virtues in the soul
Pardons venial sins
Helps preserve us from sin, strengthening us
against temptation through grace
• Decreases temporal punishment due for sins
committed (reducing our time in Purgatory)
Spiritual Communion
• A prayer in which we ask Christ to make
himself present in our souls in a spiritual
manner
• Spiritual communion may be received as often
as we say the prayer
• An example of this prayer is found on p. 301
Transformed by the Mass
• Called to fully conscious, active participation
• The Sunday Obligation
• A precept of the Church
• Mortal sin without serious reason
• HDO’s (10/6)
• Place of worship: The building becomes a visible
sign of the Church and therefore of Christ himself
• A symbolic passing from sinful world to new world
of heaven
Preparing for Mass
• How to develop proper dispositions
•
•
•
•
•
Be free from mortal sin
Receive the Sacrament of Reconciliation
Read the readings in advance
Arrive early –prayer and sacramentals
PARTICIPATE!!!
Adoration
• Silent adoration before the tabernacle
• Exposition/Benediction
• Perpetual adoration (chapels)
• Spiritual communion
• Eucharistic processions (Corpus Christi)
Pope Pius X and the
Eucharist
• Many devout Catholics considered themselves
unworthy and received the Sacrament
infrequently.
• He encouraged frequent, even daily, reception
of Holy Communion
• He lowered the age of First Communion
• He was canonized in 1954 and celebrates his
feast day on August 21.