The Eucharist
Communion with Christ
and with One Another
The Language of Communion
Communion is a relationship
......“union with”
It implies both the gift of
self and the reception of
the other person
Because it is a relationship of persons, it tends to involve the
whole self body, mind, spirit, emotions
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50th International Eucharistic Congress
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Communion and Trinity
Father, into your
hands I commend
my Spirit
This is my
beloved Son
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Eucharist as Communion
The first Eucharist was a
moment of particular
intimacy, between Jesus and
His disciples.
It involved
• gathering around a table
• talking & listening,
• giving & receiving;
• word, bread, wine and
• washing of feet.
 The whole event was communion
 The event comes to an end, but the communion continues
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50th International Eucharistic Congress
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Become what you Receive
In all of the Sacraments we tend to place the emphasis on
the event;
• The Baptism
• The First Communion
• The Wedding
but the importance of the Sacrament is in what happens to us,
(what we become )
• Members of God’s family; the Church
• The Body of Christ
• Husband & Wife ; family; one flesh
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50th International Eucharistic Congress
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Challenge for Eucharistic Communities
To help people grow into a spirituality of Communion
 Understanding the gift they have received
 Becoming that gift for others
(including the readiness to be blessed, broken and given)
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50th International Eucharistic Congress
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Go in Peace – To Love and Serve
Through the gift of Jesus which we have received,
we are drawn into communion with one another
and entrusted with mission:
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Family
Community
Reconciliation
Justice and peace
Liturgy
Care of the sick
Work for youth
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50th International Eucharistic Congress
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This Life and the Next
We are joined in Communion with
those who have gone before us
• The saints
• The faithful departed
who have been nourished at the
same table of God’s Word
and the Bread of Life
“and all who seek you with a
sincere heart (Euch. Prayer 4)
The image of the eternal banquet
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50th International Eucharistic Congress
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50th International Eucharistic Congress
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