THE HOLY EUCHARIST
Amen, amen, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you do not have life within you.
Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise him on the last day.
For my flesh is true food, and my blood is true drink. . . .
Just as the living Father sent me and I have life because of the Father,
so also the one who feeds on me will have life because of me.
(Jn 6:53- 57)
The page below aims to help you with understanding what the Eucharist is, the Mystery of the Eucharistic Sacrifice, the Importance of Transubstantiation, the Real Presence of Jesus in the Eucharist, the place of the Tabernacle and Eucharistic Adoration in the Blessed Sacrament and the gift of Celebrating the Eucharist on the Lord's Day Sunday.
Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise him on the last day.
For my flesh is true food, and my blood is true drink. . . .
Just as the living Father sent me and I have life because of the Father,
so also the one who feeds on me will have life because of me.
(Jn 6:53- 57)
The page below aims to help you with understanding what the Eucharist is, the Mystery of the Eucharistic Sacrifice, the Importance of Transubstantiation, the Real Presence of Jesus in the Eucharist, the place of the Tabernacle and Eucharistic Adoration in the Blessed Sacrament and the gift of Celebrating the Eucharist on the Lord's Day Sunday.
Eucharist
Eucharist is a Greek word for thanksgiving and a term we also use for the Mass. At the institution of the Eucharist, the Last Supper, Jesus gave thanks, before sacrificing His life offered in gratitude to God. In his sacrifice on Calvary he left us a Sacrament of Love, a bond of charity, a sign of unity. The Eucharist is therefore both a Sacrament and a Sacrifice.
The Real Presence of Christ becomes truly present to the Church in and through the Eucharistic Sacrifice. There is no presence of Christ in the Blessed Sacrament that is not meant first and foremost as food for the faithful people, and there is no sacramental union with Christ in Holy Communion that is not to be thought of as a sacrificial meal: 'For as often as you shall eat this bread, and drink the chalice, you shall show the death of the Lord, until he come' (1 Cor 11:26). The Eucharistic meal can only be prepared in the sacrifice of the Mass.
The Real Presence of Christ becomes truly present to the Church in and through the Eucharistic Sacrifice. There is no presence of Christ in the Blessed Sacrament that is not meant first and foremost as food for the faithful people, and there is no sacramental union with Christ in Holy Communion that is not to be thought of as a sacrificial meal: 'For as often as you shall eat this bread, and drink the chalice, you shall show the death of the Lord, until he come' (1 Cor 11:26). The Eucharistic meal can only be prepared in the sacrifice of the Mass.
The Mystery of the Eucharist
Thus the mystery of the Eucharist summarizes the whole mystery of our redemption. There are two fundamental relationships in which Christ stands to us. First, he is our priestly mediator with God, and offers him atonement for our sins. Bust Christ is not a stranger to us, who merely represents us as a propitiator before God. He comes to us in the second relationship by being the mediator of the grace which God gives us on account of his sacrifice. That is the mystery of our union with Christ who is the source of all grace for us. 'And of his fullness we have all received, grace for grace' (John 1:16).
Why a mystery?
The word "mystery" is commonly used to refer to something that escapes the full comprehension of the human mind. In the Bible, however, the word has a deeper and more specific meaning, for it refers to aspects of God's plan of salvation for humanity, which has already begun but will be completed only with the end of time. In ancient Israel, through the Holy Spirit God revealed to the prophets some of the secrets of what he was going to accomplish for the salvation of his people (cf. Am 3:7; Is 21:28; Dan 2:27-45). Likewise, through the preaching and teaching of Jesus, the mystery of "the Kingdom of God" was being revealed to his disciples (Mk 4:11-12). St. Paul explained that the mysteries of God may challenge our human understanding or may even seem to be foolishness, but their meaning is revealed to the People of God through Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit (cf. 1 Cor 1:18-25, 2:6-10; Rom 16:25-27; Rev 10:7). The Eucharist is a mystery because it participates in the mystery of Jesus Christ and God's plan to save humanity through Christ. We should not be surprised if there are aspects of the Eucharist that are not easy to understand, for God's plan for the world has repeatedly surpassed human expectations and human understanding (cf. Jn 6:60-66).
Why a mystery?
The word "mystery" is commonly used to refer to something that escapes the full comprehension of the human mind. In the Bible, however, the word has a deeper and more specific meaning, for it refers to aspects of God's plan of salvation for humanity, which has already begun but will be completed only with the end of time. In ancient Israel, through the Holy Spirit God revealed to the prophets some of the secrets of what he was going to accomplish for the salvation of his people (cf. Am 3:7; Is 21:28; Dan 2:27-45). Likewise, through the preaching and teaching of Jesus, the mystery of "the Kingdom of God" was being revealed to his disciples (Mk 4:11-12). St. Paul explained that the mysteries of God may challenge our human understanding or may even seem to be foolishness, but their meaning is revealed to the People of God through Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit (cf. 1 Cor 1:18-25, 2:6-10; Rom 16:25-27; Rev 10:7). The Eucharist is a mystery because it participates in the mystery of Jesus Christ and God's plan to save humanity through Christ. We should not be surprised if there are aspects of the Eucharist that are not easy to understand, for God's plan for the world has repeatedly surpassed human expectations and human understanding (cf. Jn 6:60-66).
The Importance of Transubstantiation
The conversion of the substance of the Eucharistic elements into the body and blood of Christ at consecration, only the appearances of bread and wine still remaining.
The Real Presence
The fullness of Christ the Lord The Body and Blood Soul and Divinity of the Lord
Recalling these words of Jesus, the Catholic Church professes that, in the celebration of the Eucharist, bread and wine become the Body and Blood of Jesus Christ through the power of the Holy Spirit and the instrumentality of the priest. Jesus said: "I am the living bread that came down from heaven; whoever eats this bread will live forever; and the bread that I will give is my flesh for the life of the world. . . . For my flesh is true food, and my blood is true drink" (Jn 6:51-55). The whole Christ is truly present, body, blood, soul, and divinity, under the appearances of bread and wine—the glorified Christ who rose from the dead after dying for our sins. This is what the Church means when she speaks of the "Real Presence" of Christ in the Eucharist. This presence of Christ in the Eucharist is called "real" not to exclude other types of his presence as if they could not be understood as real (cf. Catechism, no. 1374). The risen Christ is present to his Church in many ways, but most especially through the sacrament of his Body and Blood.
Recalling these words of Jesus, the Catholic Church professes that, in the celebration of the Eucharist, bread and wine become the Body and Blood of Jesus Christ through the power of the Holy Spirit and the instrumentality of the priest. Jesus said: "I am the living bread that came down from heaven; whoever eats this bread will live forever; and the bread that I will give is my flesh for the life of the world. . . . For my flesh is true food, and my blood is true drink" (Jn 6:51-55). The whole Christ is truly present, body, blood, soul, and divinity, under the appearances of bread and wine—the glorified Christ who rose from the dead after dying for our sins. This is what the Church means when she speaks of the "Real Presence" of Christ in the Eucharist. This presence of Christ in the Eucharist is called "real" not to exclude other types of his presence as if they could not be understood as real (cf. Catechism, no. 1374). The risen Christ is present to his Church in many ways, but most especially through the sacrament of his Body and Blood.
The Tabernacle
Because Christ himself is present in the sacrament of the altar, he is to be honored with the worship of adoration. "To visit the Blessed Sacrament is . . . a proof of gratitude, an expression of love, and a duty of adoration toward Christ our Lord"
Pope Paul VI
Pope Paul VI
According to Jewish usage, the tabernacle was a shrine or sanctuary, shaped like a tent that represented God's special presence among his people.
For Catholic's reserving the Blessed Sacrament started in the 4th century so that Communion of the Sick might be available. At times it was kept in the sacristy or elsewhere. By the 16th century usually, it was reserved in the tabernacle on the main altar.
Since the reform brought about by the Second Vatican Council where appropriate the proper place for the Blessed Sacrament would be a chapel or side altar in the church suitable for private adoration and prayer. In most churches in this country, you will find the tabernacle on the sanctuary behind the altar.
Near or close to the tabernacle is a burning sanctuary light indicating the presence of the Eucharist/Jesus kept in the tabernacle.
The only time when the Blessed Sacrament isn't reserved in the tabernacle is in the presence of the diocesan bishop of the diocese when he visits the parish for Mass, as the bishop represents the fullness of Christ in his ministry. And also on Good Friday the only day in the churches liturgical year when the Eucharist isn't celebrated.
For Catholic's reserving the Blessed Sacrament started in the 4th century so that Communion of the Sick might be available. At times it was kept in the sacristy or elsewhere. By the 16th century usually, it was reserved in the tabernacle on the main altar.
Since the reform brought about by the Second Vatican Council where appropriate the proper place for the Blessed Sacrament would be a chapel or side altar in the church suitable for private adoration and prayer. In most churches in this country, you will find the tabernacle on the sanctuary behind the altar.
Near or close to the tabernacle is a burning sanctuary light indicating the presence of the Eucharist/Jesus kept in the tabernacle.
The only time when the Blessed Sacrament isn't reserved in the tabernacle is in the presence of the diocesan bishop of the diocese when he visits the parish for Mass, as the bishop represents the fullness of Christ in his ministry. And also on Good Friday the only day in the churches liturgical year when the Eucharist isn't celebrated.
Eucharistic Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament
You may hear many different names for the same thing: adoration, holy hour, eucharistic adoration, perpetual adoration, all night vigil, forty hours of devotion, eucharistic procession. While the service/liturgy may differ, the same principle of adoring Jesus real presence in the Blessed Sacrament while being exposed in the monstrance is the same. It's a tradition that began as late as the 12th century to honour the eucharistic species and is a powerful way outside of Mass to pray even today. Indeed some say it is an extension of the Mass itself, because we come to meet the Lord.
The Gift of the Lord's Day Sunday
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