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Holy Eucharist

The document outlines the significance of the Eucharist as the source and summit of Christian life, emphasizing its biblical foundation and the real presence of Christ in the elements of bread and wine. It traces the historical development of the Eucharist from the Last Supper through various centuries, highlighting its liturgical importance and the unity it fosters among believers. The document also explains the structure of the Liturgy of the Eucharist and the transformative nature of the sacrament.

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9 views23 pages

Holy Eucharist

The document outlines the significance of the Eucharist as the source and summit of Christian life, emphasizing its biblical foundation and the real presence of Christ in the elements of bread and wine. It traces the historical development of the Eucharist from the Last Supper through various centuries, highlighting its liturgical importance and the unity it fosters among believers. The document also explains the structure of the Liturgy of the Eucharist and the transformative nature of the sacrament.

Uploaded by

prishleyjohnb
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© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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HOLY EUCHARIST

OBJECTIVES

• To identify the Eucharist as the source of


summit of Christian life.
• To analyse its biblical foundation and real
presence of Christ.
• To demonstrate an understanding of its
liturgical significance in united believer to
Christ and to one another.
What is the Eucharist?
The Eucharist is the
source and summit of
the Christian life. The
term “ Eucharist”
originates from the
Greek word
“eucharistia” meaning
thanksgiving.
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. 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. This is what
the Church means when she
speaks of the "Real Presence" of
The early Church

- Church tradition teaches


how the Eucharist began
at the Last Supper and
how the early community
obeyed Jesus' command
to "break bread" in his
name (Acts 2:42).
Second and third centuries

Once the apostolic community was no


longer on the scene, the developing liturgy
increasingly used, read and reflected on the
writings of the first-generation leaders such
as Paul
Fourth to Eight Centuries

Fourth to eighth centuries Constantine's


tolerance of Christianity (313C.E.) led to its rapid
spread throughout the Roman Empire. This led to
significant changes in the celebration of
the liturgy.
Latin became the standard language of the
liturgy (384C.E.), as it was now the common
language of the Roman world.
Origins

The Eucharist traces back


to Jesus' Last Supper with His
apostles (Luke 22:19-20).
During this meal: Jesus broke
bread and shared wine,
saying, “This is my body... This
is my blood...” He commanded
them to "do this in memory of
me," establishing it as a
sacred ritual for His followers.
Significance Spiritual
Nourishment: The Eucharist
strengthens faith and fosters
a deeper connection with
Christ. Remembrance: It
commemorates Christ's
sacrifice on the cross. Unity:
It unites the faithful as one
Body of Christ, reinforcing
community and shared belief.
The Institution of the Eucharist is
written down in the four Gospels
below:
• Matthew 26:26-30 *
• Mark 14:22-26 *
• Luke 22:14-20 *
• John 6:22-59
Matthew 26:26-30
(The Institution of
the Lord's Supper):
Mark 14:22-26 (The
Institution of the
Lord's Supper):
Luke 22:14-20
(The Institution of
the Lord's Supper)
John 6:22-59 (The
Bread of Life
Discourse)
Why does Jesus give himself to us as
food and drink?
Jesus gives himself to us in the Eucharist as
spiritual nourishment because he loves us. By eating
the Body and drinking the Blood of Christ in the
Eucharist, we become united to the person of Christ
through his humanity. "Whoever eats my flesh and
drinks my blood remains in me and I in him" (Jn 6:56).
In being united to the humanity of Christ, we are at the
same time united to his divinity. Our mortal and
corruptible natures are transformed by being joined to
the source of life.
Is the Eucharist a symbol?
The transformed bread and wine are truly the
Body and Blood of Christ and are not merely
symbols. When Christ said “This is my body” and
“This is my blood,” the bread and wine are
transubstantiated. Though the bread and wine
appear the same to our human faculties, they are
actually the real body and blood of Jesus.
The Liturgy of the Eucharist

The Liturgy of the Eucharist begins with the


preparation of the gifts and the altar. As the
ministers prepare the altar, representatives of the
people bring forward the bread and wine that will
become the Body and Blood of Christ.
The Eucharistic Prayer

The Eucharistic Prayer is the heart of the


Liturgy of the Eucharist. In this prayer, the
celebrant acts in the person of Christ as
head of his body, the Church. He gathers not
only the bread and the wine, but the
substance of our lives and joins them to
Christ's perfect sacrifice, offering them to the
Father.
The following timeline follows the traditional Liturgy of the Eucharist:
* Presentation of the Gifts and Preparation of the Altar
* Prayer over the Offering
• Eucharistic Prayer
• * Preface
• * Holy, Holy, Holy

• First half of prayer, including Consecration


• Mystery of Faith * Second half of prayer, ending with Doxology
• * The Lord's Prayer
• * Sign of Peace * Lamb of God * Communion * Prayer after Communion

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