Chapter 17 — "Sacrament of The Eucharist: Source and Summit of the Christian Life"

OPENING PRAYER

An Act of Spiritual Communion

My Jesus,
I believe that You are present in the Most Holy Sacrament.
I love You above all things,
and I desire to receive You into my soul.
Since I cannot at this moment receive You sacramentally,
come at least spiritually into my heart.
I embrace You as if You were already there
and unite myself wholly to You.
Never permit me to be separated from You.

Amen.

(St. Alphonus Liguori)
"EUCHARIST: SOURCE AND SUMMIT OF THE CHRISTIAN LIFE"
—CCC, Nos. 1285–1321
How do you nourish your body, your mind, your heart, your relationships, and your soul or spirit?

The holy Eucharist completes Christian initiation. The origin of the Eucharist is found in the Last Supper that Jesus shared with his Apostles. (See Mt.26:17-29; Mk 14:22-25; Lk 22:7-20; cf. 1 Cor 11:23-26). “The Eucharist is the memorial of Christ’s saving life, death, and Resurrection, made present for our salvation by the action of the liturgy.” As Jesus instructed, “Unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you do not have life within you” (Jn 6:51, 53).

The offering of bread and wine in worship is found very early in Scripture (cf. Gn 14:18). This is expanded through the Passover Meal with the Israelites sharing the sacrificial lamb and the blessing of bread and wine as a sign of God’s delivering them from slavery in Egypt (cf. Ex 12).

Jesus’ institution of the Eucharist, his death on the Cross, and his resurrection, gave final meaning to the blessing of the bread and wine, and the sacrifice of the lamb. As John the Baptist proclaimed about Jesus, “Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world” (Jn 1:29).

By his words, “Do this in memory of me,” Jesus commanded the Apostles and their successors to repeat Jesus’ actions and words “until he comes again.” The Church has remained faithful to this command from the earliest times right up through the present day.

At Liturgy, the “transubstantiation” of the bread and wine into the Body and Blood of Christ occurs at consecration by the power of the Holy Spirit, through the ministry of the Priest acting in the person of Christ. Although the outer appearances—such as color, weight, taste, and form—of the bread and wine remain the same as they did before consecration, through faith we believe the underlying and true reality of the consecrated bread and wine are substantially changed and truly become the whole and entire person of the Lord, Jesus Christ, with his glorified human body and soul, and his full divinity.

The Eucharist is a thanksgiving and celebration of Christ’s Real Presence among us, which brings about our unity and reconciliation as the Mystical Body of Christ. Our communion with the Body and Blood of Christ also increases our union with the Lord, forgives us our venial sins, and preserves us from grave sin.

We can visit the Blessed Sacrament to express our gratitude and adoration towards Christ, our Lord.

Let us become and witness to others what we have received, the Body of Christ.

Please read this week USCCA,Chapter 17, "The Eucharist: Source and Summit of the Christian Life," (pages 213–232), the CCC, Nos. 1322–1419, (pages 334–356), and the Compendium, Nos. 271–294
VIDEOS

"The Sacrament of  Holy Eucharist" (USCCB)

"The Real Presence of Christ in the Eucharist" (Bishop Robert Barron)

"The Sacrament of the Eucharist as Real Presence" (Bishop Robert Barron)

"The Sacrament of the Eucharist as Sacrifice" (Bishop Robert Barron)

"The Sacrament of the Eucharist as Meal" (Bishop Robert Barron)

"Eucharistic Adoration" (Bishop Robert Barron)
"The Truth About the Eucharist" (Fr. Mike Schmitz)

"The Eucharist" (Fr. Mike Schmitz)

"How the Eucharist Changed My Life" (Fr. Mike Schmitz)

"Why Non-Catholics Can't Receive Communion" (Fr. Mike Schmitz)

"What Happens to the Bread and Wine?" (Bishop Don Hying)

"Sacraments 101 - Eucharist (How We Receive)"

"First Communion" (Syracuse Diocese)

"Catholics Misunderstanding the Eucharist" (Bishop Robert Barron)

"Eucharist - Introduction" - CCC 1322-1344 (Fr. Daniel Mahan)

"Eucharist, Liturgy, Sacrifice" - CCC 1345-1372 (Fr. Daniel Mahan)

"Eucharist - Real Presence" - CCC 1373-1381 (Fr. Daniel Mahan)

"Eucharist - Banquet and Pledge" - CCC 1382-1419 (Fr. Daniel Mahan)
MUSIC

"One Bread, One Body" John Michael Talbot

"I Received the Living God" (OCP Session Choir)

"You Satisfy the Hungry Heart - Gift of Finest Wheat" (Vince Ambrosetti)

"Let Us Break Bread Together"

"Table of Plenty" (Dan Shutte)

"We Remember" (John Michael Talbot)

"I Am the Bread of Life" (Cathedral Singers)
OTHER RESOURCES

"The Eucharist" (USCCB)

Rediscovering the Mass   Overview and Resources (USCCB)

"Liturgy of the Eucharist" (USCCB)

"Celebrating the Lord's Day" (USCCB)

The Eucharistic Liturgy - Formed, Transformed and Sent” (USCCB)

"Liturgical Participation" (USCCB)

"Liturgy and Life" (USCCB)

"Eucharist - Body of Christ – Broken for the World"; (USCCB)

"Guidelines for the Reception of Communion" (USCCB)

"The Real Presence of Jesus Christ in the Sacrament of the Eucharist: Basic Questions and Answers" (USCCB)

"General Instruction of the Roman Missal" ("GIRM") (USCCB)

Links to Other Sacrament Resources Available on this blogsite
REFLECT ON YOUR EXPERIENCE

How does the Eucharist nourish and transform your life?

How are you the "Body of Christ" at home, at work, at school, with the poor, hungry, and homeless?
We encourage and invite you to  spend time to reflect, pray, and write in your journal about what you have read, seen, heard, or experienced this week. You can find some questions you may wish to consider here.
Glory be to the Father and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit,
as it was in the beginning, in now, and ever shall be.
Amen.