THE SACRAMENT OF THE

HOLY EUCHARIST
 WHAT IS THE HOLY COMMUNION OR EUCHARIST?

• Eucharist, in Greek, means thanksgiving or to give thanks. The sacrament is so-called because when Christ
instituted it, He gave thanks. Today, it is the chief means by which we give thanks to God, through the Holy
Sacrifice of the Mass.
The Holy Eucharist is a sacrament and a sacrifice in which Our Savior Jesus Christ, body and blood, soul and
divinity, is contained, offered, and received under the appearance of bread and wine.
Christ instituted the Eucharist at the last Supper, the night before He died.
The Eucharist holds first place among all the other Sacraments in dignity, because through it the soul not only
receives grace but the Author of grace, Christ Himself.
NAMES GIVEN TO THE EUCHARIST
1. Holy Eucharist – it s an action of thanksgiving to God.
The Lord’s Supper – it’s connection with the Last Supper
The Breaking of Bread – because Jesus used this rite when He institute the Eucharist, ‘he broke
bread’
Eucharistic Assembly – because the Eucharist is celebrated amid the assembly of the faithful
Memorial – of the Lord’s Passion and Resurrection
Holy Sacrifice – because it makes present the one sacrifice of Christ the Savior
Holy and Divine Liturgy – because the Church’s whole liturgy finds its center and most intense
expression in the celebration of this sacrament
Most Blessed Sacrament – because it is the sacrament of sacraments
Holy Communion – because by this sacrament we unite ourselves to Christ who makes us sharers in His
Body and Blood to form a single body
Holy Mass – because the liturgy in which the mystery of salvation is accomplished concludes with the
sending forth (mission) of the faithful, so that they may fulfill God’s will in their lives.
HOW DID CHRIST INSTITUTE THE HOLY EUCHARIST?
Christ instituted the Eucharist in this way: He took bread, blessed and broke it, and giving it to His Apostles, said: “Take and eat;
this is My Body” ,then He took a cup of wine, blessed it, and giving it to them, said: “All of you drink this; for this is My Blood of the
new covenant which is being shed for many unto the forgiveness of sins”, finally, He gave His Apostles the commission: “Do this in
memory of Me.” (Mt. 26:26-28)

WHAT ARE THE EFFECTS OF THE SACRAMENT?

1. The Eucharist preserves and increases sanctifying grace.
it deepens charity in the soul, thus uniting it more closely to Christ and to the members of the mystical body.
It heals the soul of venial sins, remits temporal punishment, and curbs evil tendencies.
it strengthens the soul to live virtuously.
It is a pledge (guarantee) of future glory.
 WHY DO WE BELIEVE THAT CHRIST CHNAGED BREAD AND WINE INTO
HIS OWN BODY AND BLOOD?

• Because His words clearly say so. At the last Supper He said: “This is my Body,” not “This is
the symbol of My Body,” or “This represents My Body.
• Prior to the Last Supper, Jesus promised to give His flesh to eat and His blood to drink. (Jn 6:48-57)
The Apostles understood that Christ meant His words at the last Supper to be literal. St. Paul
writes: (1 Cor. 10:16;11:27).
It has been the continuous belief of Christians from the beginning of Christianity. St. Augustine
said, “Our Lord held Himself in His own hands, when He gave His body to the disciples.” It was
only in the 16th Century that some Protestants, breaking away from the Church, denied it and
introduced a different doctrine.
HOW WAS OUR LORD ABLE TO CHANGE BREAD AND WINE INTO HIS BODY
AND BLOOD?

• Our Lord was able to change bread and wine into His body and Blood by his almighty power

HOW DO PRIEST EXERCISE THEIR POWER TO CHANGE BREAD AND WINE INTO
THE BODY AND BLOOD OF CHRIST?
• Priest exercise their power to change bread and wine into the body of Christ by repeating at the
consecration of the mass the word of Christ. “This is my body… this is my blood.”
WHY DOES CHRIST GIVE US HIS OWN BODY AND BLOOD IN THE HOLY
EUCHARIST
• To be offered as a sacrifice commemorating and renewing the sacrifice of the cross.
To be received in Holy Communion – The Holy Eucharist is food to nourish the soul. By this food, we are also united to Christ.
The Mass is the chief and central act of Catholic worship, the greatest act of worship that can be offered to God.

WHY IS THE MASS THE SAME AS THE SACRIFICE OF THE CROSS?

• The Mass is the same sacrifice as the sacrifice on the cross, because in the Mass the Victim is the same, and the principal
Priest is the same, Jesus Christ.
The Mass is the very same sacrifice which was offered up at the Last Supper and on Calvary; it is the living presence of the
sacrifice of the Cross.
The priest offering the mass is Christ’s minister and representative. He utters the words of consecration in the name
and person of Christ, saying: “This is My Body, This is My Blood;” not, “This is Christ’s Body, etc.”
WHAT IS THE PURPOSE OF THE MASS?
• To adore God as our Creator (Adoration)
To thank God for His many favors (Thanksgiving)
To ask God to bestow His blessings on all men (Petition)
To satisfy the justice of God for the sins committed against Him (Atonement)

MATTER AND FORM OF THE MASS

• Bread and wine are used for consecration at Mass; wine is mixed with a small amount of water – Christ did so.
-The bread for consecration is made from pure wheat flour mixed with water and baked. No other flour may be used.

WHERE IS THE SACRIFICE OF THE MASS OFFERED?

• The sacrifice of the mass is offered on a consecrated altar
 PARTS OF THE MASS

1. Entrance Procession -help the celebrant and faithful to prepare themselves for the worthy celebration of the
Mass
Sign of the Cross
Greetings
Penitential Rite
Kyrie
Gloria
Collect or Opening Prayer
I. LITURGY OF THE WORD
1. First Reading
Responsorial Psalm
Second Reading
Alleluia
Gospel
Homily
Profession of Faith or Creed
Prayers of the Faithful -by this
prayer, in which the people are to take part, intercession are made for the
Holy Church, for the civil authorities, for those oppressed by various needs,
for all mankind and for the salvation of the whole world.A
II. LITURGY OF THE WORD
1. Offertory
Prayer over the gifts
Preface – solemn recall of God’s gifts to us, which breaks into a hymn of
thanksgiving through Christ our Lord.
Sanctus
Consecration
Doxology
The Great Amen
The Lord’s Prayer
Greeting of Peace
The Lamb of God
Communion
Post Communion Prayer
Dismissal
Recessional
HOLY COMMUNION
• the receiving of Jesus Christ in the sacrament of the Holy Eucharist
communion means a uniting or sharing together. In Holy Communion Christ and our soul
are intimately united, and we share the banquet of spiritual nourishment at the
Lord’s table.
• We are obliged to receive communion during Easter time of the year. This is called
the Paschal Communion, part of our Easter duty.

ESTABLISHED BY CHRIST
• Jesus was able to change bread and wine into His Body and Blood by His almighty power.
-Priests exercise their power to change bread and wine into the Body and Blood of Christ by
repeating at the consecration of the Mass the words of Christ: “This is My body…this is
my Blood.”
 WHAT IS NECESSARY TO RECIEVE COMMUNION WORTHILY?
• To receive communion worthily, it is necessary to be free from mortal sin, and to keep the Eucharistic fast.
One who knowingly receives Holy Communion in mortal sin receives the body and blood of Christ, but does not receive His graces, and
commits a grave sin of sacrilege.Venial sins do not and should not prevent our going to Holy Communion.
The Mass is the chief and central act of Catholic worship, the greatest act of worship that can be offered to God.

The essential effect of Holy Communion is union with Christ.

The efficacy of the Mass does not depend on the worthiness or unworthiness of the priest; he is only the minister of Christ, who is both
priest and victim. The value of the Mass is of itself, quite apart from the worthiness of the priest. For this reason, we do not lose the
merits of the Mass if it is offered for us by a priest who is not worthy, since Mass has its intrinsic value.

-Mass is celebrated every day of the year except Good Friday and Holy Saturday.