EUCHARIST 

Catechism #1322-1419

 

CPPoole, Jr., June 13, 2001, revised July 24, 2005

 

Outline

 

 1.  Old Testament Precursors

 2.  New Testament Development

 3.  Presence of God

 4.  Real Presence

 5.  Beliefs of Other Christians

 6.  Symbolism of Bread and Wine

 7.  The Mass

 

1. Old Testament Precursors

 

Sacrifice of Abraham:  Gen 22

Melchizedek, king of Salem, priest of God most high,

    brought bread and wine and said the blessing: Gen 14

Passover ritual meal includes eating lamb with the blood

    of the lamb smeared on the door: Ex 12

Manna for food dropped from above during the Exodus: Ex 16

 

2. New Testament Development

 

Cana, changing water to wine: Jn 2

Bread of life discourse: Jn 6:47-69

"My flesh is food indeed, and my blood drink indeed"

There are four accounts of the last supper consecration

       Mt 26: 26-28, Mk: 14 22-25, Lk: 22 20,  1 Cor 10:16. 

On the road to Emmaus, Jesus was recognized at     

       the breaking of the bread: Lk 24 13-35

       Paul in Heb: 9:11-14 "the blood of Christ - purifies our                          

            conscience - to serve the living God" 

Acts of apostles recount breaking the bread        

       Acts 2 42-47; 20 7.11; 27 35.    

     

3. Presence of God

 

God is in the world sustaining it

Christ is guiding his church

God is present to us during prayer

God is present in the scriptures

God is present in other sacraments by

       their bestowal of grace

Christ is present during the entire Mass

Christ is in the Eucharist in a special way

       denoted by the term real presence

The presence of Jesus persists as long as

the bread and wine remain

 

4. Real Presence  

 

Bread and wine are transformed into the

       body and blood of Christ at the

       consecration of Mass

The change is real - bread and wine cease to

       exist except for their appearances,

The body and blood of Jesus truly exist but the

       appearances of the bread and wine remain  

Mass is a true channel of grace,

       as is receiving communion

In Mass the priest does in time and space what

       is perpetual in heaven

 

5. Beliefs of Other Christians

 

Catholics hold transubstantiation, change of bread

       and wine into the body and blood of Christ

Lutherans hold consubstantiation -  bread and

       wine and Jesus’ body and blood coexist together

Calvinists (Presbyterians) hold a symbolic belief with the  

Eucharist being truly grace bearing

Dialogues of Catholics with Anglicans, Lutherans, reformed

     Churches, etc., are approaching each other in belief 

All agree on a sacrificial aspect and on a real presence

 

 6. Symbolism of Bread and Wine

 

Jesus Christ whole and entire is present in

       bread and wine individually

       so only one species need be received

Separation of the two species is symbolic of his death      

       which entailed separation of the soul and loss of blood

A particle of the consecrated host is dropped into the       

       chalice containing the precious blood during Mass

 

7. The Mass

 

The Mass is the worship service for consecrating the        

      Eucharist and distributing it to the people. 

1st part - penitential service - asking forgiveness for sins

2nd part - liturgy of the word - selections from scripture

       are read and commented upon during the homily

3rd part - liturgy of the Eucharist - the priest consecrates

bread and wine - transforming them into the

body and blood of Jesus 

The Eucharist is then distributed to the people

There is a short concluding rite

  

CPPoole, Jr., June 13, 2001, revised July 24, 2005