talk about the eucharist as source and summit of christian life

1. RCIA – The Sacraments of Initiation,Week
#09
SOURCE AND SUMMIT
OF THE
CHRISTIAN LIFE

2. THE EUCHARIST
•is the source and summit of the
Christian life (cf. LG 11; CCC 1324)
•the Eucharist is the sum and
summary of our faith

3. THE EUCHARIST
•originates from the Greek
word eucharistia, meaning
thanksgiving.
•It is called: Eucharist, because it is an
action of thanksgiving to God. (CCC 1328)

4. THE EUCHARIST
•is how Catholics worship God as
members of Christ’s Body, the Church.
•Catholics in general realize in some way
that “going to Mass” is the most basic
action of Catholic worship.

5. MOTIVATION & UNDERSTANDING
• “have to go” to avoid mortal sin,
• to obey parents.
• Some go out of routine;
• social conformity, to be with their social group of
friends, or even to show off their new clothes.
• to win the favors sought from God.

6. DIFFERENT NAMES
• Lord's Supper
• Breaking of Bread
• Holy Sacrifice
• Holy and Divine Liturgy
• Sacred Mysteries
• Holy Communion

7. CHRIST INSTITUTED THE EUCHARIST
• Matthew 26:26-30
• Mark 14:22-26
• Luke 22:14-20
• 1 Corinthians 11:23-26
• John 6:22-59 (The Bread of Life Discourse)

8. "DO THIS IN MEMORY OF ME"
• The Eucharist, the sacrament of our salvation
accomplished by Christ on the cross (ccc 1359)
• The Eucharist is the memorial of Christ's Passover,
the making present and the sacramental offering of
his unique sacrifice (ccc1362)
• The Eucharist is thus a sacrifice because it re-
presents (makes present) the sacrifice of the cross (ccc
1366)

9. THIS IS MY BODY…
THIS IS MY BLOOD…
• In the most blessed sacrament of the Eucharist
"the body and blood, together with the soul and
divinity, of our Lord Jesus Christ and,
therefore, the whole Christ is truly, really, and
substantially contained. - Council of Trent (1551): DS 1651.
• "he is present ... most especially in the
Eucharistic species.

10. TRANSUBSTANTIATION
• that by the consecration of the bread and wine
there takes place a change
of the whole substance of the bread into the
substance of the body of Christ our Lord and of
the whole substance of the wine into the
substance of his blood. (ccc 1376)

11. •“The presence of Christ’s true body and
blood in this sacrament cannot be
detected by sense, nor understanding,
but by faith alone, which rests upon
divine authority” (Saint Thomas Aquinas)

12. "TAKE THIS AND EAT IT, ALL OF YOU":
COMMUNION
• The Lord addresses an invitation to us, urging us
to receive him in the sacrament of the Eucharist:
"Truly, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the
Son of man and drink his blood, you have no life
in you. (ccc 1384)
“sacrament of love, a sign of unity, a bond of charity, a Paschal
Banquet” 1382

13. TO RESPOND TO THIS INVITATION
•We must prepare ourselves
•We must be in a state of grace
•We must fast (ccc 1385-1387)

14. THE FRUITS OF HOLY COMMUNION
• Holy Communion augments our union
with Christ. 1391
•Holy Communion separates us from sin. 1393
•The unity of the Mystical Body: the
Eucharist makes the Church. 1396

15. TWO GREAT PARTS
•The liturgy of the Word and
•The liturgy of the Eucharist
together form "one single act of worship"

16. • the gathering, the liturgy of the Word, with
readings, homily and general intercessions;
• the liturgy of the Eucharist, with the
presentation of the bread and wine, the
consecratory thanksgiving, and communion.

17. THE FOUR SOLEMN ACTIONS OF CHRIST AT
THE LAST SUPPER
• “He took (Preparation of the Gifts),
• blessed (Eucharistic Prayer),
• broke (Breaking of the Bread), and
• gave (Communion) to his disciples”