The Eucharist, also known as Communion or the Mass, is considered the most important sacrament in the Catholic Church as through it Catholics believe that the bread and wine truly become the body and blood of Christ; the Eucharist unites Catholics as members of the Church and nourishes them spiritually. The Mass follows a specific structure including the Liturgy of the Word, presentation of gifts, Eucharistic prayer, and sending forth to live out Catholic beliefs in daily life.

1. THE SACRAMENT
OF EUCHARIST

2. The Eucharist (or Mass) is
one of the three
sacraments of initiation
(Baptism, Eucharist and
Confirmation together
constitute full initiation.)
It is the MOST important
prayer and action of the
Church and for the
individual Catholic.

3. The real presence
refers to the
miracle of Christ’s
presence under the
species of bread
and wine.
The bread and the
wine becomes the
body and blood of
Christ in a
substantial way.
The word “transubstantiation” refers to the substantial presence of
Christ in the bread and wine even though the “accidents” or
appearance does not change. St. Thomas Aquinas coined the term.

4. THE EUCHARIST IS OFTEN
REFERRED TO AS HOLY COMMUNION?
We become members
of the one body of
Christ when we eat of
the one bread and
wine.
In the sharing of
Eucharist, we
become one in Christ.

5. THE WORD “EUCHARIST”
Means “to give thanks”
As we gather for the
celebration, each to his/her proper
role, enters fully into the
Mass, because it is both the right and
duty of the baptized person to do so.

6. GIVING THANKS….
In our lives, how do we show
thanks?
What words do we use?
Facial expressions, body
language?
Actions?
Thoughts, feelings?

7. Full, active
participation in Mass is:
a right because the
Eucharist, provides the
nourishment and grace
we need to live out our
baptismal call.
It is a duty
because without the
Eucharist, we cannot
fully live the life to
which God calls us.

8. The Constitution on Sacred Liturgy
(Sacrosanctum Concilium) is the Vatican
II document that legislates liturgy.
The Roman Missal
outlines the rubrics, ritual prayers,
gestures and postures of the Church
when gathered for ritual prayer.
LITURGY IN THE
ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH

9. The word “liturgy”
originally meant:
1. a public work
2. a service in the
name of/ on behalf of
the people.
The Christian
meaning of the word
“liturgy” is
“participation in the
work of God”. (CCC
1069)

10. LITURGY IS
• Public
•Communal
•Ritual
Prayer of the
Church.

11. LITURGY IS WORSHIP
Worship was the first area to be
considered at the Second Vatican
Council.
Worship is the way in which we praise and
give glory to God.
Worship is foundational to all the work of the
Church; it is the MOST important action of
the Church. Everything else flows from and
toward worship.

12. FOUR IDEALS FROM VATICAN II
1. The Christian life is to be lived with
vigor
2. The Church needs to change to meet
the needs of the world – The Church
brings Christ to all people, all times, all
cultures
3. The Church is not united, but unity is
desired
4. The Church has much to offer the world

13. EUCHARIST…
is source and summit of Christian
living – source, because we receive the
grace we need to live the life to which God
calls us, and summit because at Mass we
have the most intimate connection with
Christ that is possible in this life.
It is a sign and instrument of
unity.
• Eucharist both demonstrates
unity and makes unity possible.

14. CHRIST IS TRULY PRESENT
AT MASS IN FOUR WAYS:
The gathered assembly
The Word proclaimed
The person of the Priest
The consecrated bread and wine

15. STRUCTURE OF MASS
Liturgy of Word
Liturgy of Eucharist

16. GATHERING RITES: A TIME FOR UNITY
Coming from our individual lives, bound
by our common baptism, we form the
Body of Christ, the Assembly.
Penitential Rite acknowledges
individual responsibility to the
community.

17. LITURGY OF THE WORD: A TIME TO LISTEN
Share the stories of faith:
First Reading
Psalm
Second Reading
Gospel
Homily

18. LITURGY OF THE WORD
 In Scripture, it is God who speaks directly to us,
individually and as a community
 Dei Verbum (Constitution on Divine Revelation)
defines Catholic understanding of Scripture.
 Three-year cycle for Sunday Lectionary (2 year-cycle
for daily readings)
 Homily opens Scriptures for the gathered assembly.

19. TRANSITIONING FROM WORD TO
EUCHARIST
Recitation of Creed (Nicene or
Apostles)
Prayers of the Faithful

20. LITURGY OF EUCHARIST
Collection of gifts
Presentation of gifts
Early Church practices contained in current
prayers and gestures
We place ourselves, along with the bread
and wine, on the altar, asking that we, too, be
transformed.

21. LITURGY OF EUCHARIST
Eucharistic Prayer
Our Father
Sign of Peace
Sharing in meal: we become what we consume:
Real Presence of Christ
Sending to bring Christ to the world, to do the
essential work of the laity: to make the world
holy.

22. THE EFFECTS OF EUCHARIST
Augments our union with Christ
Increases unity within the Church and among other
Christians
Forgives venial sins and preserves us from future mortal
sins
Commits us to the poor
Strengthens us to overcome the pain and burden of
everyday life
Grace (Holiness)
Power to love and to live like Christ
Eternal life

23. FORM OF THE SACRAMENT
The Consecration of the Bread and wine occurs
when the priest says the words of institution,
given to us by Christ:
Take this, all of you, and eat of it, for this is my
Body, which will be given up for you.
Take this, all of you, and drink from it, for thei sis
the chalice of my Blood, the Blood of a new and
eternal covenant, which will be poured out for
you and for many for the forgiveness of sins.
Do this in memory of me.

24. MATTER OF THE SACRAMENT
• Wheat bread
• Wine made of grapes
MINISTER OF THE SACRAMENT OF EUCHARIST
• Nobody says Mass like a priest.
• Priests, bishops (the Pope is the
Bishop of Rome.)

25. REQUIREMENTS OF THE SACRAMENT
• In the Roman Rite, reaching the age of reason
(in Eastern rite, at time of baptism.)
• Being in a state of grace (no mortal sins)
• One-hour fast from food and drink (except
water) before receiving
• Must be received at least once a year, during
the Easter season.

26. WHY DO WE….
At tables, surface questions -
WHY do we do…. at
Mass?
WHY don’t we do……at
Mass?