The Eucharist, mistery of faith and love 28 JOOS van Wassenhove The Institution of the Eucharist Oil on wood, 331 x 335 cm Galleria Nazionale delle Marche Urbino

Compendium of the Catechism 271. What is the Eucharist? The Eucharist is the very sacrifice of the Body and Blood of the Lord Jesus which he instituted to perpetuate the sacrifice of the cross throughout the ages until his return in glory. Thus he entrusted to his Church this memorial of his death and Resurrection. It is a sign of unity, a bond of charity, a paschal banquet, in which Christ is consumed, the mind is filled with grace, and a pledge of future glory is given to us.

Introduction The sacrament of the Eucharist is “the sacrament of sacraments”, the most important of all sacraments, because it contains God’s grace – as do all the other sacraments- and also the author of grace, Our Lord Jesus Christ. We know this, not through our senses, but through faith, because God Himself says it is so. “This is my body which is given for you; do this in remembrance of me” (Luke 22:19). The Eucharist “is the source and summit of the Christian life”, and that “taking part in the Eucharistic sacrifice” the faithful “offer the Divine Victim to God, and offer themselves along with It” (Lumen Gentium, 11). JOOS van Wassenhove The institution of the Eucharist (detail) Galleria Nazionale delle Marche, Urbino

Main ideas

1. The Eucharist is the source and summit of the life of the Church The Eucharist is the heart of the Church: " the Most Blessed Eucharist contains the entire spiritual boon of the Church, that is, Christ himself". For this reason, “the other sacraments, as well as with every ministry of the Church and every work of the apostolate, are tied together with the Eucharist and are directed toward it” (Presbyterorum ordinis, 5). POUSSIN, Nicolas The Institution of the Eucharist 1640 Oil on canvas, 325 x 250 cm Musée du Louvre, Paris

2. Different names of this sacrament The inexhaustible richness of the Eucharist is shown by the different names applied to it.  Eucharist, which means an act of thanksgiving to God.  The Lord’s banquet, because it was instituted by Christ in the Last Supper on Holy Thursday.  The Holy Sacrifice, because it makes present the only sacrifice of Christ on the Cross.  Communion, because we unite ourselves with the same Christ when we receive His body and His blood.  Holy Mass, because when the faithful are dismissed at the end of Mass, they are sent (“mission”) to do God’s will in ordinary life. RUBENS, Pieter Pauwel The Victory of Eucharistic Truth over Heresy c Oil on panel, 86 x 105 cm Museo del Prado, Madrid

3. The institution of the Eucharist Jesus Christ instituted the Eucharist on Holy Thursday during the Last Supper. He had already announced to the disciples at Capernaum (cf. John 6) that He would give them His own body to eat and His own blood to drink. He had also prepared their faith with indisputable signs:  the miracle at the wedding in Cana –He transformed water into wine,  and the multiplication of loaves. Thus, upon hearing in the Last Supper the words “This is my body” (Luke 22:19), they would have had the firm conviction that it happened exactly as Jesus said, just as water had been transformed into wine and the loaves of bread multiplied until everybody had been satisfied. BASSANO, Jacopo The Last Supper 1542 Oil on canvas Galleria Borghese, Rome

4. The liturgical celebration of the Eucharist The Apostles received a mission from the Lord: “Do this in memory of Me” (Luke 22:19). It is not a mere commemoration but the realization of the memorial of Christ: of His life, of His death, of His resurrection and of His intercession with the Father, which is accomplished in the Eucharist. The broad outline of the celebration of the Eucharist had already been established by the middle of the second century, according to the testimony of St. Justin the martyr. It has remained unchanged up to our day. JUANES, Juan de The Last Supper 1560s Panel, 116 x 191 cm Museo del Prado, Madrid

5. The Eucharist, unbloody renewal of the sacrifice of the Cross Jesus Christ offered to God the Father the sacrifice of His own life by dying on the Cross. But, even though the value of Christ’s sacrifice on the Cross was infinite and unique, the Lord wanted it to be perpetuated so as to apply the merits of the redemption. Jesus Christ instituted the Eucharist not to perpetuate the Last Supper, but rather the sacrifice of the Cross. Thus, the Eucharist is the unbloody renewal of the sacrifice of Calvary itself. Likewise, the Eucharist is the sacrifice of the Church, because being the body of Christ, she participates along with her Head, who is Christ. CARRACCI, Annibale Crucifixion 1583 Oil on canvas, 305 x 210 cm Santa Maria della Carità, Bologna

6. The sacrifice of the Eucharist and that of the Cross are essentially one and the same Between the Eucharist and the sacrifice of the Cross there is an essential identity and accidental distinctions:  The Priest is the same: Christ offered Himself alone on Calvary, whereas in Holy Mass He does it through the priest.  The Victim is the same: Christ immolated Himself on the Cross in a bloody manner, whereas in Holy Mass He does so in an unbloody manner.  On the Cross, Christ redeemed us from sin and won for us the merits of salvation. During the Mass, these merits are bestowed upon us. LEONARDO da Vinci Last Supper (copy) 16th century OIl on canvas, 418 x 794 cm Da Vinci Museum, Tongerlo

7. The finality, or purpose, of the Mass The Mass has four aims:  to worship God,  to give Him thanks,  to make petitions to Him  and to ask Him to pardon our sins. We can unite our daily endeavours to the Mass and live with the same sentiments that Christ Himself had on the Cross. CRANACH, Lucas the Elder Crucifixion 1503 Pine panel, 138 x 99 cm Alte Pinakothek, Munich

Resolutions for Christian life

Resolutions to move forward Try to attend Holy Mass as often as you can, with a conscious, active and fruitful participation. Unite your small daily sacrifices with Christ’s sacrifice renewed in the Eucharist.