The Holy Eucharist (Part 1)

What is the Holy Eucharist?

The Holy Eucharist is the sacrament in which Christ Himself is truly though not visibly present as God and Man, with His Glorified Body and Blood, under the appearances of bread and wine, to offer Himself on the altar as our Sacrifice and to give Himself as our sacrificial food.

“The Eucharistic celebration is a holy meal which recalls the Last Supper, reminds us of our unity with one another in Christ, and anticipates the banquet of God’s kingdom. In the Eucharist, Christ the Lord nourishes His body and blood, effecting a transformation which impels them toward greater love of God and neighbor” (National Catechetical Directory, no. 120).

Jesus is truly present, not only in remembrance, or merely by His power and grace. Other names for the Holy Eucharist are: Body of Christ, Sacrifice of the Mass, Holy Communion, Table of the Lord, Bread of Life, Bread of Angels, Viaticum, Blessed Sacrament, Sacrament of the Altar.

In what words did Jesus promise the Holy Eucharist?

Jesus promised the Holy Eucharist in the words: “The bread I will give you is my flesh, for the life of the world. At this the Jews quarreled among themselves, saying, ‘How can He give us His flesh to eat?’ Thereupon Jesus said to them: ‘Let me solemnly assure you, if you do not eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you have no life in you. He who feeds on my flesh and drinks my blood has life eternal, and I will raise him up on the last day. For my flesh is real food and my blood is real drink.’”