SACRAMENTS OF THE CHURCH

Holy Eucharist

INTRODUCTION

From earliest times, the Eucharist has been atthe heart of the Church’s worship. In it iscelebrated the memory of the life, death andResurrection of Jesus Christ.

Remember, I am with you always, to the end ofthe age (Matthew 28:20).

BIBLICAL FOUNDATION

But it goes further back than theGospels.

"And Melchizedek king of Salembrought out bread and wine; he waspriest of God Most High." (Genesis14:18)

BIBLICAL FOUNDATION

Ex 12:15

For seven days you must eat unleavened bread.On the first day you must clean the leaven outof your houses, for anyone who eats leavenedbread from the first to the seventh day must beoutlawed from Israel.

Ex: 13

Moses said to the people, 'Remember this day,on which you came out of Egypt, from the placeof slave-labour, for by the strength of hishand Yahweh brought you out of it; noleavened bread may be eaten.

NEW TESTAMENT

Luke 24: 13-35

The Road to Emmaus.

LITURGICAL HYMN?

At its celebrations of the Eucharist the Christian congregation gathers together and knows Jesus Christ to be present in its midst – according to the saying of Jesus that has been passed down: For where two or three are gathered in my name, I am there among them (Matthew 18:20). The congregation prays and hears Gods word, as it is communicated in Scripture; here also Christ, the Word of God, is present.

SO WHAT HAPPENED?

THE LAST SUPPERLUKE 22: 7-23

Jesus took the

bread, blessed and

broke, and gave it to

his disciples

“Take this all of you,

and it eat. This is

my body given for

you; do this is

memory of me.”

“This cup is the new

covenant in my

blood, which is

poured out for you.”

DIFFERENT VERSIONS OF THE SAME…

1. Matthew 26:26-29

2. Mark 14:22-25,

3. Luke 22:14-20

4. 1 Corinthians 11:23-27

5. Hebrews 4:14-5:10

JOHN IS MISSING?

John 6

It is a very long chapter.

What is it in essence?

Cannibalism or Realism?

What is Real Presence?

LITERAL OR METAPHOR?

John 6:53

53 Jesus replied to them: In all truth I tell you, if you do not eat the flesh of the Son of man and drink his blood, you have no life in you.

Was he literal or metaphorical?

What about Jesus the Door or the Vine?

To go to heaven, do we oil the hinge of his door or pluck a leaf off his vine?

CATHOLICS ARE NOT CANNIBALS.

First, Catholics do not receive our Lord in a cannibalistic form. Catholics receive him in the form of bread and wine. The cannibal kills his victim; Jesus does not die when he is consumed in Communion. Indeed, he is not changed in the slightest; the communicant is the only person who is changed. The cannibal eats part of his victim, whereas in Communion the entire Christ is consumed—body, blood, soul, and divinity. The cannibal sheds the blood of his victim; in Communion our Lord gives himself to us in a non-bloody way.

CANNIBALS WE ARE NOT.

Second, if it were truly immoral in any sense for Christ to give us his flesh and blood to eat, it would be contrary to his holiness to command anyone to eat his body and blood—even symbolically. Symbolically performing an immoral act would be of its nature mmoral.

LITERAL IS FOUND IN THE OLD TESTAMENT.

The expressions to eat flesh and to drink blood is symbolic both in the Hebrew Old Testament and in the Greek New Testament, which was heavily influenced by Hebrew.

WE ARE NOT CANNIBALS

In Psalm 27:1-2, Isaiah 9:18-20, Isaiah 49:26, Micah 3:3, and Revelation 17:6-16, these words (eating flesh and drinking blood) are understood as symbolic for persecuting or assaulting someone. Jesus’ Jewish audience would never have thought he was saying, “Unless you persecute and assault me, you shall not have life in you.”

Jesus never encouraged sin. This may well be another reason why the Jews took Christ at his word.

HE WAS NOT METAPHORICAL

He was literal.

6:51 Living bread that followers must eat. Bread is my flesh for the life of the world.

Response: How can?

6:52 Truly, truly… more emphatic as if to clarify

He does so in John 4:32. I have food that you know not of.

They thought it was physical but he corrected them.

LITERAL

Contrast 6:50-53 with 6:54

Phago vs Trogo

Eating vs Gnawing/chewing

They left Him.

He did not correct them…

He turned to the 12 and asked if they wanted to follow?

WHY MUST HE BE LITERAL?

6:53 The flesh is not My Flesh.

Flesh = human nature without grace.

Spirit is contrast to “flesh” in order that one may not be cannibalistic. Instead spiritual does not mean it has no material component.

Spiritual means material controlled by the Spirit.

WHY THE NEED FOR LITERAL?

Big picture.

Church established by Christ is an extension and continuation of the Incarnation.

Word became Flesh…

Sacrament. Outward sign of inward grace.

Church = one, holy, catholic and apostolic.

Church = Mystical Body of Christ

CHURCH AND ITS MEANING

St Paul’s analogies when speaking of Christians and of Christ.

1 Cor 12:27. You are the Body of Christ, member for member.

Col 1:18. Christ is the Head of His Body, the Church.

LIVING ORGANISM

The body (soma) that St. Paul identifies with the Church is a living reality, and like every organism requires suitable means to enter into life, to grow and mature and prosper according to its nature. Similarly in the Catholic Church, the sacraments are available for every spiritual need and circumstance of human life.

MYSTICAL BODY OF CHRIST

The Church is called the Mystical Body of Christ because it is sacramental.

The Church is the great sacrament of the New Law, instituted by Christ for the communication of invisible grace to the whole world.

CCC 1076

CCC 1076

The Church was made manifest to the world on the day of Pentecost by the outpouring of the Holy Spirit.

The gift of the Spirit ushers in a new era in the "dispensation of the mystery" the age of the Church, during which Christ manifests, makes present, and communicates his work of salvation through the liturgy of his Church, "until he comes."

CCC 1076

In this age of the Church Christ now lives and acts in and with his Church, in a new way appropriate to this new age.

He acts through the sacraments in what the common Tradition of the East and the West calls "the sacramental economy"; this is the communication (or "dispensation") of the fruits of Christ's Paschal mystery in the celebration of the Church's "sacramental" liturgy.

QUESTIONS?

Anamnesis. Is it merely a remembrance?

The Lord’s Supper is the repetition of the sacrifice of Christ: the same Christ who offered himself once in a bloody manner on the altar of the cross is contained and offered in an unbloody manner, and this sacrifice is truly propitiatory

VENIAL SINS AND CONFESSION

Since reception of the Eucharist forgives venial sin… Why must we go for confession?

The Sacrament of Confession gives grace to avoid sin.

PARTS OF MASS

There are 5 parts of the mass.

1. Introductory Rites

2. Liturgy of the Word

3. Liturgy of the Eucharist

4. Communion Rite

5. Concluding Rite

INTRODUCTORY RITES

The entrance hymn is the first of the 4 proper hymns sung during mass.

The procession leads with the altar cross followed by the candles, the Book of the Gospels, and lastly the priest.

The cross must be present at or near the altar of the Sacrifice. The cross depicts the sacrifice f the cross and made present at the altar.

INTRODUCTORY RITES

Greeting- with the crowd standing, the priest and the faithful make the sign of the cross. Then the priest greets the crowd with “The Lord be with you”. We respond by saying “And also with you”.

The Penitential Rite- We reflect on our sins and ask God to forgive them. This is a general absolution and cannot replace going to confession.

INTRODUCTORY RITES

Kyrie- Lord Have Mercy, Christ Have Mercy, Lord Have Mercy.

Gloria- Glory in the Highest. This is a song of thanks and praise.

Collect- The priest invites us to pray in silence.

LITURGY OF THE WORD

The Lectionary- Specifies the readings that are read in a certain date. The first reading comes from the Old Testament. The second reading comes from the New Testament and the Gospel comes from the writers Matthew, Mark, Luke or John.

Responsorial Psalm- They are read or sung during the first and second reading.

LITURGY OF THE WORD

Homily- Where the priest explains the readings to the people, and give the people some words of wisdom.

Profession of Faith- The desire to unite the people proclaiming their loyalty to the faith before they begin to celebrate the Eucharist.

General Intercessions- we ask for the needs of the church, for public authorities and the salvation of the world. For those oppressed and the local community.

THE LITURGY OF THE EUCHARIST

Preparation of the gifts-This is the time when the bread and wine are presented to God before they are consecrated.

Lavabo-The Right of hand washing

Prayer over gifts- This breaks the stillness and silence after the Lavabo, as invitation to pray and claim ownership of the sacrifice.

THE LITURGY OF THE EUCHARIST

Eucharist Prayer

a. The preface- The lord be with you. This is an introductory prayer and gives us reason for our Thanksgiving.

b. The Sanctus- We fall on our knees in awe because we are in the presence of the Eucharist.

c. Epclesis- invocation of God to send the Holy Spirit to change the bread and wine to the Body and Blood of Jesus.

THE LITURGY OF THE EUCHARIST

d. The consecration- When the bread and wine is changed to the Body and Blood of Jesus.

e. The Transubstantiation- When the priest shows the congregation the transformed Bread and Wine.

Memorial Acclamation- When the congregation proclaims the Mystery of Faith: Christ has died, Christ has risen, Christ will come again.

Remembrance- We call to mind the death and resurrection of Jesus.

THE LITURGY OF THE EUCHARIST

Offering- We call on God to offer the sacrifice in union with all the sacrifices in the past.

Intercessions- The priest intercedes with the father. We pray for those who have departed and we pray for us sinners.

Final Doxology- The priest lifts the host and the chalice proclaiming the doxology, the words of praise linking the Father, Son and Holy Sprit.

THE COMMUNION RITE

The Lords Prayer- The communion rite begins with the Our Father Prayer.

Embolism-When we give peace to our neighbours.

The Fraction- When the priest breaks the bread. The purpose is to symbolise Jesus breaking bread at the last supper.

The Commingling- When the priest puts a piece of the host in the wine.

Agnus Dei- When the priest breaks the bread during the singing of the lamb of God.

THE COMMUNION RITE

Communion- When we receive the Eucharist.

Silence After Communion – Take time to praise and thank God. We mediate and say prayers to ourselves.

Prayer After Communion- When the priest invites the congregation to pray and prepare for the Concluding Rite.

CONCLUDING RITE

Announcements- When the priest has anything to say about events in the parish.

Greeting and Blessing- For the last time the priest and the people exchange greetings.

Dismissal- The mass ends with the solemn blessing of the congregation.

RITUALS IN THE HOLY EUCHARIST

Kissing

the altar

Exchange

of peace

Consecration

words

Ringing bell

Epiclesis

RITUALS IN THE HOLY EUCHARIST

The

elevation of

the Bread

Breaking of

the Bread

Receiving

Communion

Final

Blessing

BOWING OF HEADWhen the resurrectionhymn (Lord of all wepraise you) is sung thefaithful bows their headalong with the celebrant.It is the expression of ourprofound respect andsubmission to Lord Godalmighty.

INCENSING

Two purposes:

Sanctifying us (the celebrant, the people, the altar andthe objects) with the blessed incense, the divinefragrance, the symbol of divine presence. It is the sign offorgiveness of sins and total surrender to God.

Just as the smoke of incense goes up to heaven, ourpraises and worship are raised to heaven. It is anexhortation that our hearts, mind and thoughts shouldraise up to heaven along with the incensing.

INCENSING

WASHING OF HANDSThe celebrant washes hishands with a prayer beforethe offertory. This signifiesthat God in his abundantmercy cleanses the celebrantand the community andmake purify their hearts. Itreminds us also the washingof feet by Jesus during thelast supper.

PREPARATION OF HOST AND WINE, THE OFFERTORY GIFTS

Host represents the bodyof Christ and winerepresents the blood ofChrist. Adding water intowine is the symbol of theblood and water that waspoured out of the side ofJesus, when he was piercedwith a lance on the Cross.

OFFERTORY PRAYER WITH HANDS CROSSED

The celebrant takes chalice with wine in right hand andpaten with host in the left and raises with hands in theform of cross. This symbolises the death of Jesus on thecross. It reminds us of the self sacrifice of Jesus on thecross in Calvary.

KISSING THE ALTARAfter the offertory,approaching the altar thecelebrant bows and thenkisses the altar in themiddle and on both sides.This to show respect andveneration to the most HolyTrinity, the Father, the Sonand the Holy Spirit.

EXCHANGE OF PEACEThe celebrant offers peaceof Christ to the faithfulraising his hands and withthe sign of cross. And thefaithful receives this offerof peace with bowed head.Following this the faithfuloffer one another the peaceof Christ that was receivedthrough the celebrant.

CONSECRATION WORDSThis is one of the mostimportant part of the HolyEucharist. It is thecommemoration of whatJesus did during the lastsupper as he was institutingHoly Eucharist for us. As wejoin in the Consecration, weexperience the same incidentas Jesus and his disciplesexperienced during lastsupper. Holy Eucharist is thereenactment of that firstsacrifice of Jesus as he hadcommanded us to do in hismemory.

RINGING OF BELLBell is to bring to the mindof the people theimportance of the rituals inthe Eucharist. It evokes inour minds a spirit ofdevotion and worship.

EPICLESIS (PRAYER OF INVITING THE HOLY SPIRIT)

This is another most important part of the HolyEucharist. The celebrant prays to the Almighty Father tosend his Holy Spirit on the gifts and sanctify them, bywhich the bread and wine on the altar becomes the bodyand blood of our Lord Jesus.

ELEVATION OF THE BREAD

The holy bread that has become the living body andblood of Christ through Consecration words andsanctification by the Holy Spirit (Epiclesis) is raised tosignify the resurrection and apparitions of Jesus. WhenJesus was appeared to his disciples after resurrection,the disciples worshipped him saying “My God and MyLord”. In the same way, the faithful worship the risenLord at this time.

ELEVATION OF THE BREAD

BREAKING OF THE BREAD

After the elevation of the holy bread, the celebrantbreaks the bread into two and blesses the wine with onehalf of the bread. Then he blesses the part of the breadwith the other half that was dipped in wine. Then holdthe host together and prays for various intentions. Thisreminds the body of Christ broken by death and rejoinedin resurrection.

BREAKING OF THE BREAD

RECEIVING COMMUNION

This is the ritual of receiving the blessed and sanctifiedbody and blood of Christ just as Jesus gave bread andwine to his disciples during last supper as his body andblood. As we receive Holy Communion from the minister,we receive it from the hands of Jesus himself.

FINAL BLESSINGEucharist concludes with ablessing just as Jesusblessed his disciplesbefore he ascended intoheaven after havingentrusted his mission tothe disciples. Havingreceived the body andblood of Jesus and hisblessing, we go tocontinue the mission andsacrifice of Jesus in ourlives.