Le Tour de Christ ®
(Lesson 4) -Holy Eucharist- (Lesson 4)
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The Holy Eucharist is the third sacrament of
Christian initiation (Read CCC 1322). Through the
Eucharist, the Christian partakes with all the
community, in the sacrifice of the Lord, the
Lamb of God that takes away the sin of the
world (Read John 1:29). In the last supper Jesus insti-
tuted the eucharist as a memorial of his life,
death and resurrection (Read Luke 22:19-20; 1 Corin-
thians 11: 24-26; Matthew 26:26-28; Mark 14:22-24; Luke 22:19-20;
CCC 1337). The bread and wine have always been
sources of sustenance for humanity, represent
the fruit of man’s work. But before are, fruit of
“the earth” and “the vine”, gifts from God, the
Creator. Jesus used these symbols to fulfil his
promise to be always with us and give us food
for our journey and life in him (Read Matthew 18: 20;
28:18-20; John 6:35,48,51,53-56; CCC 1333-1334). After the
experience of Pentecost, the disciples continue
meeting, day by day, to read the scriptures and
break the bread. These celebrations (-where the
bread was being blessed in thanksgiving to God,
was broken and shared with a meaning of ente-
ring again in the life, death and resurrection of
Jesus-) were called “eucharist” (In greek: “eucha-
ristia”), that means “give thanks” (Read Acts 2:42, 46-47).
In the Liturgy (Reading of the scriptures, homily
and prayer), we are nurtured with the Word of
God to live according to his will. Then, the bread
and the wine are taken to the altar, and offered
in the name of Jesus Christ, by the priest, as an
eucharistic sacrifice, which are converted in the
body and the blood of Christ (Read CCC 1350).
The Eucharistic Prayer “recalls” the Paschal
Mystery of Jesus, “making present” the saving
action of God through Christ (The Lamb of God
who takes away the sin of the world [John 1:29]).
This memorial is called “anamnesis” (The action
of “recall” and “make present”). Through the
“anamnesis”, the marvelous deeds from God
are “recalled” by the liturgical assembly and are
“made present” in its midst. When the Church
makes “memory”, this is accompanied with the
invocation of the Holy Spirit, called “epiclesis”,
who “consecrates” or “makes holy” the people,
the bread and the wine of the sacrament. When
the priest prays the “epiclesis”, the Church asks
God the Father to: (a) Send the Holy Spirit over
the bread and the wine, to be converted (not
only represent) in the body and the blood of
Jesus; (b) Those who receive the Eucharist to
be converted in one in Christ, in body and in
spirit (Read CCC 1353). The “epiclesis” completes and
culminates the action of “anamnesis”. The “ana-
mnesis” leads to “epiclesis”, in the same way that
the Paschal Mystery leads to Pentecost. The
Eucharistic Prayer ends with the doxology:
“…through Him, with Him and in Him…”
where later we respond “Amen”. Then we pre-
pare ourselves to the reception of the eucharist
praying the Our Father and interchanging the
Greeting of Peace. Then we are invited to
receive the “Communion” with the faith of the
centurion: “Lord, I do not deserve to have you
come under my roof. But just say the word, and
my soul shall be healed.” (Read Matthew 8:8). The rite
ends with the priest asking the blessing of God
over us, in the same way he did it at the begin-
ning of Mass. The word “Mass” comes from the
Latin: “Ite missa est”, that literally means: “Go,
it is sent”, and that in the liturgy means: “what
we have come here together to do is done; no
go out and fulfill it.” Calling us to be part of
the Eucharist in a “complete”, “active” and
“conscient” way (Read 1 Thessalonians 2:13). In other
words, we surrender before the Lord in the
sacred altar, to transform us in better disciples,
through theeucharistic celebration, where at
that moment, the priest is acting “in the person
of Christ”, and “Christ is present in the bread
and the wine”. This invitation of Jesus to partake
in the Eucharist: “I tell you the truth, unless you
eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his
blood, you have no life in you.” John 6:53, calls us
to make ourselves an “examination of cons-
cience” to prepare ourselves to this so great and
holy moment. If we partake in the Eucharist in
an undignified way, we are sinning against the
same body and blood of Christ, that it is to eat
and drink our own punishment. Therefore,
who has conscience of sin, must receive the
sacrament of Penance and Reconciliation,
before partaking in the Eucharist (Read 1 Corin-
thians 11:27-29; CCC 1384-1385) (Read CCC 1322 -1419).
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