​​​​​​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 the
eucharistic
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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Holy Sacraments​​

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