Holy Eucharist

Theology of the Sacrament of the Eucharist

So rich is the mystery of the Eucharist that we have a number of terms to illumine its saving grace: the Breaking of the Bread; the Lord’s Supper; the Eucharistic Assembly; the Memorial of Christ’s Passion, Death, and Resurrection; the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass, the Holy and Divine Liturgy; the Eucharistic Liturgy; Holy Communion; and Holy Mass (cf. CCC, nos. 1328-1332).

The use of bread and wine in worship is already found in the early history of God’s people. In the Old Testament, bread and wine are seen as gifts from God, to whom praise and thanks are given in return for these blessings and for other manifestations of his care and grace. The story of the priest Melchizedek’s offering a sacrifice of bread and wine for Abraham’s victory is an example of this (cf. Gn 14:18). The harvest of new lambs was also a time for the sacrifice of a lamb to show gratitude to God for the new flock and its contribution to the well-being of the family and tribe.

These ancient rituals were given historical meaning at the Exodus of God’s people. They were united into the Passover Meal as a sign of God’s delivering the Israelites from slavery in Egypt, a pledge of his fidelity to his promises, and eventually a sign of the coming of the Messiah and messianic times. Each family shared the lamb that had been sacrificed and the bread over which a blessing had been proclaimed. They also drank from a cup of wine over which a similar blessing had been proclaimed.

When Jesus instituted the Eucharist he gave a final meaning to the blessing of the bread and the wine and the sacrifice of the lamb. The Gospels narrate events that anticipated the Eucharist. The miracle of the loaves and fish, reported in all four Gospels, prefigured the unique abundance of the Eucharist. The miracle of changing water into wine at the wedding feast in Cana manifested the divine glory of Jesus and the heavenly wedding feast in which we share at every Eucharist.

In his dialogue with the people at Capernaum, Christ used his miracle of multiplying the loaves of bread as the occasion to describe himself as the Bread of Life: “I am the living bread that came down from heaven. . . Unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you do not have life within you” (Jn 6:51, 53).

The Catholic Church practices the apostolic teaching that during the celebration of the Mass, bread, and wine, the gifts brought to the Altar to consecrated, by the very words uttered by Christ himself, and by the power of the Holy Spirit, truly becomes the Body and Blood of Jesus Christ. We Catholics take Jesus at his word when he says, “This is My Body. This is My Blood.” And, we say “Amen” – “I believe” – so that when we receive this Blessed Sacrament, we may be sustained as the Mystical Body of Christ, called to do His Will.

Through catechetical classes, family workshops, rites, and parent meetings, children in the second-grade level or higher prepare for the celebration of First Eucharist/Communion.  Children are required to attend either Religious Education Classes at St. Theresa classes or have been enrolled in a Catholic school for the full year prior to beginning preparation to receive the Sacrament.  In other words, for a child to receive First Holy Communion and/or First Reconciliation in second grade, they must attend religion classes (Religious Education Classes at St. Theresa or Catholic school) in both first and second grades.

Contact the Director of Religious Education for information about these classes.