The Catechism and The Eucharist
Part 4
During the months of November and December we will be on a spiritual journey sharing what the Catechism of the Catholic Church teaches each of us about the Eucharist.
The Eucharist – What is this Sacrament Called? (Continued from last week)
1331: Holy Communion, because by this sacrament we unite ourselves to Christ, who makes us sharers in his Body and Blood to form a single body. We also call it: the holy things (ta hagia; sancta) - the first meaning of the phrase "communion of saints" in the Apostles' Creed - the bread of angels, bread from heaven, medicine of immortality, viaticum...
1332: Holy Mass (Missa), because the liturgy in which the mystery of salvation is accomplished concludes with the sending forth (missio) of the faithful, so that they may fulfill God's will in their daily lives.
Deacon George’s take:
The Compendium of the Catechism of the Catholic Church states on question “281: In what way does the Church participate in the eucharistic sacrifice?” the following:
In the Eucharist the sacrifice of Christ becomes also the sacrifice of the members of his Body [each of us]. The lives of the faithful, their praise, their suffering, their prayers, their work, are united to those of Christ. In as much as it is a sacrifice, the Eucharist is likewise offered for all the faithful, living and dead, in reparation for the sins of all and to obtain spiritual and temporal benefits from God. The Church in heaven [triumphant] is also united to the offering of Christ.
Wow! We are joined to each other as one body of Christ: those in heaven and earth. It is my experience that what we call the Eucharist depends on our relationship to God at specific times in our lives. At one time the term bread of angels made more sense to me than that of sacrifice. Since becoming clergy – called by the Holy Spirit to serve and not to be served, I have found so much meaning in calling it the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass. Sacrifice is a word the world tells each of us to avoid: “we deserve” this or that. In reality, as creatures, our ability to please God – to gain merit in our lives increases the graces within our lives.
The Eucharist received worthily is the greatest gift we can experience here on earth; pray about how to receive the Lord in greater reverence and respect. When was the last time I confessed my sins? How can I deepen that relationship with Christ if I do not receive him worthily and well?
