Eucharist
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Now as they were eating, Jesus took the bread, and blessed, and broke it, and gave it to the disciples and said, “Take, eat; this is my body.” And he took a cup, and when he had given thanks he gave it to them, saying, “Drink of it, all of you; for this is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins.” (Mt. 26:26-28)
Also Mk. 14:22-24 and Lk. 22:14-20.
…Jesus said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of man and drink his blood, you have no life in you: he who eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day. For my flesh is food indeed, and my blood is drink indeed. He who eats my flesh and drinks my blood abides in me, and I in him.” (Jn. 6:53-56)
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The sacrament of Holy Eucharist was instituted by Christ at the Last Supper. In this sacrament Christ gives us his very body and blood to strengthen, nurture and heal us on our pilgrimage toward the Kingdom of God. The Eucharist is not a mere symbolizing of one’s personal faith or of something which occurred in the distant past but participation in the Last Supper itself and reception of the very Body and Blood of Christ! The Catholic Church takes to heart the words of Jesus given at the Last Supper; … this is my body … this is my blood. The Catholic Church holds solemn the words given by our Lord himself in John’s sixth chapter; …unless you eat the flesh of the Son of man and drink his blood, you have no life in you…
The celebration of the Eucharist is the heart of the Christian communion and in it the Church becomes Church. A person has to be Catholic in order to receive Holy Communion. To learn more about preparation for the sacrament of the Eucharist please contact the parish office.
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