What is the Eucharist?…
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The Eucharist is one of the seven blessed sacraments of the Catholic Church. According to Clark (1971) "Jesus Christ through the Holy Spirit in the Eucharist builds up the life of the Church, strengthens its fellowship and furthers its mission" (para. 3). The Eucharist is what Christians believe to be the Body & Blood of Christ that is taken in remembrance of Him. In Corinthians 11:23-26, Paul describes the Eucharist being celebrated in connection with a common meal, shared in the homes of the early Jewish Christians. This meal celebrated the presence of the risen Christ in their midst. The Second Vatican’s Council (Vatican II) within the Constitution on the Sacred Liturgy (1963), emphasised that the Eucharist is an ordered celebration of the whole Christian community. The Eucharistic Celebration remains as it were in the past, led by a priest and calling for “fully, conscious and active participation” of all faithful Christians (Pope Paul VI, 1963, para. 14).
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The Eucharistic Celebration originated from the Jewish tradition of the Passover where Jesus was celebrating and sharing his last meal with the 12 Apostles (The Last Supper, Luke 22:7-20). During the Passover Jesus took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to them, saying, "This is my body given for you; do this in remembrance of me"’. He then, in the same way after the supper, took the cup, saying, "This cup is the new covenant in my blood, which is poured out for you.”’ (Luke: 22: 19 – 20). According to the Office for the Liturgical Celebrations of the Supreme Pontiff (n.d), within “the celebration of the sacraments, the faithful are immersed in communion with Christ, who blesses them with the gift of his salvific love, especially in the Eucharist where He (Jesus) offers himself under the appearance of bread and wine” (para. 3).
The Eucharist is one of the most sacred celebrations of the Mass, as Christians truly believe that Jesus is present through communion and reconciliation. Christians therefore give thanks and praise to the unconditional love and sacrifice of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of our sins. In article 3 The Sacrament of the Eucharist in the Catechism of the Catholic Church (1994), it is stated;
The Eucharistic celebration always includes: the proclamation of the Word of God; thanksgiving to God the Father for all his benefits, above all the gift of his Son; the consecration of bread and wine; and participation in the liturgical banquet by receiving the Lord's body and blood. These elements constitute one single act of worship. (para. 1408)
The Eucharist can be proven a difficult concept to grasp by teachers. The main understanding that students need to take away from their Religious Studies about this sacrament is that they are receiving the Eucharist as a symbolic gesture of thanks and praise to our Lord Jesus Christ, whom died for the forgiveness of our sins and resulted to a new Covenant with God. The students need to understand that Jesus is present in this Celebration and that they are receiving His Body and Blood during the Mass. Students should also recognise that the Eucharist is the central celebration of the Catholic community and unites all Catholics as members of the one community, the one body of Christ (Catholic Education Office [CEO], Sydney 2006).
The Eucharistic celebration always includes: the proclamation of the Word of God; thanksgiving to God the Father for all his benefits, above all the gift of his Son; the consecration of bread and wine; and participation in the liturgical banquet by receiving the Lord's body and blood. These elements constitute one single act of worship. (para. 1408)
The Eucharist can be proven a difficult concept to grasp by teachers. The main understanding that students need to take away from their Religious Studies about this sacrament is that they are receiving the Eucharist as a symbolic gesture of thanks and praise to our Lord Jesus Christ, whom died for the forgiveness of our sins and resulted to a new Covenant with God. The students need to understand that Jesus is present in this Celebration and that they are receiving His Body and Blood during the Mass. Students should also recognise that the Eucharist is the central celebration of the Catholic community and unites all Catholics as members of the one community, the one body of Christ (Catholic Education Office [CEO], Sydney 2006).
