EUCHARIST From the Greek word eucharistein meaning “to give thanks” or “be thankful” or “grateful”. Why would the Church choose this word to describe the event? The Eucharist with which we are most familiar is the event that takes place during Mass. But there are two other “Eucharists” that are linked to this. They are: The Passover when Moses led the Hebrews out of the Egyptian desert into the promised land of Israel and The Lord’s Last Supper.

THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE PASSOVER, THE LAST SUPPER & THE MASS One year old lamb, perfect and without blemish was sacrificed to God. Jesus, the new lamb of God, offered himself as a sacrifice on the cross. By the blood of the lamb, the Israelites were freed. By this sacrifice, we will all share eternity. Unleavened bread & wine strengthened the Israelites as they journeyed to the promised land. We are strengthened on our journey by the bread and wine of Jesus’ body and blood. The Passover meal is the memorial of God’s saving action on behalf of the Israelites. The Eucharist is the memorial of Jesus’ saving death on the cross. Through Moses God gave the Israelites a covenant by which he made them His people. Jesus is the new covenant by which we become God’s people. Moses told the Israelites to celebrate the Passover annually. Jesus told His disciples to celebrate the Eucharist.

THE EUCHARIST IN THE BIBLE 1 Corinthians 11:23-27 For I received from the Lord what I also handed on to you, that the Lord Jesus on the night when he was betrayed took a loaf of bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and said, ‘This is my body that is for you. Do this in remembrance of me.’ In the same way he took the cup also, after supper, saying, ‘This cup is the new covenant in my blood. Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me.’ For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes. Mark 14:22-25 While they were eating, he took a loaf of bread, and after blessing it he broke it, gave it to them, and said, ‘Take; this is my body.’ Then he took a cup, and after giving thanks he gave it to them, and all of them drank from it. He said to them, ‘This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many. Truly I tell you, I will never again drink of the fruit of the vine until that day when I drink it new in the kingdom of God.’

THE SIGNIFICANCE OF THE EUCHARIST (p157 KWL) The Eucharist is the most significant celebration in the Church’s Liturgy. It is the source and basis of all Catholic life. In the one celebration, it encompasses the life, death and resurrection of Jesus. It is a celebration of praise and thanksgiving to the Father remembering and celebrating the actions of Jesus and the power of the Holy Spirit. The whole assembly worships and celebrates the liturgy: everyone has a function and ministry. The celebration is based on the belief that the Eucharist is a sacrifice making present the life, death and resurrection of Jesus whose real presence is under the appearance of bread and wine. The Eucharist re-enacts the sacrifice that Jesus made when He offered his life for us. The Last Supper in the Scriptures is presented as a unique event, but is in fact one activity that reminds us that Jesus’ ministry was constant sharing of meals with men & women of all types and levels of society. It draws them together. Spiritual food does the same.

THE EUCHARIST AT MASS (P158 KWL) The celebration oF the Eucharist at Mass is structured around ritual and symbolic actions. Let us explore and discuss these ritual actions: Gathering: of community, families and friends; Reconciliation: Making peace with God and the people around us; Restating what we believe: saying the Creed Proclaiming the Word: Listening to the scriptures being read; Reflecting on the Word: listening to the Homily where the celebrant explains the scripture reading; Giving of gifts: the bread and wine are offered to God; Remembering Jesus’ last Supper: the bread and wine become Jesus’ body & blood through the Consecration; Sharing the meal: receiving Holy Communion Sharing our faith: going out into our world and living the “Eucharist ideals”.

THE FOUR PARTS OF THE MASS (P175 KWL) The celebration of the Eucharist in Mass today consists of four main parts: The Introductory Rite The Liturgy of the Word The Liturgy of the Eucharist The Concluding Rite 6

1. The Introductory Rite The Entrance Song The sign of the Cross The Greeting The Introduction The Penitential rite The Gloria The opening prayer

2. The Liturgy of the Word The First Reading The Responsorial Psalm The Second Reading The Gospel Acclamation The Gospel Reading The Homily The Profession of Faith The Prayers of the Faithful

3. The Liturgy of the Eucharist The Preparation of the Gifts [Slide 16] The Eucharistic Prayer [Slide 17] The Communion Rite [Slide 18] 4. The Concluding Rite The Final Blessing The Dismissal

THE REAL PRESENCE (P170 KWL) We Catholics believe that when the bread and wine are consecrated by the priest during the Mass, although the appearance of the bread and wine do not change, their inner nature does change. This inner nature of the bread and wine actually becomes the body and blood of Christ. Therefore, Christ is really present under the appearance of bread and wine.

SUMMARY We take part in the life, death and resurrection of Jesus; We take stock of our own sinfulness and resolve to change; We listen to the Word of God; We give praise to the Father, through the Son in the Holy Spirit; We draw on God’s grace by telling Him what we believe; We share the body and blood of Christ; We look forward to the coming of God’s Kingdom; We go forward to continue the mission of Jesus by serving others in the community.

THE EUCHARIST IS ABOUT LIFE REMEMBERING Who do you remember with love and how do you remember them? PRAISING Who gives you praise and who do you praise in return? THANKING Who do you need most to thank in your life? For what? Who has thanked you recently and for what? MAKING PRESENT Who is “present” to you even when you can’t see or speak to them? SACRIFICING Who makes sacrifices for you? What sacrifices have you made for others? When? GIVING Who gives of their time, energy and love to you? To whom do you give? SHARING MEALS Who do you eat with and what makes these times enjoyable? BEING UNITED To what people and groups do you feel that you belong? CELEBRATING What times in your life do you celebrate? What recent celebrations can you remember? What celebrations are you looking forward to? BLESSING What blessings do you think you have received in your life? FORGIVING Who has forgiven you? And whom do you need to forgive? LISTENING To whom do you listen and why? CHANGING THE WORLD What do you want to change about the world?

TERMS & SYMBOLS USED DURING THE CELEBRATION OF THE EUCHARIST AT MASS Sanctuary Tabernacle Nave Presider’s Chair Altar Paschal Candle Ambo Baptistery Sacristy Processional Cross 11. Sacramentary 12. Lectionary 13. Vestments 14. Chalice 15. Ciborium 16. Cruets 17. Paten 18. Purifier 19. Corporal 20. Pews

THE PASSOVER STORY Christian thinking about the Eucharist begins with the Israelite people and their “passing over” from slavery into freedom. The story of the Israelites, of their slavery in Egypt and of their journey back to the land that God had promised them is found in the book of Exodus where we read of how God asked the Israelites to sacrifice a lamb and sprinkle its blood on their doorposts. That night when the angel of death struck down the first born of the families of Egypt, the Hebrew families with the blood on their doorposts were spared. They gathered with Moses and began their long journey. This was the first Passover – a term that refers to the passing over of the Hebrew people from slavery into freedom and to the story of how the angel of death passed over the homes of the Israelites on the night they left Egypt.

THE EXODUS STORY It’s an engrossing, epic story – perhaps one of the greatest ever told: A number of Hebrews settle in Egypt where they lived for four hundred and thirty years. During this time, they fell out of favour and become enslaved. God sees this unfortunate development and steps in. A baby boy is found floating down the River Nile in a basket and grows up as the adopted son of the Pharaoh’s daughter. The baby grows up as Moses. God calls Moses to lead the Sons of Israel out of Egypt and into the “promised land.” And so, after God sends 10 plagues on the Egyptians including the Passover, Moses, persuades Pharaoh to release the enslaved Jews and proceeds to lead them out of Egypt through the Red Sea, outrunning Pharaoh’s armies who were swallowed up the waters, and to freedom. The Israelites then wander in the desert for 40 years suffering hunger, thirst and threat from aggressors. Eventually, while camped at the foot of Mt Sinai, they enter into a covenant with God that would see Him establish Israel as a chosen race if they keep His laws. Thus, for centuries, the Exodus event has served as Israel’s founding story.

Preparation of the Gifts Preparation of the Altar Procession of the Gifts Preparation of the Gifts Priest’s washing of his hands Prayer over the Gifts [Slide 9]

The Eucharistic Prayer The Preface The Holy, Holy, Holy Invocation of the Holy Spirit The Consecration The Offering Prayers for the living and the dead The Doxology [Slide 9]

The Communion Rite The Lord’s Prayer The Sign of Peace The Breaking of Bread The co-mingling The Lamb of God The Invitation to Communion The Priest’s Communion The Distribution of Communion The Communion Song The washing of the Vessels The Prayer after Communion [Slide 9]