1. THE EVOLUTION OF THE EUCHARIST
Class #12, Q. 2—RS3

2. JOURNAL QUESTION:
What do you, personally, believe about the Eucharist? What is it? What does it do to you/for you?

3. OUR CHALLENGE… THE EUCHARIST IS: TAKEN BLESSED BROKEN GIVEN
HOW ARE YOU:
TAKEN
BLESSED
BROKEN
GIVEN

4. From the 4th to mid-20th centuries:
Mass was considered a sacrifice, only requiring a priest
Communion was “from a distance”
Mass became a performance
It became unintelligible to the common person

5. VATICAN II RENEWAL BEFORE AFTER Altar facing the back wall of church
Mass was celebrated in Latin
Prayers spoken by priests and servers only
An altar rail separated the congregation from the altar
AFTER
The altar became more of a table
Mass is celebrated in the vernacular
Prayers are spoken by the whole assembly
The altar rail is gone

6. CHANGES (cont.) BEFORE Receiving Communion on your knees
You could only swallow Communion
Only the Bread was offered to the congregation
AFTER
Receiving standing up or bowing before reception
You could chew the host & swallow it
Bread and Wine used during Communion

7. CHANGES (cont.) BEFORE Singing/chanting done by priests alone
Prayers were often directed only by the priests
Laypeople were passive observers
AFTER
The Congregation is invited to sing
Prayers of the Faithful reflected the needs of the community
Laypeople are actively involved