Exploring the Eucharist with Sacred Art UNIT 5, LESSON 1 Learning Goals The narrative of the Last Supper and the Institution of the Eucharist help us to understand the source and summit of our Catholic Faith, the Blessed Sacrament. The Eucharist is the true Body and Blood of Jesus Christ, who is truly and substantially present under the appearances of bread and wine. We receive the Eucharist in Holy Communion as spiritual food at each and every Mass. Connection to the Catechism of the Catholic Church CCC 1337-1344 Vocabulary The Eucharist The Paschal Mystery Mannerism BIBLICAL TOUCHSTONES When the hour came, he took his place at table with the apostles. He said to them, I have eagerly desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer, for, I tell you, I shall not eat it [again] until there is fulfillment in the kingdom of God. Then he took a cup, gave thanks, and said, Take this and share it among yourselves; for I tell you [that] from this time on I shall not drink of the fruit of the vine until the kingdom of God comes. Then he took the bread, said the blessing, broke it, and gave it to them, saying, This is my body, which will be given for you; do this in memory of me. And likewise the cup after they had eaten, saying, This cup is the new covenant in my blood, which will be shed for you. You call me teacher and master, and rightly so, for indeed I am. If I, therefore, the master and teacher, have washed your feet, you ought to wash one another s feet. I have given you a model to follow, so that as I have done for you, you should also do. JOHN 13:13-15 LUKE 22:14-20 237
Lesson Plan Materials ӹ ӹ Christ s Claims and Commandments The Scriptural Rosary DAY ONE Warm-Up BY JACAPO BASSANO (C. 1546) A. Project an image of (page 125) by Jacapo Bassano. Give students several minutes to quietly view the art before you say or ask anything. Allow them to come up and stand closer to the image to examine details. B. Once several minutes have passed, ask: Jacapo Bassano,, c. 1546, oil on canvas, Courtesy Galleria Borghese, Rome, Italy. What do you first notice about this work of art? What do you like about this work of art? How does this work of art make you feel? 125 How do the colors in the work of art draw your eye? What is happening in this picture? It is the Last Supper. The artist, Jacapo Bassano, painted in a style called called Mannerism. This style of painting uses a lot of exaggerated postures and complicated movement to draw the viewers eye around the painting. What sort of movement do you see in this painting? How does this movement draw your attention to different things? 238 SOPHIA INSTITUTE FOR TEACHERS
LESSON PLAN Activity Put students in small groups and have them turn to (page 126). Have them discuss the questions with each other. During this time, focus on keeping students intent on the artwork and the discussion questions, letting their conversations go in unexpected ways. Formative Assessment A. Circulate among the groups, listening to their discussions, keeping them on task, and offering insights or clarification where needed., by Jacapo Bassano (c. 1546) Directions: Take some time to quietly view and reflect on the art. Let yourself be inspired in any way that happens naturally. Then think about the questions below, and discuss them with your classmates. Conversation Questions 1. What Biblical event is depicted in this painting? What evidence from the painting tells you this? 2. Where does your eye go when you look at this painting? 3. How would you describe the Apostles in this painting? What can you tell about them from their clothing, gestures, etc.? 4. Try to identify the various figures in the painting. Which figure is Jesus? Which figure is St. Peter? Which figure is John the Beloved Apostle? Which figure is Judas? What makes you think so for each of these figures? 5. What do you notice on the table? What evidence from the painting tells you that Jesus and His Apostles were celebrating a Passover meal together? 6. Read John 13:21-30. What moment in the story has the artist captured in this painting? Identify the various parts of the Gospel story in the painting 7. What do you notice at the foot of the table in the very front and bottom of the painting? Read John 13:1-20. What happened in this story from John s Gospel? How is this reflected in the painting? B. Before moving on to the next activity, have each group write one question they would ask the artist about his painting and turn it in. 126 DAY TWO Warm-Up Project once again an image of by Jacapo Bassano and read aloud a few of the most interesting questions offered by the student groups the previous day. Allow students to share their reactions and other personal responses to the art. Activity A. Have students open their workbooks to the art, and have them skim over the questions they discussed the previous day. Then call on groups in turn to share their answers to each of the questions. Conclude the discussion with the question of how the artist probably wanted the people who viewed his painting to feel. B. Explain to your students that at the Last Supper Jesus gave to us His Body and Blood to eat and to drink so that we might be saved from sin. This is called the Eucharist. The Eucharist is the true Body and Blood of Jesus Christ, who is truly and substantially present under the appearances of bread and wine. We receive the Eucharist in Holy Communion at each and every Mass as spiritual food. As we will learn in this unit, Jesus began to prepare us to receive Him in the Eucharist from the very beginning of Salvation History and in through His public ministry, culminating in institution of the Eucharist at the Last Supper and in His sacrifice on the Cross. Jesus is the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world. Christ s work of redemption which we celebrate and receive in the Eucharist is called the Paschal Mystery. Unit 5, lesson 1 239
LESSON PLAN Christ s Claims and Commandments Directions: Read from the Gospel of Luke and then complete the chart with Christ s Claims made by Jesus claims during and commands Commands during the made Last by Supper Jesus and during the Institution the of the the Last Supper Eucharist. Institution of the Eucharist 1. 1. Luke 22:14-20 When the hour came, he took his place at table with the apostles. He said 2. 2. to them, I have eagerly desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer, for, I tell you, I shall not eat it [again] until there is fulfillment in the kingdom of God. Then he took a cup, gave thanks, and said, Take this 3. and share it among yourselves; for I tell you [that] from this time on I shall not drink of the fruit of the vine until the kingdom of God comes. Then he took the bread, said the blessing, broke it, and gave it to them, saying, 4. This is my body, which will be given for you; do this in memory of me. And likewise the cup after they had eaten, saying, This cup is the new covenant in my blood, which will be shed for you. 5. Your reflections on Christ s claims Your reflections on Christ s commands C. Have students turn to Christ s Claims and Commandments (page 127). In groups, have students read Luke 22:14-20 and complete the accompanying activity. Formative Assessment When complete, review and discuss the answers to the activity on Christ s Claims and Commandments with your students. 128 The Scriptural Rosary 127 Directions: Reflect on each scriptural passage as you pray the Rosary. The Fifth Luminous Mystery: And likewise the cup after they had eaten, The Institution of the Eucharist saying, This cup is the new covenant in my blood, which will be shed for you. At the last supper, Jesus instructs us to (Luke 22:20) remember him in the celebration of the Eucharist. OUR FATHER For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the death of the Lord Before the feast of Passover, Jesus knew until he comes. (1 Corinthians 11:26) that his hour had come to pass from this world to the Father. He loved his own in the world and he loved them to the end. (John I pray not only for them, but also for those 13:1) who will believe in me through their word, so that they may all be one that the world may believe that you sent me. (John 17:20-21) My appointed time draws near; in your house I shall celebrate the Passover with my disciples. (Matthew 26:18b) Now you are Christ s body, and individually parts of it. (1 Corinthians 12:27) I have eagerly desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer, for, I tell you, I shall For in one Spirit we were all baptized into not eat it [again] until there is fulfillment in one body, whether Jews or Greeks, slaves or the kingdom of God. (Luke 22:15-16) free persons, and we were all given to drink of one Spirit. (1 Corinthians 12:13) Then he took the bread, said the blessing, broke it, and gave it to them, saying, This If [one] part suffers, all the parts suffer with is my body, which will be given for you; do it; if one part is honored, all the parts share this in memory of me. (Luke 22:19) its joy. (1 Corinthians 12:26) GLORY BE 129 DAY THREE A. Before class begins, familiarize yourself with the 10 scriptural references in the decade of the Fifth Luminous Mystery. B. Ask students to turn to The Scriptural Rosary (page 129). Open class with a scriptural decade of the Rosary: The Fifth Luminous Mystery, pertaining to the Institution of the Eucharist. C. Discuss the unifying themes of the 10 scriptural passages that accompany the USCCB s rendering of the Fifth Luminous Mystery. 240 SOPHIA INSTITUTE FOR TEACHERS
BY JACAPO BASSANO (C. 1546) Jacapo Bassano,, c. 1546, oil on canvas, Courtesy Galleria Borghese, Rome, Italy. 125 Unit 5, lesson 1 241
Answer Key 1.. The elements of the Last Supper are all present: bread, wine, and Jesus has gathered with His Twelve Apostles in the Upper Room. 2. Accept reasoned answers. 3. They are clothed plainly, barefoot, like simple fishermen. They also seem to be agitated, discussing something. 4. Jesus is in the very center of the painting. Peter could be multiple figures in the painting: the figure directly to Jesus left or the figure in the bottom front left 126, by Jacapo Bassano (c. 1546) Directions: Take some time to quietly view and reflect on the art. Let yourself be inspired in any way that happens naturally. Then think about the questions below, and discuss them with your classmates. Conversation Questions 1. What Biblical event is depicted in this painting? What evidence from the painting tells you this? 2. Where does your eye go when you look at this painting? 3. How would you describe the Apostles in this painting? What can you tell about them from their clothing, gestures, etc.? 4. Try to identify the various figures in the painting. Which figure is Jesus? Which figure is St. Peter? Which figure is John the Beloved Apostle? Which figure is Judas? What makes you think so for each of these figures? 5. What do you notice on the table? What evidence from the painting tells you that Jesus and His Apostles were celebrating a Passover meal together? 6. Read John 13:21-30. What moment in the story has the artist captured in this painting? Identify the various parts of the Gospel story in the painting 7. What do you notice at the foot of the table in the very front and bottom of the painting? Read John 13:1-20. What happened in this story from John s Gospel? How is this reflected in the painting? of the painting. Accept reasoned answers. John the Beloved Apostle is seated directly in front of Jesus. Judas is the darkly clothed person to the left who is taking a drink from his wine glass, seemingly paying little attention to what is going on around him. 5. Students may note: lamb, fruit, bread, wine. There are also several knives. Students may note that the lamb is a symbol of the Old Covenant; Jesus is the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world (John 1:29b). At the end of Jesus public ministry, approaching the hour He would depart from this world, the feast of Unleavened Bread, called the Passover, was drawing near (Luke 22:1). The Passover was the principle Jewish feast of the Old Testament and had been instituted to commemorate the Jews liberation from Egyptian slavery and the fulfillment (continued) 242 SOPHIA INSTITUTE FOR TEACHERS
Answer Key (continued) of God s promise to Abraham that He would establish a people uniquely His. By the same covenant, this same people would eventually come into possession of the Promised Land. The Eucharist is a memorial of the Paschal event. He is the Lamb slain by His own trusted people. The Eucharist has become the Passover Lamb for all Christians. Jesus told them: I have eagerly desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer. Christ foreshadows His Passion, which demonstrates that He is the Lamb to be sacrificed for our salvation. The bread and wine will become the Body and Blood of Jesus. Jesus said whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise him on the last day (John 6:54). 6. The painting depicts the dramatic moment when Jesus has just announced that one of the Twelve will betray Him. They are all astonished and wonder who among them will betray Jesus. Read John 13:21-30. 7. A water basin and jug. In John 13:1-20, Jesus washes the Apostle s feet as a model of service to others. It is here that Jesus says If I, therefore, the master and teacher, have washed your feet, you ought to wash one another s feet. I have given you a model to follow, so that as I have done for you, you should also do. The water basin and jug tells us that in this painting, Jesus had recently washed His Apostles feet, before the current scene depicted. Also, the fact that the Apostles are all barefoot could be referring back to this moment. Unit 5, lesson 1 243
Christ s Claims and Commandments Directions: Read from the Gospel of Luke and then complete the chart with Christ s claims and commands during the Last Supper and the Institution of the Eucharist. Luke 22:14-20 When the hour came, he took his place at table with the apostles. He said to them, I have eagerly desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer, for, I tell you, I shall not eat it [again] until there is fulfillment in the kingdom of God. Then he took a cup, gave thanks, and said, Take this and share it among yourselves; for I tell you [that] from this time on I shall not drink of the fruit of the vine until the kingdom of God comes. Then he took the bread, said the blessing, broke it, and gave it to them, saying, This is my body, which will be given for you; do this in memory of me. And likewise the cup after they had eaten, saying, This cup is the new covenant in my blood, which will be shed for you. 127 244 SOPHIA INSTITUTE FOR TEACHERS
Answer Key Claims made by Jesus during the Last Supper: Claims made by Jesus during the Last Supper Commands made by Jesus during the Institution of the Eucharist 1. Luke 22:15: I have eagerly desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer. 2. Luke 22:16: for, I tell you, I shall not eat it [again] until there is fulfillment in the kingdom of God. 1. 1. 2. 2. 3. 4. 5. 3. Luke 22:18: from this time on I shall not drink of the fruit of the vine until the kingdom of God comes. Your reflections on Christ s claims Your reflections on Christ s commands 4. Luke 22:19: Then he took the bread, said the blessing, broke it, and gave it to them, saying, This is my body, which will be given for you. 128 5. Luke 22:20: This cup is the new covenant in my blood, which will be shed for you. Commands made by Jesus during the Institution of the Eucharist: 1. Luke 22:17: Take this and share it among yourselves. 2. Luke 22:19: [D]o this in memory of me. Unit 5, lesson 1 245
The Scriptural Rosary Directions: Reflect on each scriptural passage as you pray the Rosary. The Fifth Luminous Mystery: The Institution of the Eucharist At the last supper, Jesus instructs us to remember him in the celebration of the Eucharist. OUR FATHER Before the feast of Passover, Jesus knew that his hour had come to pass from this world to the Father. He loved his own in the world and he loved them to the end. (John 13:1) My appointed time draws near; in your house I shall celebrate the Passover with my disciples. (Matthew 26:18b) I have eagerly desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer, for, I tell you, I shall not eat it [again] until there is fulfillment in the kingdom of God. (Luke 22:15-16) Then he took the bread, said the blessing, broke it, and gave it to them, saying, This is my body, which will be given for you; do this in memory of me. (Luke 22:19) And likewise the cup after they had eaten, saying, This cup is the new covenant in my blood, which will be shed for you. (Luke 22:20) For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the death of the Lord until he comes. (1 Corinthians 11:26) I pray not only for them, but also for those who will believe in me through their word, so that they may all be one that the world may believe that you sent me. (John 17:20-21) Now you are Christ s body, and individually parts of it. (1 Corinthians 12:27) For in one Spirit we were all baptized into one body, whether Jews or Greeks, slaves or free persons, and we were all given to drink of one Spirit. (1 Corinthians 12:13) If [one] part suffers, all the parts suffer with it; if one part is honored, all the parts share its joy. (1 Corinthians 12:26) GLORY BE 129 246 SOPHIA INSTITUTE FOR TEACHERS
BY JACAPO BASSANO (C. 1546) Jacapo Bassano,, c. 1546, oil on canvas, Courtesy Galleria Borghese, Rome, Italy. Unit 5, Lesson 1 125
, by Jacapo Bassano (c. 1546) Directions: Take some time to quietly view and reflect on the art. Let yourself be inspired in any way that happens naturally. Then think about the questions below, and discuss them with your classmates. Conversation Questions 1. What Biblical event is depicted in this painting? What evidence from the painting tells you this? 2. Where does your eye go when you look at this painting? 3. How would you describe the Apostles in this painting? What can you tell about them from their clothing, gestures, etc.? 4. Try to identify the various figures in the painting. Which figure is Jesus? Which figure is St. Peter? Which figure is John the Beloved Apostle? Which figure is Judas? What makes you think so for each of these figures? 5. What do you notice on the table? What evidence from the painting tells you that Jesus and His Apostles were celebrating a Passover meal together? 6. Read John 13:21-30. What moment in the story has the artist captured in this painting? Identify the various parts of the Gospel story in the painting 7. What do you notice at the foot of the table in the very front and bottom of the painting? Read John 13:1-20. What happened in this story from John s Gospel? How is this reflected in the painting? 126 Unit 5, Lesson 1
Christ s Claims and Commandments Directions: Read from the Gospel of Luke and then complete the chart with Christ s claims and commands during the Last Supper and the Institution of the Eucharist. Luke 22:14-20 When the hour came, he took his place at table with the apostles. He said to them, I have eagerly desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer, for, I tell you, I shall not eat it [again] until there is fulfillment in the kingdom of God. Then he took a cup, gave thanks, and said, Take this and share it among yourselves; for I tell you [that] from this time on I shall not drink of the fruit of the vine until the kingdom of God comes. Then he took the bread, said the blessing, broke it, and gave it to them, saying, This is my body, which will be given for you; do this in memory of me. And likewise the cup after they had eaten, saying, This cup is the new covenant in my blood, which will be shed for you. Unit 5, Lesson 1 127
Claims made by Jesus during the Last Supper Commands made by Jesus during the Institution of the Eucharist 1. 1. 2. 2. 3. 4. 5. Your reflections on Christ s claims Your reflections on Christ s commands 128 Unit 5, Lesson 1
The Scriptural Rosary Directions: Reflect on each scriptural passage as you pray the Rosary. The Fifth Luminous Mystery: The Institution of the Eucharist At the last supper, Jesus instructs us to remember him in the celebration of the Eucharist. OUR FATHER Before the feast of Passover, Jesus knew that his hour had come to pass from this world to the Father. He loved his own in the world and he loved them to the end. (John 13:1) My appointed time draws near; in your house I shall celebrate the Passover with my disciples. (Matthew 26:18b) I have eagerly desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer, for, I tell you, I shall not eat it [again] until there is fulfillment in the kingdom of God. (Luke 22:15-16) Then he took the bread, said the blessing, broke it, and gave it to them, saying, This is my body, which will be given for you; do this in memory of me. (Luke 22:19) And likewise the cup after they had eaten, saying, This cup is the new covenant in my blood, which will be shed for you. (Luke 22:20) For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the death of the Lord until he comes. (1 Corinthians 11:26) I pray not only for them, but also for those who will believe in me through their word, so that they may all be one that the world may believe that you sent me. (John 17:20-21) Now you are Christ s body, and individually parts of it. (1 Corinthians 12:27) For in one Spirit we were all baptized into one body, whether Jews or Greeks, slaves or free persons, and we were all given to drink of one Spirit. (1 Corinthians 12:13) If [one] part suffers, all the parts suffer with it; if one part is honored, all the parts share its joy. (1 Corinthians 12:26) GLORY BE Unit 5, Lesson 1 129