ENCOUNTERING CHRIST AND ONE ANOTHER IN THE EUCHARIST St. Thomas More Catholic Church, 6 April 2019 www.paulturner.org/workshops
OVERVIEW Four ways that Christ is present at mass Encountering one another Encountering Christ in communion Viaticum The qualities of communion ministers The deacon at mass
CHRIST IS REALLY PRESENT General Instruction of the Roman Missal (GIRM) 27. For in the celebration of Mass, in which the Sacrifice of the Cross is perpetuated, Christ is really present in the very assembly gathered in his name, in the person of the minister, in his word, and indeed substantially and uninterruptedly under the Eucharistic species.
WHEN THE SACRED SCRIPTURES ARE READ IN THE CHURCH, GOD HIMSELF SPEAKS TO HIS PEOPLE, AND CHRIST, PRESENT IN HIS WORD, PROCLAIMS THE GOSPEL. (GIRM 29)
GIRM CHAPTER III Duties and Ministries in the Mass I. The Duties of Those in Holy Orders II. The Functions of the People of God
GIRM 95. In the celebration of Mass the faithful form a holy people, a people of God s own possession and a royal Priesthood, so that they may give thanks to God and offer the unblemished sacrificial Victim not only by means of the hands of the Priest but also together with him and so that they may learn to offer their very selves. They should, moreover, take care to show this by their deep religious sense and their charity toward brothers and sisters who participate with them in the same celebration.
GIRM 95 (CONT.) They are consequently to avoid any appearance of singularity or division, keeping in mind that they have only one Father in heaven and that hence are all brothers or sisters one to the other.
GIRM 96 Moreover, they are to form one body, whether in hearing the Word of God, or in taking part in the prayers and in the singing, or above all by the common offering of the Sacrifice and by participating together at the Lord s table. This unity is beautifully apparent from the gestures and bodily postures observed together by the faithful.
OPPORTUNITIES TO SHOW CHARITY Parking lot How people dress How kids behave Music Communion procedures Following rubrics
PRAYER OVER THE OFFERINGS Grant us, O Lord, we pray, that we may participate worthily in these mysteries, for whenever the memorial of this sacrifice is celebrated the work of our redemption is accomplished. Through Christ our Lord.
EUCHARISTIC PRAYER III grant that we, who are nourished by the Body and Blood of your Son and filled with his Holy Spirit, may become one body, one spirit in Christ.
PRAYER AFTER COMMUNION Grant, almighty God, that, just as we are renewed by the Supper of your Son in this present age, so we may enjoy his banquet for all eternity. Through Christ our Lord.
ENCOUNTERING CHRIST IN COMMUNION It is most desirable that the faithful, just as the Priest himself is bound to do, receive the Lord s Body from hosts consecrated at the same Mass and that, in the cases where this is foreseen, they partake of the chalice (cf. no. 283), so that even by means of the signs Communion may stand out more clearly as a participation in the sacrifice actually being celebrated. GIRM 85
GIRM 321 [It] is desirable that the Eucharistic bread be fashioned in such a way that the Priest at Mass with the people is truly able to break it into parts and distribute these to at least some of the faithful Moreover, the gesture of the fraction or breaking of bread, which was quite simply the term by which the Eucharist was known in apostolic times, will bring out more clearly the force and importance of the sign of the unity of all in the one bread, and of the sign of charity by the fact that the one bread is distributed
GIRM 281 Holy Communion has a fuller form as a sign when it takes place under both kinds. For in this form the sign of the Eucharistic banquet is more clearly evident and clearer expression is given to the divine will by which the new and eternal Covenant is ratified in the Blood of the Lord, as also the connection between the Eucharistic banquet and the eschatological banquet in the Kingdom of the Father.
GIRM 282 At the same time the faithful should be instructed to participate more readily in this sacred rite [communion under both kinds], by which the sign of the Eucharistic banquet is made more fully evident.
CODE OF CANON LAW 921 1. The Christian faithful who are in danger of death from any cause are to be nourished by holy communion in the form of Viaticum. 2. Even if they have been nourished by holy communion on the same day, however, those in danger of death are strongly urged to receive communion again.
CODE OF CANON LAW 3. While the danger of death lasts, it is recommended that holy communion be administered often, but on separate days. 922 Holy Viaticum for the sick is not to be delayed too long; those who have the care of souls are to be zealous and vigilant that the sick are nourished by Viaticum while fully conscious.
COMMUNION MINISTERS (BOOK OF BLESSINGS, CHAPTER 63) In this ministry you must be examples of Christian living in faith and conduct; you must strive to grow in holiness through this sacrament of unity and love. Remember that, though many, we are one body because we share the one bread and one cup.
BLESSING As ministers of holy communion be, therefore, especially observant of the Lord s command to love your neighbor. For when he gave his body as food to his disciples, he said to them: This is my commandment, that you should love one another as I have loved you.
THE COMMAND TO LOVE Love God Love your neighbor Love yourself Love one another
THE DEACON S ROLE Proclaiming the Gospel Listing the intentions Inviting the sign of peace Making announcements Inviting the dismissal
YOUR GOALS AT MASS To encounter Christ in the assembly, the minister, the word and the eucharist To participate worthily To express unity To love one another