Class 3: Sacraments of Initiation THE SACRAMENT OF THE HOLY EUCHARIST From the Prayer Before Study Ineffable Creator... You are proclaimed the true font of light and wisdom, and the primal origin raised high beyond all things. Pour forth a ray of Your brightness into the darkened places of my mind; disperse from my soul the twofold darkness into which I was born: sin and ignorance. You make eloquent the tongues of infants. Refine my speech and pour forth upon my lips the goodness of Your blessing. by Thomas Aquinas Grant to me keenness of mind, capacity to remember, skill in learning, subtlety to interpret, and eloquence in speech. May You guide the beginning of my work, direct its progress, and bring it to completion. You Who are true God and true Man, Who live and reign, world without end. Amen 1
Introduction 1. Completion of Christian Initiation (CCC 1322) 2. Perpetuation of the Sacrifice of the Cross (CCC 1323) 3. Source and Summit of Christian life 4. Communion in the Divine Life: Sign and Cause (CCC 1325; cf. 260) The Holy Eucharist: consider. Why did Jesus give us the Holy Eucharist? How is the Eucharist important for Evangelization? What is transubstantiation? Is it biblical? What does the Eucharist do to people? What is the relationship the Eucharist and joy? 2
11/28/2012 Introduction 5. Two-fold participation (CCC 1326) A. In the heavenly liturgy B. In Eternal Life/ Resurrection 3
Names of the Eucharist CCC 1328 Eucharist -- to give thanks 1. Creation 2. Redemption 3. Sanctification Names of the Eucharist Memorial of the Lord s Passion and Death Names of the Eucharist Holy Sacrifice Holy and Divine Liturgy Most Blessed Sacrament Holy Communion The Holy Things Communion of Saints (1331) 4
Names of the Eucharist Holy Mass 1. Concludes with Ite Missa Est 2. The sending of the prayers to God with Christ 3. The sending of the Sacrifice itself to God Names of the Eucharist Holy Mass And from this the mass derives its name missa; because the priest sends [mittit] his prayers up to God through the angel, as the people do through the priest. or else because Christ is the victim sent [missa] to us: accordingly the deacon on festival days "dismisses" the people at the end of the mass, by saying: "Ite, missa est," that is, the victim has been sent [missa est] to God through the angel, so that it may be accepted by God. (St Thomas Aquinas) The Eucharist in the Old Testament 1. The Fruit of the Tree of Life (Gen 2-3) 2. The Bread and Wine of Melchizedek (Gen 14:18) 3. The Sacrifice of Isaac and the lamb of God (Gen 22:1-8) 4. The Passover Sacrifice (Ex 12) 5. The Bread from Heaven (Ex 16) 1. The Manna 2. The Quail 6. The Tabernacle of Moses (Ex 25) 1. The Bread of the Presence 5
The Bread of Life Sermon (Jn 6) The context: Passover (Jn 6:4); cf. Ex 12 Feeding the five thousand Prefigures superabundance of the Eucharist (CCC 1335) He blessed, he broke, he gave (Matt 14:19; Luke 22:19) When he had given thanks (eucharistesas) Jn 6:11 Response of crowd: the New Moses (cf. Deut 18:15-19) The Bread of Life Sermon (Jn 6) The demand for a sign: Moses and Manna (John 6:30; Exodus 16) The Bread of Life Sermon (Jn 6) The Bread of life discourse: Two interpretations Metaphorical (eating = believing) Sacramental (refers to the Eucharist) Caphernetic (cannibalism) 6
The Bread of Life Sermon (Jn 6) Part One: The Necessity of Faith ( John 6:35-47) Importance of belief in the Son Faith as a gift from the Father The Bread of Life Sermon (Jn 6) Part two: The necessity of the Eucharist (John 6:48-58) The New Manna comes down from heaven and gives eternal life is my flesh Jews understand him literally, and he does not correct them The Bread of Life Sermon (Jn 6) The Necessity of eating his flesh and drinking his blood (John 6:55) The disciples response: a hard saying and they depart Key: resurrection and ascension: Jesus risen flesh (CCC 1392) The flesh is useless 7
John 6 Jesus use of the words phagein and trogein The Last Supper: The Institution of the Eucharist (Lk 22) The context of the Last Supper: The Jewish Passover (GK Pascha) (Ex 12) Kill the lamb (Ex 12:6, 46) Dip a hyssop branch in the blood of the lamb Sprinkle the blood on the doorposts and lintel Eat the flesh of the lamb Sign of the covenant is the blood of the lamb (Ex 21:13; cf. Ezek 9, Rev 7) Passover: a day of remembering to be observed forever (Ex 12:14, 24) A night of watching (Ex 12:40-42) The Last Supper: The Institution of the Eucharist (Lk 22) The New Passover: transfiguration topic; Behold I make all things new (Rev 21:5) The New Lamb: Jesus himself The New Sacrifice: Bread and wine The New temple: Jesus body (cf. John 2) The New priesthood: Jesus and the twelve The New Covenant: the family of God restored (Jer 31:31-33) The New Israel: the 12 tribes restored (Luke 22:28-30) The New Creation: bread and wine transformed into Jesus Body and Blood 8
The Last Supper: The Institution of the Eucharist (Lk 22) What is the link between this new Passover and the crucifixion? One explanation: the fourth cup in the Passover meal The Last Supper: The Institution of the Eucharist (Lk 22) THE FOURTH CUP: Jewish passover liturgy had multiple cups 3 rd cup: The cup of blessing (cf. 1 Cor 10:16-17) Singing of the final Hallel (Psalm 116) 4 th cup: The Cup of Consummation The Last Supper: The Institution of the Eucharist (Lk 22) THE FOURTH CUP: Jesus does not complete the Passover! He vows not to drink of the fruit of the vine again (Mt 26:29) They sing the hymn then leave! (Mt 26:30) Jesus in the garden: Take this cup from me) Mt 26 Jesus does not drink on the way to the cross (Mt 27:34) The Crucifixion (John 19:25-30) I thirst He drinks: It is finished.. 9
Three-fold dimension of the Eucharist 1. Thanksgiving and Praise to the Father 2. Sacrificial memorial 3. The Presence of Christ Thanksgiving and Praise to the Father CCC 1359 Most basic motif: act of thanksgiving for ALL: creation, redemption, sanctification Offered on behalf of all creation: to the Father, through and with Christ. Sacrificial Memorial CCC 1362 Memorial of Christ s passover Anamnesis: recalling and making present ( in memory of his death and resurrection, we offer you Father. This mighty deeds become present and real (CCC 1363) 10
Sacrificial Memorial Sacrificial character in Christ s own words: This is my body which is given for you This cup which is poured out for you is the New Covenant in my blood Sacrificial Memorial The Eucharist re-presents the Sacrifice of the cross (makes present) (CCC 1366) This is ONE SINGLE SACRIFICE (CCC 1367) The Presence of Christ in the Eucharist CCC 1373 by the power of his word and the Holy Spirit 11
The Presence of Christ in the Eucharist CCC 1373 by the power of his word and the Holy Spirit Various modes of Christ s presence at Mass Most especially in the Eucharistic Species Unique: the end toward of all the other sacraments Ipse Christus The Presence of Christ in the Eucharist CCC 1374 The Eucharist is Jesus Christ: Body, Blood, Soul, and Divinity Humanity and Divinity The Whole Christ is truly, really, substantially contained. real in the fullest sense Substantial: whole and entire Transubstantiation CCC 1376 Whole substance of bread and wine into whole substance of Christ CCC 1377 Doctrine of Concomitance: whole Christ present in the species and in each of their parts (He is not divided though the species are) 12
Substance : an appropriate word? Used officially at Fourth Lateran Council in 1215 Biblical usage: Our Father epi-ousios St. Ambrose s De Sacramentis (AD 380): We receive the figura of the body and blood of Our Lord Figura= substantia Council of Trent Formulated our doctrinal language for the Eucharist with precision CCC 1376 cf. 13th session of Trent Heretical theories of Eucharistic Presence Symbolic Presence Eucharist is purely symbolic Ulrich Zwingli (a father of the reformation) Baptists, many non-denominational protestants 13
Heretical theories of Eucharistic Presence Spiritual Presence Christ s SPIRIT is present, not his body John Calvin Anglican Church Many non-denominational Protestants Modernist Catholics Heretical theories of Eucharistic Presence Consubstantiation Christ s body and blood exist alongside the bread and wine Incarnational analogy makes it believable Competitive nature of human nature is the problem Martin Luther (impanation) Some Anglicans Worship of the Eucharist Paul VI: The Church has always offered and continued to offer the cult of adoration not only during Mass but outside of it. (CCC 1378) Importance of Eucharistic adoration (CCC 1380-1381) 14
Holy Communion Requirements for reception (CCC 1385) Preparation (CCC 1386-88) Minimal requirements (1389) Fruits of Holy Communion CCC 1391 Augments of Union with Christ Nourishes spiritual life Separates us from sin Wipes away venial sins Preserves from future mortal sins makes the Church (CCC 1396) Commits us to the poor (e.g., Mother Theresa) For next time... Read introduction (p. 1-15), Ch 1 (p. 1-23) of the GIRM and familiarize yourself with the layout Read Catechism section on Sacraments of Healing Be ready for quiz on the Holy Eucharist 15
General Instruction of the Roman Missal Third edition of the Roman Missal promulgated in 2001 (in Latin) November 12, 2002, Bishops in USCCB approved Institutio Generalis Missalis Romani, confirmed by Holy See in 2003 It is the authoritative norm of interpreting and celebrating the 2002 Missal 46 Layout of GIRM Preamble Importance/Dignity of the Mass Structure of the Mass Duties and Ministries of the Mass Different forms of the Mass Arrangement, Furnishings Requisites of the Mass Also. 47 Layout of GIRM The choice of the Mass and parts Various circumstances, Masses for dead Adaptations for Bishops, conferences Index 48 16
Highlights of the GIRM Common issues... 49 17