The Eucharist
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What are the origins of the Eucharist?
The origins of the Eucharist are found in the Last Supper that Jesus shared with his Apostles.
The Lord, having loved those who were his own, loved them to the end. Knowing that the hour had come to leave this world and return to the Father, in the course of a meal he washed their feet and gave them the commandment of love. In order to leave them a pledge of this love, in order never to depart from his own and to make them sharers in his Passover, he instituted the Eucharist as the memorial of his death and Resurrection, and commanded his apostles to celebrate it until his return; "thereby he constituted them priests of the New Testament." (Council of Trent(1562):DS1740)
-Catechism of the Catholic Church, no. 1337
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Signs of Bread and Wine
At the heart of the Eucharistic celebration are the bread and wine that, by the words of Christ and the invocation of the Holy Spirit, become Christ's Body and Blood. Faithful to the Lord's command the Church continues to do, in his memory and until his glorious return, what he did on the eve of his Passion: "He took bread. . . ." "He took the cup filled with wine. . . ."
The signs of bread and wine become, in a way surpassing understanding, the Body and Blood of Christ; they continue also to signify the goodness of creation. Thus in the Offertory we give thanks to the Creator for bread and wine, fruit of the "work of human hands," but above all as "fruit of the earth" and "of the vine" - gifts of the Creator.
-Catechism of the Catholic Church
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Institution of the Eucharist
When Jesus instituted the Eucharist, he gave a final meaning to the blessing of the bread and the wine and the scrifice of the lamb. The Gospels narrate events that anticipated the Eucharist. The miracle of the loaves and fish, reported in all four Gospels, prefigured the unique abundance of the Eucharist.
The miracle of changing water into wine at the wedding feast in Cana manifested the divine glory of Jesus and heavenly wedding feast in which we share at every Eucharist.
In his dialogue with the people at Cappernaaum, Christ used his miracle of multiplying the loaves of bread as the occasion to describe himself as the Bread of Life: "I am the living bread that came down from heaven...Unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you do not have life within you." (John 6:51, 53)
-United States Catholic Catechism for Adults
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What happens at the consecration in the Mass?
By the consecration, the transubstantiation of the bread and wine into the Body and Blood of Christ is brought about. Under the consecrated species of bread and wine, Christ himself, living and glorious, is present in a true, real and substantial manner: His Body and Blood, with his soul and divinity.
-Catechism of the Catholic Church, no. 1413; Council of Trent: DS 1640, 1651
The consecrated bread has become Christ's Body. The consecrated wine has become Christ's Blood. Jesus Chist is substantially present in a way that is entirely unique. This happens by the power of the Holy Spirit through the ministry of the priest's or bishops acting in the person of Christ during the Eucharistic Prayer. At Mass, when we are offered the Host and hear the statement "The Body of Christ", we answer, "Amen",that is, "Yes, I believe."
-United States Catholic Catechism for Adults
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The Real Presence of Christ
By the power of the Holy Spirit, Christ is present in the proclamation of God's Word, in the Eucharistic assembly, in the person of the priest, but above all and in wholly unique manner in the Eucharist.
"This presence is called 'real' by which is not intended to exclude the other types of presence as if they could not be 'real' too, but because it is presence in the fullest sense: that is to say, it is a substantial presence by which Christ, God and man, makes himself wholly and entirely present." (Catechism of the Catholic Church, no. 1374, citing Pope Paul VI, Mystery of Faith, no. 39)
Since the Middle Ages, the change of bread and wine into the Body and Blood of Christ has been called "transubstantiation". This means that the substance of the bread and wine is changed into the substance of the Body and Blood of Christ. The appearance of bread and wine remain (color, shape, weight, chemical composition), but underlying reality- that is, the substance- is now the Body and Blood of Christ.
-United States Catholic Catechism for Adults
LEARN MORE about the Real Presence of Jesus Christ in the Sacrament of the Eucharist: Basic Questions and Answers
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What are the benefits of receiving the Eucharist?
Through participation in the Eucharist, we also participate in the Paschal Mystery of Christ, that is, in his dying and rising, which is made present for us in the Eucharistic sacrifice. This participation in the Paschal Mystery of Christ reaches its consumation when we receive his Body and Blood in Holy Communion. Christ's victory and triumph over death is then made present in the lives of those who participate in the Eucharist.
The person who receives the Eucharist is blessed with many graces.- Holy Communion increases our union with Christ. "whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood remains in me and I in him." (John 6:56). Communion with the Body of Christ preserves, increases, and renews the life of grace received at Baptism.
- Holy Communion separates us from sin. We receive the Body of Christ "given up for us" to save us from sin. We receive the Blood of Christ "shed for many for the forgiveness of sins". Our love of God is intensified and therefore our disordered attachments are weakoned and even broken. Divine love wipes away venial sins.
- Holy Communion offers us strength, called grace, to preserve us from mortal sin. By deepening our friendship with Christ, this Sacrament makes it more difficult for us to break our union with him by mortal sin.
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- Holy Communion expands the life of the Church. The Church as a communion is bound ever more closely together through the celebration of the Eucharist. In receiving Communion, we are more fully united to the Church.
- Holy Communion commits us to care for the poor. Saint Paul reminded the Corinthians that in sharing the Body of Christ in the Eucharist, they were also called to care for the poorer members of the community. (cf. 1 Corinthians 11:17-34)
Participation in the celebration of the Eucharist sacrifice is a source and means of grace even apart from the actual reception of Holy Communion. It has been long understood that when circumstances prevent one from receiving Holy Communion during Mass, it is possible to make a spiritual communion that is also a source of grace. Spritual communion means uniting one's self in prayer with Christ's sacrifice and worshiping him present in his Body and Blood.
-United States Catholic Catechism for Adults
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The celebration of Sunday observes the moral commandment inscribed by nature in the human heart to render to God an outward, visible, public, and regular worship "as a sign of his universal beneficence to all." Sunday worship fulfills the moral command of the Old Covenant, taking up its rhythm and spirit in the weekly celebration of the Creator and Redeemer of his people.
-Catechism of the Catholic Church, 2176
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The Sunday Eucharist
The Sunday celebration of the Lord's Day and his Eucharist is at the heart of the Church's life. "Sunday is the day on which the paschal mystery is celebrated in light of the apostolic tradition and is to be observed as the foremost holy day of obligation in the universal Church."
This practice of the Christian assembly dates from the beginnings of the apostolic age. The Letter to the Hebrews reminds the faithful "not to neglect to meet together, as is the habit of some, but to encourage one another." Hebrews 10: 25
Tradition preserves the memory of an ever-timely exhortation: Come to Church early, approach the Lord, and confess your sins, repent in prayer...Be present at the sacred and divine liturgy, conclude its prayer and do not leave before the dismissal... We have often said: "This day is given to you for prayer and rest. This is the day that the Lord has made, let us rejoice and be glad in it."
-Catechism of the Catholic Church, 2177-2178
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Participation in the communal celebration of the Sunday Eucharist is a testimony of belonging and of being faithful to Christ and to his Church. The faithful give witness by this to their communion in faith and charity. Together they testify to God's holiness and their hope of salvation. They strengthen one another under the guidance of the Holy Spirit.
-Catechism of the Catholic Church, 2182
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The Sunday Obligation
The Precept of the Church specifies the law of the Lord more precisely: "On Sundays and other holy days of obligation the faithful are bound to participate in the Mass." "The precept of participating in the Mass is satisfied by assistance at a Mass which is celebrated anywhere in a Catholic rite either on the holy day or on the evening of the preceding day."
The Sunday Eucharist is the foundation and
confirmation of all Christian practice. For this reason the faithful are obliged to participate in the Eucharist on days of obligation, unless excused for a serious reason (for example, illness, the care of infants) or dispensed by
their own pastor. Those who deliberately
fail in this obligation commit a grave sin.
-Catechism of the Catholic Church, 2180-2181
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the Eucharist: Word on fire
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the Eucharist as a meal
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the eucharist as sacrifice
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the eucharist as real presence
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Preparation Process for your Child
Parents/guardians who choose to enroll their children in our preparation process for First Eucharist and First Reconciliation will be expected to attend Sacramental Preparation Sessions with their child. Each session will include some activities for parents and children together and some time when catechists will meet with the children while the parents are meeting with their peers and the Director of Religious Education.
During the adult portion of these sessions you will be invited to explore your own understanding of the Sacraments of Reconciliation and Eucharist and be given information that will prepare you to share your faith with your child at home. We spend this time focusing on parents because we believe that you are the best teachers of the faith for your child and that it is the Church’s responsibility to support you in that role. Children will do approximately half of their preparation here with their catechist and will be helped by parents to complete the other half at home.
Final preparation for each sacrament includes a retreat for students and their families. Your commitment to regular Mass participation and full participation in the preparation process cannot be dismissed lightly. The first precept of the Precepts of the Church requires that all members of the Church attend Mass on Sundays and Holy Days of Obligation and refrain from those activities that would impede the proper sanctification of these days. While we understand that emergencies arise, it is our expectation that families will make this special time of preparation a priority.
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Guidelines for the Reception of Communion
The following guidelines seek to remind all those who attend Catholic liturgies of the present discipline of the Church with regard to the sharing of Eucharistic communion.
For Catholics
As Catholics, we fully participate in the celebration of the Eucharist when we receive Holy Communion.- We are encouraged to receive Communion devoutly and frequently.
- In order to be properly disposed to receive Communion, particpants should be conscious of no grave sin and
- Participants normally should have fasted for one hour.
- A person who is conscious of grave sin is not to receive the Body and Blood of the Lord without prior sacramental confession except for a grave reason where there is no opportunity for confession. In this case, the person is to be mindful of the obligation to make an act of perfect contrition, including the intention of confessing as soon as possible (Code of Canon Law, 916). A frequent reception of the Sacrament of Penance is encouraged for all.
-United States Catholic Catechism for Adults
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For Our Fellow Christians
We welcome our fellow Christians to this celebration of the Eucharist as our brothers and sisters. We pray that our common baptism and the action of the Holy Spirit in this Eucharist will draw us closer to one another and begin to dispel the sad divisions which separate us. We pray that these will lessen and finally disappear, in keeping with Christ's prayer for us "that they all may be one". (John 17:21)
Because Catholics believe that the celebration of the Eucharist is a sign of the reality of the oneness of faith, life and worship, members of those churches with whom we are not yet fully united are ordinarily not admitted to Holy Communion. Eucharistic sharing in exceptional cicumstances by other Christians requires permission according to the directives of the diocesan bishop and the provisions of canon law (Code of Canon Law, 844,4.)
Members of the Orthodox Churches, the Assyrian Church of the East, and the Polish National Catholic Church are urged to respect the discipline of their own Churches. According to Catholic discipline, the Code of Canon Law does not object to the reception of communion by Christians of these Churches (Code of Canon Law, 844,3).
For Those Not Receiving Holy Communion
All who are not receiving Holy Communion are encoraged to express in their hearts a prayerful desire for unity with the Lord Jesus and with one another.
For Non-Christians
We also welcome to this celebration those who do not share our faith in Jesus Christ. While we cannot admit them to Holy Communion, we ask them to offer their prayers for the peace and unity of the human family.
-United States Catholic Catechism for Adults
LEARN MORE on how you can Become Catholic.
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CHRIST IS OUR CENTER
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O God of hosts, restore us; light up your face and we shall be saved.
Psalms 80: 8
Dear Family in Christ,
On the day of November 29th, 2020, the Blessed Sacrament has returned to its rightful place of honor at the center of the sanctuary of our beautiful church. This, for us, is more than a ‘new look’ or simple rearranging of the sanctuary; this is a clear and bold significant statement of our parish prayer life, sacramental and devotional life.
We want Christ from now on to be at the ‘heart’ of our parish and family life. We want to let Christ be ‘the center,’ the source and summit of our lives.May the presence of the Blessed Sacrament at the center draw each one of us closer to the Holy Eucharist—Jesus in our midst.
To accomplish many things in our parish we rely on you, our parish family, and so firstly, thank you all for your continued presence and generous support that makes all our ministry and work possible. Special thanks to Monsignor James Moroney of the Diocese of Worcester who gave the expert advice and sought final approval from the Bishop.
Let this be our Prayer:
“Lord and father of all holiness, from whom the true bread of heaven has come down to us, We ask you to bless us and the new location we have prepared for the sacrament of Christ’s body. Through our adoration of your son present in the Eucharist lead us to a closer union with the mystery of redemption. May the Blessed Sacrament at the center be a physical reminder that God desires to be in our midst. That God dwells with us. That God protects us. We pray that we may come to know always that only with God are all things possible.”
We ask this through Christ our Lord.
— Father Anthony Mpagi,
Pastor of Saint Boniface Church from 2013-2021
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