Eucharist

Sacrament of Eucharist: How to Receive Christ’s Body and Blood

The sacrament of Eucharist, also known as Holy Communion or the Lord’s Supper, is one of the seven sacraments of the Catholic Church. It is also one of the three sacraments of initiation, along with baptism and confirmation, that bring us into full communion with God and his Church.

What is the Sacrament of Eucharist?

The sacrament of Eucharist is a sacrament that was instituted by Jesus Christ himself at the Last Supper, the final meal he shared with his apostles before his passion and death. He took bread and wine, blessed them, and gave them to his apostles, saying: “This is my body… This is my blood… Do this in memory of me.” (Luke 22:19-20)

Catholics believe that the Eucharist is not a mere symbol or a reminder of Jesus, but the real and substantial presence of Jesus Christ in the consecrated bread and wine. By the power of the Holy Spirit and the words of the priest, the bread and wine are changed into the body and blood of Christ. This change is called transubstantiation.

The Eucharist is both a sacrifice and a meal. It is a sacrifice because it makes present the one sacrifice of Christ on the cross in an unbloody manner. It is a meal because it nourishes us spiritually with the body and blood of Christ. By receiving the Eucharist, we become one with Christ and with each other, as members of his body, the Church.

Why Do We Need the Sacrament of Eucharist?

We need the sacrament of Eucharist because it is the source and summit of our Christian life. It is the highest form of worship that we can offer to God, and it is the most powerful way that we can encounter his love and grace.

The Eucharist strengthens our faith, hope and love. It helps us to grow in holiness and virtue. It forgives our venial sins and preserves us from mortal sins. It unites us more closely to Christ and his Church. It gives us a foretaste of heaven and prepares us for eternal life.

The Eucharist also empowers us to live as disciples and witnesses of Christ in the world. It inspires us to follow his example of service and sacrifice. It motivates us to share his gospel and his mercy with others. It challenges us to work for justice and peace in society.

How Do We Prepare for the Sacrament of Eucharist?

To prepare for the sacrament of Eucharist, we need to do three things:

  1. Believe: We need to have faith in Jesus Christ and in his real presence in the Eucharist. We need to accept the teachings of the Catholic Church about this sacrament.

  2. Repent: We need to be in a state of grace, which means free from mortal sin. If we have committed any mortal sin, we need to receive the sacrament of reconciliation before receiving the Eucharist.

  3. Pray: We need to pray before, during and after receiving the Eucharist. We need to thank God for this gift, ask him for his blessings, and offer him our lives.

What Happens During the Sacrament of Eucharist?

During the sacrament of Eucharist, we follow these steps:

  1. Listen: We listen to the readings from the Scripture and to the homily by the priest or deacon. We pay attention to God’s word and how it applies to our lives.

  2. Pray: We pray together with the priest and with each other. We profess our faith in the creed. We present our needs and intentions in the prayers of the faithful.

  3. Offer: We offer ourselves and our gifts to God. We bring bread and wine to the altar as symbols of our work and our lives. We join our sacrifices to those of Christ.

  4. Consecrate: The priest consecrates the bread and wine by saying the words that Jesus said at the Last Supper: “This is my body… This is my blood…” He invokes