Lesson 14 - The Institution of the Eucharist

• When Christ commanded the apostles to "Do this in memory. or in remembrance of me," He did not mean what we usually have in mind today when we celebrate various anniversaries, birthday parties, and the like.
• In the biblical tradition, "remembrance" is not looking backward to recall a past event, but rather, making present the great acts of the past in which God had worked (Exodus 13:3).
• Thus, the Old Testament Passover ritual is described as: "This day shall be a memorial feast for you, which all generations shall celebrate with pilgrimage to the Lord as a perpetual Institution" (Exodus 12:14).
• The Jewish memorial meal of the Passover was not just a subjective remembering, of God's past saving action; rather, it was primarily God, making present to later generations the saving power of His Exodus.
• The command of Christ, "Do this in remembrance of me," challenges the faithful to make Christ present today.
• The Eucharistic celebration makes present Christ's sacrifice on the cross by which he once and for all saved the world from sin and death.
• Israel's Thanksgiving Passover remembrance is where they make present how God liberated them from the hands of the Egyptians.
• Catholics, on the other hand, remember Christ's Paschal Mystery - His suffering, death, resurrection, and glorious ascension— the very means by which the Lord accomplished His work of redemption, through a sacred meal or the Eucharist.
• The Eucharist literally means "thanksgiving."
• liturgy - official public worship of the Church, especially the Eucharist the administration of the Sacraments and the Liturgy of the Hours.
• The importance of remembering is a form of connectedness to a person through things that meaningfully refer to him/her.
• The value of remembering can be coupled with openness, which means subjecting oneself to the comments of others -- quintessential to their becoming a human person.
• The Last Supper was the first Mass.
• Transubstantiation is the sacramental act by which the substance of the bread and wine is changed into the substance of the Body and Blood of Christ.
• Transubstantiation is a great miracle, which. happens in every Mass, cannot be rationally demonstrated, but is accepted by faith.
• Cenacle is the upper room where Christ and His Apostles ate the last Supper at which the Eucharist was instituted.
• The Passover of the Israelites commemorates their passing over from slavery to freedom; Jesus Passover is His death.
• Passover is a Jewish religious festival commemorating the time when the Israelites passed over from slavery to freedom.
• Another name for the. Holy Mass is Eucharist, which means thanksgiving.
• The Holy Mass is a thanksgiving celebration.
• Five Parts of the Mass:

  1. Introductory Rite
  2. Liturgy of the Word
  3. Liturgy of the Eucharist
  4. Communion Rite
  5. Concluding Rite
• Introductory RIte:

  • The entrance procession with the priest and entrance song.
  • Kyrie and Gloria
  • The greeting by the priest.
• Liturgy of the Word:

  • Reading from the Old Testament
  • Responsorial Psalm
  • Second Reading
  • Reading of the Assigned Gospel
  • Profession of Faith
  • Homily
• Liturgy of the Eucharist

  • Preparation of the Gifts
  • Preface, expressing thanksgiving in the name of the entire people of God
  • Epiclesis, invocation of the Church
  • Consecration of the bread and wine
  • Intercession for the living and the dead and for those present
• Communion Rite:

  • Lord's Prayer and Doxology
  • Agnus Dei, the preparation to receive the Eucharistic and an act of humility
  • Washing of the hands
• Concluding Rite:

  • Dismissal
  • Recessional Song
• The purposes of the Mass:

  1. To adore God
  2. To thank God
  3. To ask for God's blessings
  4. To ask God's pardon for our sins
• Passion of Christ - includes Jesus' suffering and death on the Cross.