Rachel Evans
The Eucharist, also known as Holy Communion, is one of the seven sacraments and is considered the most central and important to Catholicism. The Eucharist is celebrated during Mass, except on Good Friday and Holy Saturday. Catholics believe in the Real Presence of Jesus in the Eucharist, meaning that what appears to be bread and wine is really Jesus' body and blood. The bread and wine are consecrated and become the body and blood of Christ, and when Catholics receive Holy Communion, they are united with Jesus Christ. The first Eucharist was celebrated by Jesus at the Last Supper, when he commanded his disciples to do this in remembrance of me.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Frequency | Catholics are obliged to receive Communion at least once a year, but many do so more frequently. Communion can be received twice a day, and a third time if the recipient is dying. |
| Occasion | First Communion is a big occasion for Catholic families, marked by feasting and celebration. Girls typically wear white gowns and veils, and boys wear suits and ties. |
| History | The Eucharist was established by Jesus at the Last Supper, a traditional Passover seder, when he shared bread and wine with his disciples and commanded them to repeat the ceremony in his memory. |
| Purpose | Communion is an expression of unity among Catholics worldwide, who believe in the Real Presence of Christ in the Eucharist. |
| Administration | The ordinary ministers of Holy Communion are the Bishop, the Priest and the Deacon. In addition, there is the formally instituted acolyte, who is an extraordinary minister of Holy Communion. |
| Preparation | The Eucharist is offered at every Mass, and the ritual of the Mass largely involves preparing the hosts (wafers made of wheat and water, or gluten-free) and wine to become the body and blood of Christ. |
| Restrictions | According to Catholic Church doctrine, receiving the Eucharist in a state of mortal sin is a sacrilege, and only those in a state of sanctifying grace can receive it. |
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What You'll Learn
The Eucharist, Communion, or Blessed Sacrament
The Eucharist is offered at every Mass, and Catholics may receive Communion during or outside of Mass. However, they are obliged to receive Communion at least once a year. The ordinary ministers of Holy Communion are the Bishop, the Priest, and the Deacon, who administer Communion to the lay members of Christ's faithful. The Eucharist is also administered to children, usually in second grade, after they have made their First Penance.
The Eucharist is a highly sacred ritual for Catholics. According to Catholic doctrine, receiving the Eucharist in a state of mortal sin is a sacrilege, and only those free of mortal sin can receive it. The bread and wine are not just symbolic; Catholics believe in the Real Presence of Jesus in the Eucharist, meaning that what appears to be bread and wine is really the body and blood of Christ. This belief is based on Scripture, including passages from the Gospel accounts, 1 Corinthians, and John.
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The Mass
During the Last Supper, Jesus blessed the bread and shared it with his disciples, saying it was his body. He then shared a cup of wine with them, telling them it was "the blood of my covenant, which is poured out for many." According to St. Luke, Jesus asked his followers to repeat the ceremony in his memory.
The Eucharist, or Holy Communion, is considered the most central and important sacrament in Catholicism. Catholics are obliged to receive Communion at least once a year, but many do so more frequently during Mass. The whole structure of the Mass is designed to thrust participants into the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus, so they may understand the death-and-resurrection shape of life in the world.
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Transubstantiation
The term "transubstantiation" was first used in the 11th century by Hildebert of Lavardin, the Archbishop of Tours, and gained widespread use by the 12th century. The Fourth Council of the Lateran in 1215 formally recognised the concept, stating that the bread and wine were "transubstantiated, by God's power, into his body and blood". This council also affirmed the Real Presence of Christ in the Eucharist, a doctrine that asserts that Christ is truly and substantially present in the consecrated elements.
The Catholic Church teaches that during the Eucharistic prayer, through the power of the Holy Spirit and the words of Christ, the bread and wine are transformed into the Body and Blood of Christ. This change is often described as "mysterious" and "miraculous", as the outward characteristics of the bread and wine remain unaltered, while their substance is transformed. The Church uses the philosophical concepts of "accidents" and "substance" to explain this phenomenon, with "accidents" referring to the physical aspects that remain unchanged, and "substance" referring to the essential nature that is transformed.
The doctrine of transubstantiation has been a subject of controversy throughout history, particularly during the Reformation when some reformers rejected it. However, it was reaffirmed by the Council of Trent in 1551, which stated that the term "transubstantiation" appropriately describes the change that occurs through the consecration of the bread and wine.
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Who can receive Communion
Holy Communion, or the Eucharist, is a great mystery and a spiritual gift that brings Catholics into union with Christ. It is a precious gift that Jesus has given to his followers, and so it is important to prepare oneself properly before receiving it.
The Catholic Church teaches that only those who are properly disposed and have sufficient knowledge and careful preparation can receive Holy Communion. This means that, ordinarily, only Catholics can receive Holy Communion. This is because the Eucharist is a sacrament of unity, or communion, and receiving it is to proclaim a unity that does not exist between Catholics and non-Catholics.
However, Catholic ministers may administer the Eucharist to members of the oriental churches which do not have full communion with the Catholic Church, if they ask on their own for the sacraments and are properly disposed. This also applies to members of other churches that are judged to be in the same condition as the oriental churches.
There are two basic requirements that Catholics must meet in order to receive Holy Communion worthily. Firstly, one must be in a state of grace, or free from mortal sin. This means that anyone aware of having sinned mortally must not receive Communion without first receiving absolution in the sacrament of penance. Secondly, one must have fasted for at least one hour before receiving Communion, with the exception of water and medicine. The elderly, the ill, and their caretakers are excused from this Eucharistic fast.
In the Latin Catholic Church, children usually receive their first Holy Communion around the age of seven. Catholics with intellectual disabilities may also be admitted to Holy Communion if they are able to distinguish the body of Christ from ordinary food.
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Communion as a family celebration
Communion, or the Eucharist, is of central importance to Catholicism. It is offered at every Mass and is considered a unifying sacrament, expressing the unity among all those in communion with the Catholic Church worldwide.
The First Communion is a significant event for Catholic families, much like a child's Baptism or Confirmation. It is customary for families to gather together after the sacred event has taken place in church, and to celebrate with a feast. Girls typically wear white gowns and veils, resembling little brides, while boys wear their Sunday best or new suits and ties.
The Eucharist is a time for Catholics to unite with Jesus Christ, believing that he becomes a part of them when they receive Holy Communion. It is also a time to unite with other Catholics around the world, as well as in heaven. This is because the Mass is believed to 're-present' Christ's sacrifice on Calvary, making it present to those who take part.
The Eucharist is also an opportunity for Catholics to reflect on the Last Supper, which was the first Eucharist, and the perfect sacrifice that Christ made for all of us.
Children must make their First Penance before making their First Communion. They must also have sufficient knowledge and careful preparation so that they understand the mystery of Christ according to their capacity. However, as long as they know that what they are receiving is the real Body and Blood of Jesus Christ, and not bread and wine, they are old enough to take Holy Communion.
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Frequently asked questions
Holy Communion, also known as the Eucharist, is a sacrament in which Catholics believe they receive the body and blood of Christ, in the form of consecrated bread and wine.
Catholics are obliged to receive Holy Communion at least once a year, but in practice, many do so more frequently, as it is offered at every Mass.
Holy Communion is the most central and important sacrament in Catholicism. It is believed that when receiving Holy Communion, one is intimately united with Jesus Christ. The ritual of the Mass, which culminates in Holy Communion, is about thrusting participants into the life, death and resurrection of Jesus.
The bread, or host, is flat and the size of a quarter or half-dollar. Latin Catholics may receive the host on their tongue or in their hand. Byzantine Rite Catholics receive consecrated leavened bread soaked in consecrated wine, placed in their mouths by the priest using a spoon.
