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Holy Eucharist

- Holy Eucharist
  While they were eating, Jesus took bread, said the blessing, broke it, and giving it to his disciples said, "Take and eat; this is my body." Then he took a cup, gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, "Drink from it, all of you, for this is my blood of the covenant, which will be shed on behalf of many for the forgiveness of sins." (Mt 26:26-28; cf. Mk 14:22-24, Lk 22:17-20, 1 Cor 11:23-25)
  Here at Mater Dei Parish, children in second grade prepare for their First Reconciliation and Eucharist. For information on preparation, please contact: Deacon Rick Roder at [email protected]
  If you, or your child who is older than second grade, has not received the Eucharist (First Communion) and wishes to do so please contact Deacon Rick Roder at [email protected]
- What kind of bread can be used at Mass?
  Concerning the bread used for the celebration of the eucharist, the General Instruction of the Roman Missal, no. 321, states that, “The meaning of the sign demands that the material for the Eucharistic celebration truly have the appearance of food. It is therefore expedient that the Eucharistic bread, even though unleavened and baked in the traditional shape, be made in such a way that the priest at Mass with a congregation is able in practice to break it into parts for distribution to at least some of the faithful. Small hosts are, however, in no way ruled out when the number of those receiving Holy Communion or other pastoral needs require it...”
  
  The Instruction, Redemptionis Sacramentum describes how “the bread used in the celebration of the Most Holy Eucharistic Sacrifice must be unleavened, purely of wheat, and recently made so that there is no danger of decomposition. It follows therefore that bread made from other substance, even if it is grain, or if it is mixed with another substance different from wheat to such an extent that it would not commonly be considered wheat bread, does not constitute valid matter for confecting the Sacrifice and the Eucharistic Sacrament. It is a grave abuse to introduce other substances, such as fruit, sugar, or honey, into the bread for confecting the Eucharist. Hosts should obviously be made by those who are not only distinguisher by their integrity, but also skilled in making them and furnished with suitable tools.”
- What does it mean that Jesus Christ is present in the Eucharist?
  How does this happen? The presence of the risen Christ in the Eucharist is an inexhaustible mystery that the Church can never fully explain in words. We must remember that the triune God is the creator of all that exists and has the power to do more than we can possibly imagine. As St. Ambrose said: “If the word of the Lord Jesus is so powerful as to bring into existence things which were not, then a fortiori those things which already exist can be changed into something else” (De Sacramentis, IV, 5-16). God created the world in order to share his life with persons who are not God. This great plan of salvation reveals a wisdom that surpasses our understanding. But we are not left in ignorance: for out of his love for us, God reveals his truth to us in ways that we can understand through the gift of faith and the grace of the Holy Spirit dwelling in us. We are thus enabled to understand at least in some measure what would otherwise remain unknown to us, though we can never completely comprehend the mystery of God.
- On giving blessings during the Communion Rite
  from the Congregation for Divine Worship, Rome; 22 November 2008...
  
  Questions: What about giving blessings to people who come forward in the Communion line but who are not receiving Communion? Should a priest, deacon or an extraordinary minister of Holy Communion give the person a blessing instead? What if a person who is not receiving Communion presents himself with arms crossed over the chest, during the regular administration of Communion?
  
  Answers:
  The liturgical blessing of the Holy Mass is properly given to each and to all at the conclusion of the Mass, just a few moments subsequent to the distribution of Holy Communion.
  Lay people, within the context of Holy Mass, are unable to confer blessings. These blessings, rather, are the competence of the priest.
  Furthermore, the laying on of a hand or hands — which has its own sacramental significance, inappropriate here — by those distributing Holy Communion, in substitution for its reception, is to be explicitly discouraged.
  The Apostolic Exhortation Familiaris Consortio n. 84, “forbids any pastor, for whatever reason to pretext even of a pastoral nature, to perform ceremonies of any kind for divorced people who remarry.” To be feared is that any form of blessing in substitution for communion would give the impression that the divorced and remarried have been returned, in some sense, to the status of Catholics in good standing.
  In a similar way, for others who are not to be admitted to Holy Communion in accord with the norm of law, the Church’s discipline has already made clear that they should not approach Holy Communion nor receive a blessing. This would include non-Catholics and those envisaged in can. 915 (i.e., those under the penalty of excommunication or interdict, and others who obstinately persist in manifest grave sin).
  
  In summary:
  Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion (always laity) cannot give sacramental blessings within Mass. Young children, who have not yet received first Holy Communion accompanying their parents in the Communion line may come with their arms crossed over their chests as a signal to the minister that they are not receiving Communion and as an expression of the child’s reverence for the Blessed Sacrament; but not as a sign they want a blessing. This reverent gesture of a young child is laudable and appropriate. It should be clear to all that the priest’s blessing at the conclusion of Mass includes everyone, and that there should not be separate blessings for any person during the Communion rite.
  
  BLESSINGS AT HOLY COMMUNION: The distribution of Holy Communion is not a time for blessing or touching a child or other persons who do not receive Communion. If someone comes forward in the Communion procession and does not receive communion the Ordinary or extraordinary minister of Holy Communion may simply say, “Receive the Lord in your heart,” with no blessing or touching of the person.
- The Eucharistic Prayer-The Offering. We used to call the part of the Mass where we contributed our money “the offertory of the Mass.” Along with that, it seems that when the presider placed the bread and wine on the altar, it was being offered. Today we call this part of the Mass “the preparation of the altar and the gifts” or the “presentation of the gifts.” At this point of the Mass there is nothing to offer for what we have done is to unite ourselves with the gifts that will become the perfect offering. So, NOW, after the bread and wine has become transformed into the Body and Blood of the Lord Jesus, we offer this Blessed Sacrament, and with it all that we are and have, which are now made worthy through the Lord Jesus as the priest says, “we offer you in thanksgiving this holy and living sacrifice.” This is the true offering of the Mass.
  
  During the Eucharistic Prayer, intercessions follow the offering. Here the priest prays for us, that “we may be filled with His Holy Spirit, and become one body, one spirit in Christ.” Then the priest prays for the world, for the Pope, bishops and clergy, and for those who have died. Finally, having offered the one, holy, and effective sacrifice, the priest prays in Christ’s name for our needs and those of the world.
  
  The Eucharistic Prayer is concluded by priest with the doxology, “through him, with him, in him,” acknowledging that all is centered in Christ Jesus. “In the unity of the Holy Spirit all honor and glory is yours, almighty Father,” reminds us that we believe in a God that is a Trinity of persons, each involved in our salvation. All Persons of the Trinity receive our praise and thanksgiving.
  
  The Eucharistic Prayer concludes with “Amen.” This is our response of assent, approval, agreement. It is our statement that we believe and endorse all that has gone before. We call this the “great Amen,” because, although there are many throughout the liturgy, this is the BIG ONE. This is our agreement, “so it is,” to the wonderful prayer which we call the Eucharistic Prayer. Of all the parts of the Mass that are to be sung, this is the MOST important, because our response at this time is so important. It is our statement of faith and praise. It is our agreement to the whole action. Just as we offered our gifts, financial or otherwise, as a statement of our willingness to be part of this celebration and as a symbol of our willingness to be transformed with the bread and wine into the Body and Blood of Christ, so our hearty and heartfelt “AMEN” vocally asserts this intention.