Where during the mass are key aspects about the Eucharist demonstrated?
Sacrifice appears in the Profession of Faith, where we recognise the suffering and crucifixion of Christ. Also during the Preparation of Gifts (Offerings), we say “May the Lord accept this sacrifice at your hands.....”
Presence - we acknowledge the presence of Christ in the Sanctus, where we say “heaven and earth are filled with your glory, Hosanna in the highest”, and “blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord”
Remembrance occurs during the Rite of the Eucharist, when the priest says “on the night before he suffered, He took the bread , gave it to his disciples and said”........ and then..... “when supper was ended, He took the cup, gave to his disciples and said...” - and then finally “do this in memory of me”. We remember the mystery of faith - Christ suffered, died, and rose again. In the Eucharistic prayer we also remember the sacrifices offered by Abel, Abraham and Melchizedek.
Thanksgiving occurs in a number of parts of the Mass - for example in the Gloria as part of the Opening Rites we say “we worship you, we give you thanks and praise”, and also after the Sanctus we say “it is right to give you thanks”. The word Eucharist actually comes from the Greek, and means Thanksgiving.
Meal – the “bread of life” is first mentioned during the Presentation of Gifts, and then later during the Eucharistic prayer “take this all of you and eat of it”, and similarly “take this all of you and drink from it”.
Challenge - our challenge comes when we leave the mass, through the closing rites and blessing. We are empowered by the Eucharist and the community to live our lives as Christians.
Presence - we acknowledge the presence of Christ in the Sanctus, where we say “heaven and earth are filled with your glory, Hosanna in the highest”, and “blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord”
Remembrance occurs during the Rite of the Eucharist, when the priest says “on the night before he suffered, He took the bread , gave it to his disciples and said”........ and then..... “when supper was ended, He took the cup, gave to his disciples and said...” - and then finally “do this in memory of me”. We remember the mystery of faith - Christ suffered, died, and rose again. In the Eucharistic prayer we also remember the sacrifices offered by Abel, Abraham and Melchizedek.
Thanksgiving occurs in a number of parts of the Mass - for example in the Gloria as part of the Opening Rites we say “we worship you, we give you thanks and praise”, and also after the Sanctus we say “it is right to give you thanks”. The word Eucharist actually comes from the Greek, and means Thanksgiving.
Meal – the “bread of life” is first mentioned during the Presentation of Gifts, and then later during the Eucharistic prayer “take this all of you and eat of it”, and similarly “take this all of you and drink from it”.
Challenge - our challenge comes when we leave the mass, through the closing rites and blessing. We are empowered by the Eucharist and the community to live our lives as Christians.