352. What is the Blessed Eucharist?
The Blessed Eucharist is the sacrifice of the body and blood of Jesus Christ, under the appearances of bread and wine.
353. When did Christ institute the Blessed Eucharist?
Christ instituted the Blessed Eucharist at his Last Supper when, taking bread and wine, He said: This is my body; This is my blood; and then, giving power to his disciples to do what He had done, said to them: Do this as a commemoration of me (Matt. xxvi, 28; Matt. xiv, 22; Luke xxii, 19).
354. Have the priests of the Church power to change bread and wine into the body and blood of Christ?
The priests of the Church have power to change bread and wine into the body and blood of Christ, because they have received this power from Christ through the apostles and their successors in every age.
I. The Real Presence
355. What do we mean by the Real Presence?
By the Real Presence we mean that our Lord Jesus Christ is really, truly and substantially present in the Blessed Eucharist.
356. Is Jesus Christ present, whole and entire, under the appearances of bread and wine?
Jesus Christ is present, whole and entire, body and blood, soul and divinity, under the appearance of bread, and under the appearance of wine.
357. What do we mean by the appearances of bread and wine?
By the appearances of bread and wine we mean the taste, colour and form of bread and wine, which still remain after the substance of the bread and wine has been changed into the body and blood of Christ.
358. How do the bread and wine become the body and blood of Christ?
The bread and wine become the body and blood of Christ by the power of God, to whom nothing is impossible.
359. When does a priest change bread and wine into the body and blood of Christ?
The priest changes bread and wine into the body and blood of Christ at the consecration of the Mass, when he repeats the words of Christ: This is my body; This is my blood.
360. Why did Christ institute the Eucharist?
Christ instituted the Blessed Eucharist in order that we might have an acceptable sacrifice to offer to God, and a heavenly food to nourish our souls.
II. The Sacrifice of the Mass
361. What is the sacrifice of the Blessed Eucharist usually called?
The sacrifice of the Blessed Eucharist is usually called the Mass.
362. What is a sacrifice?
A sacrifice is the offering of a victim to God, by a priest, to acknowledge that he is the supreme Lord over us and over all things.
363. Did Christ when on earth offer a sacrifice to God?
Yes, Christ offered Himself as a victim for us to his heavenly Father, at the Last Supper and on the Cross.
364. What is the Mass?
The Mass is the sacrifice of the New Law, in which Christ, through the ministry of the priest, offers Himself for us as a victim to his heavenly Father.
365. Is the Mass the same sacrifice as that of the Cross?
The Mass is the same sacrifice as that of the Cross, though offered in a different manner.
366. How is the Mass the same sacrifice as that of the Cross?
The Mass is the same sacrifice as that of the Cross, because the same Christ who offered Himself a bleeding victim on the Cross, offers Himself in an unbloody manner by the hands of his priests in the Mass.
367. What are the purposes for which Mass is offered?
The purposes for which Mass is offered are: to adore God, to thank Him for his benefits, to make satisfaction for our sins, and to obtain from Him other graces and blessings.
368. What is the best manner of assisting at Mass?
The best manner of assisting at Mass is to offer it to God with the priest for the purposes for which it is said, to meditate on Christ's sufferings, and to receive Holy Communion.
III. The Sacrament of the Blessed Eucharist
369. What is the sacrament of the Blessed Eucharist?
The sacrament of the Blessed Eucharist is the sacrament of the body and blood of our Lord Jesus Christ, which are given us for our spiritual food under the appearances of bread and wine.
370. How should we show our devotion to our Divine Lord in the sacrament of the Blessed Eucharist?
We should show our devotion to our Divine Lord, by visiting Him frequently in our churches, by attending Benediction, but above all by receiving Him in Holy Communion.
371. Should we often receive Holy Communion?
We should often receive Holy Communion, because in it we receive Jesus Christ, the heavenly food which is so necessary for the spritual life of our souls.
372. What does our Divine Lord say of those who receive Holy Communion worthily?
Our Divine Lord says: He that eateth My flesh and drinketh My blood hath life everlasting, and I will raise him up on the last day (John vi, 55).
373. What is necessary in order to receive Holy Communion worthily?
To receive Holy Communion worthily we must be in the state of grace, be fasting from midnight, and have the right intention.
374. If a person is in mortal sin what must he do before receiving Holy Communion?
Before receiving Holy Communion, a person in mortal sin must obtain pardon in the sacrament of Penance, and not merely by an act of perfect contrition.
375. Is it ever lawful to receive Holy Communion without having fasted from midnight?
Only those who are in danger of death, or who have been ill in bed for at least a month, may receive Holy Communion without having fasted from midnight.
376. What is the right intention for receiving Holy Communion?
We should receive Holy Communion for the love of our Lord Jesus Christ and the spiritual strength of our souls, and not for vainglory or human respect.
377. How should we prepare ourselves for Holy Communion?
We should make fervent acts of faith, hope and love to our Lord Jesus Christ, whom we are about to receive.
378. What should we do after Holy Communion?
After Holy Communion we should spend some time in adoring our Divine Lord, in thanking Him for having come to us, and in asking Him for the graces and blessings which we need.
379. Is it a mortal sin to receive Holy Communion unworthily?
Yes, for whosoever receives unworthily is guilty of sacrilege against the body and blood of the Lord (I. Cor. xi, 27).
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