4. Communion in the Divine Life: Sign and Cause (CCC 1325; cf. 260) a. Creation

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1 Class 3: Sacraments of Initiation THE SACRAMENT OF THE EUCHARIST Introduction 1. Completion of Christian Initiation (CCC 1322) 2. Perpetuation of the Sacrifice of the Cross (CCC 1323) 3. Source and Summit of Christian life 4. Communion in the Divine Life: Sign and Cause (CCC 1325; cf. 260) 5. Two-fold participation (CCC 1326) A. In the heavenly liturgy B. In Eternal Life/ Resurrection Names of the Eucharist CCC Eucharist -- to give thanks a. Creation b. Redemption c. Sanctification 2. Memorial of the Lord s Passion and Death 3. Holy Sacrifice of the Mass 4. Holy Sacrifice 5. Holy and Divine Liturgy 6. Most Blessed Sacrament 7. Holy Communion 8. The Holy Things 9. Communion of Saints (1331) Names of the Eucharist Holy Mass 1) Concludes with Ite Missa Est 2) The sending of the prayers to God with Christ 3) The sending of the Sacrifice itself to God And from this the mass derives its name [missa; because the priest sends [mittit] his prayers up to God through the angel, as the people do through the priest. or else because Christ is the victim sent [missa] to us: accordingly the deacon on festival days "dismisses" the people at the end of the mass, by saying: "Ite, missa est," that is, the victim has been sent [missa est] to God through the angel, so that it may be accepted by God.

2 The Eucharist in the Old Testament 1. The Fruit of the Tree of Life (Gen 2-3) 2. The Bread and Wine of Melchizedek (Gen 14:18) 3. The Sacrifice of Isaac and the lamb of God (Gen 22:1-8) 4. The Passover Sacrifice (Ex 12) 5. The Bread from Heaven (Ex 16) a. The Manna b. The Quail 6. The Tabernacle of Moses (Ex 25) 7. The Bread of the Presence The Bread of Life Sermon (Jn 6) 1. The context: Passover (Jn 6:4); cf. Ex Feeding the five thousand a. Prefigures superabundance of the Eucharist (CCC 1335) b. He blessed, he broke, he gave (Matt 14:19; Luke 22:19) c. When he had given thanks (eucharistesas) Jn 6:11 d. Response of crowd: the New Moses (cf. Deut 18:15-19) 3. The demand for a sign: Moses and Manna (John 6:30; Exodus 16) 4. The Bread of life discourse: Two interpretations a. Metaphorical (eating = believing) b. Sacramental (refers to the Eucharist) c. Caphernetic (cannibalism) The Bread of Life Sermon (Jn 6) 1. Part One: The Necessity of Faith ( John 6:35-47) a. Importance of belief in the Son b. Faith as a gift from the Father 2. Part two: The necessity of the Eucharist (John 6:48-58) a. The New Manna comes down from heaven and gives eternal life b. is my flesh c. Jews understand him literally, and he does not correct them d. The Necessity of eating his flesh and drinking his blood (John 6:55) e. The disciples response: a hard saying and they depart f. Key: resurrection and ascension: Jesus risen flesh (CCC 1392) g. The flesh is useless

3 The Last Supper: The Institution of the Eucharist (Lk 22) 1. The context of the Last Supper: The Jewish Passover (Pascha) (Ex 12) a. Kill the lamb (Ex 12:6, 46) b. Dip a hyssop branch in the blood of the lamb c. Sprinkle the blood on the doorposts and lintel d. Eat the flesh of the lamb e. Sign of the covenant is the blood of the lamb (Ex 21:13; cf. Ezek 9, Rev 7) f. Passover: a day of remembering to be observed forever (Ex 12:14, 24) g. A night of watching (Ex 12:40-42) 2. The New Passover: transfiguration topic; Behold I make all things new (Rev 21:5) a. The New Lamb: Jesus himself b. The New Sacrifice: Bread and wine c. The New temple: Jesus body (cf. John 2) d. The New priesthood: Jesus and the twelve e. The New Covenant: the family of God restored (Jer 31:31-33) f. The New Israel: the 12 tribes restored (Luke 22:28-30) g. The New Creation: bread and wine transformed into Jesus Body and Blood What is the link between this new Passover and the crucifixion? One explanation: the fourth cup in the Passover meal 1. THE FOURTH CUP: a. Jewish passover liturgy had multiple cups b. 3 rd cup: The cup of blessing (cf. 1 Cor 10:16-17) c. Singing of the final Hallel (Psalm 116) d. 4 th cup: The Cup of Consummation 1. Jesus does not complete the Passover! 2. He vows not to drink of the fruit of the vine again (Mt 26:29) 3. They sing the hymn then leave! (Mt 26:30) 4. Jesus in the garden: Take this cup from me) Mt Jesus does not drink on the way to the cross (Mt 27:34) 6. The Crucifixion (John 19:25-30) 7. I thirst 8. He drinks: It is finished..

4 3-Fold dimension of the Eucharist: (CCC ) 1. Thanksgiving and Praise to the Father a. CCC 1359 b. Most basic motif: act of thanksgiving for ALL: creation, redemption, sanctification c. Offered on behalf of all creation: to the Father, through and with Christ. 2. Sacrificial memorial a. CCC 1362 b. Memorial of Christ s passover c. Anamnesis: recalling and making present ( in memory of his death and resurrection, we offer you Father. d. This mighty deeds become present and real (CCC 1363) e. Sacrificial character in Christ s own words: f. This is my body which is given for you g. This cup which is poured out for you is the New Covenant in my blood h. The Eucharist re-presents the Sacrifice of the cross (makes present) (CCC 1366) i. This is ONE SINGLE SACRIFICE (CCC 1367) 3. The Presence of Christ a. CCC 1373 b. by the power of his word and the Holy Spirit c. Various modes of Christ s presence at Mass d. Most especially in the Eucharistic Species e. Unique: the end toward of all the other sacraments f. Ipse Christus 1. CCC The Eucharist is Jesus Christ: 3. Body, Blood, Soul, and Divinity 4. Humanity and Divinity

5 5. The Whole Christ is truly, really, substantially contained. 6. real in the fullest sense 7. Substantial: whole and entire Transubstantiation 1. CCC Whole substance of bread and wine into whole substance of Christ 3. CCC Doctrine of Concomitance: whole Christ present in the species and in each of their parts (He is not divided though the species are) Substance : an appropriate word? 1. Used officially at Fourth Latern Council in Biblical usage: Our Father epi-ousios 3. St. Ambrose s De Sacramentis (AD 380): 4. We receive the figura of the body and blood of Our Lord Figura= substantia Council of Trent 1. Formulated our doctrinal language for the Eucharist with precision 2. Transubstantiation Heretical theories of Eucharistic Presence 1. Symbolic Presence a. Eucharist is purely symbolic b. Ulrich Zwingli (a father of the reformation) c. Baptists, many non-denominational protestants 2. Spiritual Presence a. Christ s SPIRIT is present, not his body b. John Calvin c. Anglican Church d. Many non-denominational Protestants e. Modernist Catholics 3. Consubstantiation a. Christ s body and blood exist alongside the bread and wine b. Incarnational analogy makes it believable c. Competitive nature of human nature is the problem

6 d. Martin Luther e. Some Anglicans Worship of the Eucharist 1. Paul VI: The Church has always offered and continued to offer the cult of adoration not only during Mass but outside of it. (CCC 1378) 2. Importance of Eucharistic adoration (CCC ) Holy Communion 1. Requirements for reception (CCC 1385) 2. Preparation (CCC ) 3. Minimal requirements (1389) Fruits of Holy Communion 1. CCC Augments of Union with Christ 3. Nourishes spiritual life 4. Separates us from sin 5. Wipes away venial sins 6. Preserves from future mortal sins 7. makes the Church (CCC 1396) 8. Commits us to the poor (e.g., Mother Theresa) Next Class 1. Please read: a. CCC b. Kreeft, chapters 5 and 8 There will be a quiz on this week s material at the beginning of our next class Happy Thanksgiving!