The Eucharist

Religious Studies A: AQA GCSE Religions, topic 3.2.8

The Eucharist is usually called the Mass by Roman Catholics.

It is a re-enactment of Jesus’ last supper with his disciples, remembering that Jesus told his followers ‘do this in memory of me’.
Catholics believe that the bread and wine blessed at Mass become the body and blood of Christ - this is known as the Real Presence or ‘transubstantiation’.
Catholics also believe that the Mass is a re-enactment of Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross, and the Mass is sometimes referred to as the sacrifice of the Mass.

‘While they were eating, Jesus took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and gave it to his disciples, saying, ‘Take and eat; this is my body.’ [Matthew 26:26 NIV]
‘They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.’ [Acts 2:42 NIV]
‘The Eucharist is ‘the source and summit of the Christian life.’ … For in the blessed Eucharist is contained the whole spiritual good of the Church, namely Christ himself.’ [CCC 1324]

Catholics consider the Eucharist the ‘source and summit’ of Christian life because by participating in the Eucharist they are receiving Christ himself.
Catholic theology also teaches that the Mass is a foretaste of the union that people will have with God in heaven.
They believe it also gives them the grace to go out and live the Christian life.

Parts of the Eucharist

The celebration of Mass or the Eucharist has a number of parts:

There is a penitential rite (an established ceremonial, religious act) where those present confess they are sinners and ask for forgiveness.

The bread and wine are then taken, and a special prayer of blessing and thanksgiving is said over it.

The people present receive the bread and wine, now believed to be the body and blood of Christ.

At the end of the celebration, they are sent forth to witness Christ in their lives.

Catholic parishes celebrate Mass almost every day and believe in transubstantiation.

Catholics believe the bread and wine at Mass become the body and blood of Christ by a miracle called transubstantiation.
This means they believe in the ‘real presence’, which means that Jesus is truly present in the bread and wine.

Many other Christians celebrate the Eucharist, following Jesus’ command to celebrate it in his memory.
However, most do not believe in the real presence. Some believe, for example, that the bread and wine merely symbolise the presence of Jesus.
Protestants also reject the idea that the Eucharist is a re-enactment of the sacrifice of Jesus on the cross, saying that Jesus’ sacrifice can never be repeated.

Catholic parishes celebrate Mass almost every day because they believe it is such an important source of grace.

Most Protestants only celebrate on Sundays, and some Christian groups do not celebrate it at all.

What is the Eucharist usually called by Roman Catholics?
What do Roman Catholics think the Eucharist is a re-enactment of?
What do Catholics believe about the Eucharist?
Catholics believe that the bread and wine blessed at Mass become the body and blood of Christ. What's this belief called?
What happens at the end of the Eucharist ceremony?