Catechism of the Catholic Church · Part Two › Section Two › Chapter One · Article 3 (§§1322–1419)
Paragraphs · 98
The Catechism's text is under copyright, so each paragraph is quoted briefly here with a link to the full text at vatican.va.
The Sacrament of the Eucharist
- §1322 — The holy Eucharist completes Christian initiation. Those who have been raised to the dignity of the royal priesthood by Baptism and configured more deeply to Christ by Confirmation participate with the whole community in the Lord's own sacrifice by means of the Eucharist.vatican.va
- §1323 — "At the Last Supper, on the night he was betrayed, our Savior instituted the Eucharistic sacrifice of his Body and Blood. '"vatican.va
I. The Eucharist - Source and Summit of Ecclesial Life
- §1324 — The Eucharist is "the source and summit of the Christian life." "The other sacraments, and indeed all ecclesiastical ministries and works of the apostolate, are bound up with the Eucharist and are oriented toward it.vatican.va
- §1325 — "The Eucharist is the efficacious sign and sublime cause of that communion in the divine life and that unity of the People of God by which the Church is kept in being.vatican.va
- §1326 — Finally, by the Eucharistic celebration we already unite ourselves with the heavenly liturgy and anticipate eternal life, when God will be all in all.vatican.va
- §1327 — In brief, the Eucharist is the sum and summary of our faith: "Our way of thinking is attuned to the Eucharist, and the Eucharist in turn confirms our way of thinking."vatican.va
II. What is This Sacrament Called?
- §1328 — The inexhaustible richness of this sacrament is expressed in the different names we give it. Each name evokes certain aspects of it. It is called: Eucharist, because it is an action of thanksgiving to God.vatican.va
- §1329 — The Lord's Supper, because of its connection with the supper which the Lord took with his disciples on the eve of his Passion and because it anticipates the wedding feast of the Lamb in the heavenly Jerusalem.vatican.va
- §1330 — The memorial of the Lord's Passion and Resurrection. The Holy Sacrifice, because it makes present the one sacrifice of Christ the Savior and includes the Church's offering.vatican.va
- §1331 — Holy Communion, because by this sacrament we unite ourselves to Christ, who makes us sharers in his Body and Blood to form a single body.vatican.va
- §1332 — Holy Mass (Missa), because the liturgy in which the mystery of salvation is accomplished concludes with the sending forth (missio) of the faithful, so that they may fulfill God's will in their daily lives.vatican.va
The signs of bread and wine
- §1333 — At the heart of the Eucharistic celebration are the bread and wine that, by the words of Christ and the invocation of the Holy Spirit, become Christ's Body and Blood.vatican.va
- §1334 — In the Old Covenant bread and wine were offered in sacrifice among the first fruits of the earth as a sign of grateful acknowledgment to the Creator.vatican.va
- §1335 — The miracles of the multiplication of the loaves, when the Lord says the blessing, breaks and distributes the loaves through his disciples to feed the multitude, prefigure the superabundance of this unique bread of his Eucharist.vatican.va
- §1336 — The first announcement of the Eucharist divided the disciples, just as the announcement of the Passion scandalized them: "This is a hard saying; who can listen to it?"vatican.va
- §1337 — The Lord, having loved those who were his own, loved them to the end. Knowing that the hour had come to leave this world and return to the Father, in the course of a meal he washed their feet and gave them the commandment of love.vatican.va
- §1338 — The three synoptic Gospels and St. Paul have handed on to us the account of the institution of the Eucharist; St. John, for his part, reports the words of Jesus in the synagogue of Capernaum that prepare for the institution of the Eucharist: Christ calls himself the bread of life, come down from heaven.vatican.va
- §1339 — Jesus chose the time of Passover to fulfill what he had announced at Capernaum: giving his disciples his Body and his Blood:vatican.va
- §1340 — By celebrating the Last Supper with his apostles in the course of the Passover meal, Jesus gave the Jewish Passover its definitive meaning. Jesus' passing over to his father by his death and Resurrection, the new Passover, is anticipated in the Supper and celebrated in…vatican.va
- §1341 — The command of Jesus to repeat his actions and words "until he comes" does not only ask us to remember Jesus and what he did.vatican.va
- §1342 — From the beginning the Church has been faithful to the Lord's command. of the Church of Jerusalem it is written:vatican.va
- §1343 — It was above all on "the first day of the week," Sunday, the day of Jesus' resurrection, that the Christians met "to break bread." From that time on down to our own day the celebration of the Eucharist has been continued so that today we…vatican.va
- §1344 — Thus from celebration to celebration, as they proclaim the Paschal mystery of Jesus "until he comes," the pilgrim People of God advances, "following the narrow way of the cross," toward the heavenly banquet, when all the elect will be seated at the table of the kingdom.vatican.va
The Mass of all ages
- §1345 — As early as the second century we have the witness of St. Justin Martyr for the basic lines of the order of the Eucharistic celebration.vatican.va
- §1346 — The liturgy of the Eucharist unfolds according to a fundamental structure which has been preserved throughout the centuries down to our own day. It displays two great parts that form a fundamental unity: - the gathering, the liturgy of the Word, with readings, homily and…vatican.va
- §1347 — Is this not the same movement as the Paschal meal of the risen Jesus with his disciples? Walking with them he explained the Scriptures to them; sitting with them at table "he took bread, blessed and broke it, and gave it to them."vatican.va
- §1348 — All gather together. Christians come together in one place for the Eucharistic assembly. At its head is Christ himself, the principal agent of the Eucharist.vatican.va
- §1349 — The Liturgy of the Word includes "the writings of the prophets," that is, the Old Testament, and "the memoirs of the apostles" (their letters and the Gospels).vatican.va
- §1350 — The presentation of the offerings (the Offertory). Then, sometimes in procession, the bread and wine are brought to the altar; they will be offered by the priest in the name of Christ in the Eucharistic sacrifice in which they will become his body and blood.vatican.va
- §1351 — From the very beginning Christians have brought, along with the bread and wine for the Eucharist, gifts to share with those in need. This custom of the collection, ever appropriate, is inspired by the example of Christ who became poor to make us rich:vatican.va
- §1352 — The anaphora: with the Eucharistic Prayer - the prayer of thanksgiving and consecration - we come to the heart and summit of the celebration:vatican.va
- §1353 — In the epiclesis, the Church asks the Father to send his Holy Spirit (or the power of his blessing) on the bread and wine, so that by his power they may become the body and blood of Jesus Christ and so that those who take…vatican.va
- §1354 — In the anamnesis that follows, the Church calls to mind the Passion, resurrection, and glorious return of Christ Jesus; she presents to the Father the offering of his Son which reconciles us with him.vatican.va
- §1355 — In the communion, preceded by the Lord's prayer and the breaking of the bread, the faithful receive "the bread of heaven" and "the cup of salvation," the body and blood of Christ who offered himself "for the life of the world":vatican.va
V. The Sacramental Sacrifice Thanksgiving, Memorial, Presence
- §1356 — If from the beginning Christians have celebrated the Eucharist and in a form whose substance has not changed despite the great diversity of times and liturgies, it is because we know ourselves to be bound by the command the Lord gave on the eve of his Passion: "Do this in remembrance of me."vatican.va
- §1357 — We carry out this command of the Lord by celebrating the memorial of his sacrifice. In so doing, we offer to the Father what he has himself given us: the gifts of his creation, bread and wine which, by the power of the Holy Spirit…vatican.va
- §1358 — We must therefore consider the Eucharist as: - thanksgiving and praise to the Father; - the sacrificial memorial of Christ and his Body; - the presence of Christ by the power of his word and of his Spirit.vatican.va
- §1359 — The Eucharist, the sacrament of our salvation accomplished by Christ on the cross, is also a sacrifice of praise in thanksgiving for the work of creation.vatican.va
- §1360 — The Eucharist is a sacrifice of thanksgiving to the Father, a blessing by which the Church expresses her gratitude to God for all his benefits, for all that he has accomplished through creation, redemption, and sanctification.vatican.va
- §1361 — The Eucharist is also the sacrifice of praise by which the Church sings the glory of God in the name of all creation. This sacrifice of praise is possible only through Christ: he unites the faithful to his person, to his praise, and to his…vatican.va
- §1362 — The Eucharist is the memorial of Christ's Passover, the making present and the sacramental offering of his unique sacrifice, in the liturgy of the Church which is his Body.vatican.va
- §1363 — In the sense of Sacred Scripture the memorial is not merely the recollection of past events but the proclamation of the mighty works wrought by God for men.vatican.va
- §1364 — In the New Testament, the memorial takes on new meaning. When the Church celebrates the Eucharist, she commemorates Christ's Passover, and it is made present the sacrifice Christ offered once for all on the cross remains ever present.vatican.va
- §1365 — Because it is the memorial of Christ's Passover, the Eucharist is also a sacrifice. the sacrificial character of the Eucharist is manifested in the very words of institution: "This is my body which is given for you" and "This cup which is poured out for you is the New Covenant in my blood."vatican.va
- §1366 — The Eucharist is thus a sacrifice because it re-presents (makes present) the sacrifice of the cross, because it is its memorial and because it applies its fruit:vatican.va
- §1367 — The sacrifice of Christ and the sacrifice of the Eucharist are one single sacrifice: "The victim is one and the same: the same now offers through the ministry of priests, who then offered himself on the cross; only the manner of offering is different."vatican.va
- §1368 — The Eucharist is also the sacrifice of the Church. the Church which is the Body of Christ participates in the offering of her Head. With him, she herself is offered whole and entire.vatican.va
- §1369 — The whole Church is united with the offering and intercession of Christ. Since he has the ministry of Peter in the Church, the Pope is associated with every celebration of the Eucharist, wherein he is named as the sign and servant of the unity of the universal Church.vatican.va
- §1370 — To the offering of Christ are united not only the members still here on earth, but also those already in the glory of heaven. In communion with and commemorating the Blessed Virgin Mary and all the saints, the Church offers the Eucharistic sacrifice.vatican.va
- §1371 — The Eucharistic sacrifice is also offered for the faithful departed who "have died in Christ but are not yet wholly purified," so that they may be able to enter into the light and peace of Christ:vatican.va
- §1372 — St. Augustine admirably summed up this doctrine that moves us to an ever more complete participation in our Redeemer's sacrifice which we celebrate in the Eucharist:vatican.va
- §1373 — "Christ Jesus, who died, yes, who was raised from the dead, who is at the right hand of God, who indeed intercedes for us," is present in many ways to his Church: in his word, in his Church's prayer, "where two or three are gathered…vatican.va
- §1374 — The mode of Christ's presence under the Eucharistic species is unique. It raises the Eucharist above all the sacraments as "the perfection of the spiritual life and the end to which all the sacraments tend."vatican.va
- §1375 — It is by the conversion of the bread and wine into Christ's body and blood that Christ becomes present in this sacrament. the Church Fathers strongly affirmed the faith of the Church in the efficacy of the Word of Christ and of the action of the Holy Spirit to bring about this conversion.vatican.va
- §1376 — The Council of Trent summarizes the Catholic faith by declaring: "Because Christ our Redeemer said that it was truly his body that he was offering under the species of bread, it has always been the conviction of the Church of God, and this holy Council…vatican.va
- §1377 — The Eucharistic presence of Christ begins at the moment of the consecration and endures as long as the Eucharistic species subsist. Christ is present whole and entire in each of the species and whole and entire in each of their parts, in such a way that the breaking of the bread does not divide Christ.vatican.va
- §1378 — Worship of the Eucharist. In the liturgy of the Mass we express our faith in the real presence of Christ under the species of bread and wine by, among other ways, genuflecting or bowing deeply as a sign of adoration of the Lord.vatican.va
- §1379 — The tabernacle was first intended for the reservation of the Eucharist in a worthy place so that it could be brought to the sick and those absent outside of Mass.vatican.va
- §1380 — It is highly fitting that Christ should have wanted to remain present to his Church in this unique way. Since Christ was about to take his departure from his own in his visible form, he wanted to give us his sacramental presence; since he was…vatican.va
- §1381 — "That in this sacrament are the true Body of Christ and his true Blood is something that 'cannot be apprehended by the senses,' says St.vatican.va
VI. The Paschal Banquet
- §1382 — The Mass is at the same time, and inseparably, the sacrificial memorial in which the sacrifice of the cross is perpetuated and the sacred banquet of communion with the Lord's body and blood.vatican.va
- §1383 — The altar, around which the Church is gathered in the celebration of the Eucharist, represents the two aspects of the same mystery: the altar of the sacrifice and the table of the Lord.vatican.va
- §1384 — The Lord addresses an invitation to us, urging us to receive him in the sacrament of the Eucharist: "Truly, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of man and drink his blood, you have no life in you."vatican.va
- §1385 — To respond to this invitation we must prepare ourselves for so great and so holy a moment. St. Paul urges us to examine our conscience: "Whoever, therefore, eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty of profaning the body and blood of the Lord.vatican.va
- §1386 — "). and in the Divine Liturgy of St. John Chrysostom the faithful pray in the same spirit:vatican.va
- §1387 — To prepare for worthy reception of this sacrament, the faithful should observe the fast required in their Church. Bodily demeanor (gestures, clothing) ought to convey the respect, solemnity, and joy of this moment when Christ becomes our guest.vatican.va
- §1388 — It is in keeping with the very meaning of the Eucharist that the faithful, if they have the required dispositions, receive communion each time they participate in the Mass.vatican.va
- §1389 — The Church obliges the faithful "to take part in the Divine Liturgy on Sundays and feast days" and, prepared by the sacrament of Reconciliation, to receive the Eucharist at least once a year, if possible during the Easter season.vatican.va
- §1390 — Since Christ is sacramentally present under each of the species, communion under the species of bread alone makes it possible to receive all the fruit of Eucharistic grace.vatican.va
- §1391 — Holy Communion augments our union with Christ. the principal fruit of receiving the Eucharist in Holy Communion is an intimate union with Christ Jesus. Indeed, the Lord said: "He who eats my flesh and drinks my blood abides in me, and I in him."vatican.va
- §1392 — What material food produces in our bodily life, Holy Communion wonderfully achieves in our spiritual life. Communion with the flesh of the risen Christ, a flesh "given life and giving life through the Holy Spirit," preserves, increases, and renews the life of grace received at Baptism.vatican.va
- §1393 — Holy Communion separates us from sin. the body of Christ we receive in Holy Communion is "given up for us," and the blood we drink "shed for the many for the forgiveness of sins."vatican.va
- §1394 — As bodily nourishment restores lost strength, so the Eucharist strengthens our charity, which tends to be weakened in daily life; and this living charity wipes away venial sins.vatican.va
- §1395 — By the same charity that it enkindles in us, the Eucharist preserves us from future mortal sins. the more we share the life of Christ and progress in his friendship, the more difficult it is to break away from him by mortal sin.vatican.va
- §1396 — The unity of the Mystical Body: the Eucharist makes the Church. Those who receive the Eucharist are united more closely to Christ. Through it Christ unites them to all the faithful in one body - the Church.vatican.va
- §1397 — The Eucharist commits us to the poor. To receive in truth the Body and Blood of Christ given up for us, we must recognize Christ in the poorest, his brethren:vatican.va
- §1398 — The Eucharist and the unity of Christians. Before the greatness of this mystery St. Augustine exclaims, "O sacrament of devotion! O sign of unity! O bond of charity!"vatican.va
- §1399 — The Eastern churches that are not in full communion with the Catholic Church celebrate the Eucharist with great love. "These Churches, although separated from us, yet possess true sacraments, above all - by apostolic succession - the priesthood and the Eucharist, whereby they are still joined to us in closest intimacy."vatican.va
- §1400 — Ecclesial communities derived from the Reformation and separated from the Catholic Church, "have not preserved the proper reality of the Eucharistic mystery in its fullness, especially because of the absence of the sacrament of Holy Orders."vatican.va
- §1401 — When, in the Ordinary's judgment, a grave necessity arises, Catholic ministers may give the sacraments of Eucharist, Penance, and Anointing of the Sick to other Christians not in full communion with the Catholic Church, who ask for them of their own will, provided they give…vatican.va
VII. The Eucharist - "Pledge of the Glory To Come"
- §1402 — In an ancient prayer the Church acclaims the mystery of the Eucharist: "O sacred banquet in which Christ is received as food, the memory of his Passion is renewed, the soul is filled with grace and a pledge of the life to come is given to us."vatican.va
- §1403 — At the Last Supper the Lord himself directed his disciples' attention toward the fulfillment of the Passover in the kingdom of God: "I tell you I shall not drink again of this fruit of the vine until that day when I drink it new with you in my Father's kingdom."vatican.va
- §1404 — The Church knows that the Lord comes even now in his Eucharist and that he is there in our midst. However, his presence is veiled.vatican.va
- §1405 — There is no surer pledge or dearer sign of this great hope in the new heavens and new earth "in which righteousness dwells," than the Eucharist.vatican.va
In Brief
- §1406 — Jesus said: "I am the living bread that came down from heaven; if any one eats of this bread, he will live for ever; .vatican.va
- §1407 — The Eucharist is the heart and the summit of the Church's life, for in it Christ associates his Church and all her members with his sacrifice of praise and thanksgiving offered once for all on the cross to his Father; by this sacrifice he pours…vatican.va
- §1408 — The Eucharistic celebration always includes: the proclamation of the Word of God; thanksgiving to God the Father for all his benefits, above all the gift of his Son; the consecration of bread and wine; and participation in the liturgical banquet by receiving the Lord's body and blood.vatican.va
- §1409 — The Eucharist is the memorial of Christ's Passover, that is, of the work of salvation accomplished by the life, death, and resurrection of Christ, a work made present by the liturgical action.vatican.va
- §1410 — It is Christ himself, the eternal high priest of the New Covenant who, acting through the ministry of the priests, offers the Eucharistic sacrifice. and it is the same Christ, really present under the species of bread and wine, who is the offering of the Eucharistic sacrifice.vatican.va
- §1411 — Only validly ordained priests can preside at the Eucharist and consecrate the bread and the wine so that they become the Body and Blood of the Lord.vatican.va
- §1412 — The essential signs of the Eucharistic sacrament are wheat bread and grape wine, on which the blessing of the Holy Spirit is invoked and the priest pronounces the words of consecration spoken by Jesus during the Last Supper: "This is my body which will be given up for you....vatican.va
- §1413 — By the consecration the transubstantiation of the bread and wine into the Body and Blood of Christ is brought about. Under the consecrated species of bread and wine Christ himself, living and glorious, is present in a true, real, and substantial manner: his Body and his Blood, with his soul and his divinity (cf.vatican.va
- §1414 — As sacrifice, the Eucharist is also offered in reparation for the sins of the living and the dead and to obtain spiritual or temporal benefits from God.vatican.va
- §1415 — Anyone who desires to receive Christ in Eucharistic communion must be in the state of grace. Anyone aware of having sinned mortally must not receive communion without having received absolution in the sacrament of penance.vatican.va
- §1416 — Communion with the Body and Blood of Christ increases the communicant's union with the Lord, forgives his venial sins, and preserves him from grave sins.vatican.va
- §1417 — The Church warmly recommends that the faithful receive Holy Communion each time they participate in the celebration of the Eucharist; she obliges them to do so at least once a year.vatican.va
- §1418 — Because Christ himself is present in the sacrament of the altar, he is to be honored with the worship of adoration. "To visit the Blessed Sacrament is .vatican.va
- §1419 — Having passed from this world to the Father, Christ gives us in the Eucharist the pledge of glory with him. Participation in the Holy Sacrifice identifies us with his Heart, sustains our strength along the pilgrimage of this life, makes us long for eternal life,…vatican.va
Scripture cited · 181 verses
Genesis 14:18 · Exodus 13:3 · Deuteronomy 8:3 · Psalm 104:13 · Psalm 104:14 · Psalm 104:15 · Psalm 116:13 · Psalm 116:17 · Malachi 1:11 · Matthew 8:8 · Matthew 14:13 · Matthew 14:14 · Matthew 14:15 · Matthew 14:16 · Matthew 14:17 · Matthew 14:18 · Matthew 14:19 · Matthew 14:20 · Matthew 14:21 · Matthew 15:32 · Matthew 15:33 · Matthew 15:34 · Matthew 15:35 · Matthew 15:36 · Matthew 15:37 · Matthew 15:38 · Matthew 15:39 · Matthew 18:20 · Matthew 25:31 · Matthew 25:32 · Matthew 25:33 · Matthew 25:34 · Matthew 25:35 · Matthew 25:36 · Matthew 25:37 · Matthew 25:38 · Matthew 25:39 · Matthew 25:40 · Matthew 25:41 · Matthew 25:42 · Matthew 25:43 · Matthew 25:44 · Matthew 25:45 · Matthew 25:46 · Matthew 26:17 · Matthew 26:18 · Matthew 26:19 · Matthew 26:20 · Matthew 26:21 · Matthew 26:22 · Matthew 26:23 · Matthew 26:24 · Matthew 26:25 · Matthew 26:26 · Matthew 26:27 · Matthew 26:28 · Matthew 26:29 · Mark 8:6 · Mark 8:19 · Mark 14:12 · Mark 14:13 · Mark 14:14 · Mark 14:15 · Mark 14:16 · Mark 14:17 · Mark 14:18 · Mark 14:19 · Mark 14:20 · Mark 14:21 · Mark 14:22 · Mark 14:23 · Mark 14:24 · Mark 14:25 · Luke 22:7 · Luke 22:8 · Luke 22:9 · Luke 22:10 · Luke 22:11 · Luke 22:12 · Luke 22:13 · Luke 22:14 · Luke 22:15 · Luke 22:16 · Luke 22:17 · Luke 22:18 · Luke 22:19 · Luke 22:20 · Luke 24:13 · Luke 24:14 · Luke 24:15 · Luke 24:16 · Luke 24:17 · Luke 24:18 · Luke 24:19 · Luke 24:20 · Luke 24:21 · Luke 24:22 · Luke 24:23 · Luke 24:24 · Luke 24:25 · Luke 24:26 · Luke 24:27 · Luke 24:28 · Luke 24:29 · Luke 24:30 · Luke 24:31 · Luke 24:32 · Luke 24:33 · Luke 24:34 · Luke 24:35 · John 2:11 · John 6:51 · John 6:53 · John 6:56 · John 6:57 · John 6:60 · John 6:67 · John 13:1 · John 13:2 · John 13:3 · John 13:4 · John 13:5 · John 13:6 · John 13:7 · John 13:8 · John 13:9 · John 13:10 · John 13:11 · John 13:12 · John 13:13 · John 13:14 · John 13:15 · John 13:16 · John 13:17 · Acts 2:42 · Acts 2:46 · Acts 20:7 · Acts 20:11 · Romans 8:34 · Romans 12:5 · 1 Corinthians 5:7 · 1 Corinthians 10:16 · 1 Corinthians 10:17 · 1 Corinthians 11:17 · 1 Corinthians 11:18 · 1 Corinthians 11:19 · 1 Corinthians 11:20 · 1 Corinthians 11:21 · 1 Corinthians 11:22 · 1 Corinthians 11:23 · 1 Corinthians 11:24 · 1 Corinthians 11:25 · 1 Corinthians 11:26 · 1 Corinthians 11:27 · 1 Corinthians 11:28 · 1 Corinthians 11:29 · 1 Corinthians 11:30 · 1 Corinthians 11:31 · 1 Corinthians 11:32 · 1 Corinthians 11:33 · and 21 more