background
The Eucharist which is described by Ian Knox (1999) in the Catholic Church is the offering and eating of the bread and wine which becomes the body and blood of Jesus by the power of God's Spirit acting through the words of the priest who voices the faith of the community. The Eucharist is the central act of worship that binds together the People of God into one body, once caring, sharing community. This is one of the Sacraments of Initiation along with Baptism and Confirmation, that lay the foundations of every Christian life.
The history of the Catholic Eucharist goes back to the Passover in Jewish history. This was an event that was repeated through generations, where the Jewish people would come together and eat a meal of roasted lamb, bitter herds and unleavened bread, for the memorial of the Exodus which was the central experience of the Jewish faith. They would do this to remember God's saving act on their behalf, give thanks, worship, renew their sense of being a community formed by covenant with God (Knox, 1999).
Jesus came together with his disciples to celebrate the Passover on his last night before he died, adding a new dimension to the Jewish meal. Jesus sat with his closest friends and followers, took some bread and wine, sharing it with them saying this is his body and blood and to take it in memory of him. The followers of Jesus continued to do this throughout history by celebrating the Eucharist. We still celebrate the Eucharist today when we participate in the Liturgy or Mass. When we do this, we are remembering Jesus life, death and resurrection, making a communal commitment to go and share God's love in the world (National Catholic Education Commission [NCEC], 2011).
When we receive the Bread and drink from the Cup, we enter into the communion with Jesus Body and Blood. This is because Christ is present in the elements of the bread and wine which become his body and blood. This is the most intense mode of the presence of the Christ in the Eucharist, where we share the life of Jesus and open ourselves to loving and loving as he did (NCEC, 2011).
The name 'Eucharist' comes from the Greek word 'eucharistia', meaning 'thanksgiving', which has come down from what Jesus did at the Last Supper with his disciples. This follows the Jewish ritual of the Passover meal Jesus 'gave thanks' to God before he gave out the bread and the wine (Knox, 1999).
The history of the Catholic Eucharist goes back to the Passover in Jewish history. This was an event that was repeated through generations, where the Jewish people would come together and eat a meal of roasted lamb, bitter herds and unleavened bread, for the memorial of the Exodus which was the central experience of the Jewish faith. They would do this to remember God's saving act on their behalf, give thanks, worship, renew their sense of being a community formed by covenant with God (Knox, 1999).
Jesus came together with his disciples to celebrate the Passover on his last night before he died, adding a new dimension to the Jewish meal. Jesus sat with his closest friends and followers, took some bread and wine, sharing it with them saying this is his body and blood and to take it in memory of him. The followers of Jesus continued to do this throughout history by celebrating the Eucharist. We still celebrate the Eucharist today when we participate in the Liturgy or Mass. When we do this, we are remembering Jesus life, death and resurrection, making a communal commitment to go and share God's love in the world (National Catholic Education Commission [NCEC], 2011).
When we receive the Bread and drink from the Cup, we enter into the communion with Jesus Body and Blood. This is because Christ is present in the elements of the bread and wine which become his body and blood. This is the most intense mode of the presence of the Christ in the Eucharist, where we share the life of Jesus and open ourselves to loving and loving as he did (NCEC, 2011).
The name 'Eucharist' comes from the Greek word 'eucharistia', meaning 'thanksgiving', which has come down from what Jesus did at the Last Supper with his disciples. This follows the Jewish ritual of the Passover meal Jesus 'gave thanks' to God before he gave out the bread and the wine (Knox, 1999).