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This is an outline of a speech I have given several times, once at the 2002 Summer YMI Retreat at Marytown, and once to the St. Scholastica Home School Group Report Group.
J.M.J Nicholas Ruedig Outline of Talk on the Holy Eucharist I. Introduction A. The Holy Eucharist 1. Definition of the Holy Eucharist 2. The Real Presence 3. Sacrament
1. Mass as a Memorial 2. Mass as a Banquet 3. Mass as a Sacrifice II. The Definition of the Holy Eucharist
B. Names 1. Holy Communion {Real Presence} 2. Holy Viaticum (food for the journey) {Sacrament} 3. The Breaking of the Bread {Banquet} [Acts 2:42] 4. Heavenly Bread {Banquet} [John 6:50] 5. The Lord’s Supper {Banquet} [1st Corinthians 11:20] 6. The Sacrament of the Altar {Sacrament} {Sacrifice} 7. Eucharist (thanksgiving) [Early Christians] C. Prefiguring of the Holy Eucharist in the Old Testament 1. The Manna {Banquet} [John 6:32] 2. Isaac {Sacrifice} [Genesis 22:1-14] 3. The Paschal Lamb {Sacrifice} [1st Corinthians 5:7] 4. The Sacrifice of Melchizadech [Hebrews 5:6] III. The Real Presence in the Holy Eucharist A. Transubstantiation 1. The Body and Blood of Christ become physically present at the consecration 2. Physically present is the same as when Christ was on earth 3. Explain B. The Proofs of the Real Presence 1. The words of Promise a. John 6:48-66, "I am the bread of life. Your fathers ate bread in the wilderness, and they died. This is the bread which comes down from heaven, that a man may eat of it and not die. I am the living bread which came down from heaven; if anyone eats of this he will live for ever; and the bread which I shall give for the life of the world is my flesh."’ The Jews then disputed among themselves, saying, "How can this man give us His Flesh to eat?" So Jesus said to them, "Truly, 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, he who eats My flesh and drinks My blood has eternal life, and him I will raise up on the last day. For My flesh is food indeed, and My blood is drink indeed. He who eats My flesh and drinks My blood abides in Me, and I in him. As the living Father sent Me, and I live because of the Father, s He who eats Me shall live because of Me. This is the bread which came down from heaven, not such as the fathers ate and died, he who eats this bread will live forever." This He said in the synagogue, as he taught at Capernum. Many of his disciples, when they heard it, said, "This is a hard saying; who can listen to it?" But Jesus, knowing in Himself that His disciples murmured at it, said to them, "Do you take offense at this? The what if you were to see the Son of man ascending to where He was before? …But there are some of you who do not believe." … After this many of his disciples drew back form Him and no longer went about with Him. Jesus said to the twelve, "Will you also go away?" b. Must be taken literally i. Jews took it literally ii. Disciples took it literally iii. Jesus took it literally 2. The words of Institution a. The Last Supper i. Matthew ii. Mark iii. Luke iv. John b. Must be taken literally 3. The words of St. Paul a. 1st Corinthians 10:16, "The cup of blessing which we bless, is it not a participation in the Blood of Christ? The Bread which we break, is it not a participation in the Body of Christ?" b. 1st Corinthians 11:27, "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" 4. The Teaching and Practice of the Church a. The Church Fathers i. St. Ignatius of Antioch (m. by two lions, 107 A.D.) writes, "The Docetes [a heretical sect in the early church] abstain from the Eucharist because they do not confess [believe] that the Eucharist is the body of Our Savior Jesus Christ." ii. St Justin the Martyr (m. 165 A.D.) says, "We do not receive these things as common bread and drink, but we have learned that the food an drink, made a Eucharist by word of prayer that comes from Him, by change are the Flesh and Blood of the Incarnate Jesus." iii. St. John Crystostom, Doctor Eucharistae, (d. 407 A.D.) speaks, "How many of you say, ‘I should like to see His face, His garments, His shoes.’ You do see Him, you touch Him, you eat Him. He gives Himself to you, not only that you may see Him, but also to be your food and nourishment." iv. St. Cyril of Jerusalem (d. 386 A.D.) writes, "In Cana of Galilee, Christ changed the water into wine, and shall we not think Him less worthy of credit when He changes wine into His Blood." v. St. Augustine (d. 430 A.D.) writes, "Christ held Himself in His hands when He gave His Body to His disciples, saying, ‘This is My Body.’ No one partakes of this Flesh before he has adored it." b. The Discipline of the Secret i. Only those who were fully initiated into the Church were taught about the Eucharist
C. Miracles 1. On the evening of the last day of his October 1995 visit to the United States, Pope John Paul II was scheduled to greet the seminarians at St. Mary’s Seminary in Baltimore. It had been a very full day from the beginning with mass, followed by a parade in the downtown streets, a visit to the Basilica of the Assumption, lunch at a local soup kitchen run by Catholic Charities, a prayer service at the cathedral of Mary Our Queen in north Baltimore and finally a quick stop at St. Mary’s Seminary. The schedule was so tight the plan was simply to greet the seminarians while they stood outside on the steps. But, Pope John Paul made his way through their ranks and into the building. His plan was to first make a visit to the Blessed Sacrament. When his wishes were made known, security personnel flew into action ahead of the Pope. Their activities included a sweep of the building, paying closest attention, to the chapel where John Paul would be praying. For this purpose, highly trained dogs were used to detect any persons who might be present. These dogs are trained to locate living people after earthquakes and other disasters. These intelligent and eager canines went through their rounds in the halls, offices, and classrooms quickly and were then sent to the chapel. They went up and down the aisles, past the pews, and finally into the side chapel where the Blessed Sacrament is reserved. Upon reaching the tabernacle, the dogs sniffed, whined, and pointed, refusing to leave. They were convinced that they discovered someone there, and firmly remained, their attention riveted on the tabernacle, until called out by their handlers. We Catholics know they were right: they found a real living person in the tabernacle! IV. The Holy Eucharist as a Sacrament A. The definition of a sacrament 1. A sacrament is an outward sign instituted by Christ to give grace. B. How the Holy Eucharist is a Sacrament 1. Outward Sign a. Matter i. Explain what matter is ii. Bread and wine b. Form i. Explain what the form is ii. The words of the Priest 2. Instituted by Christ a. The Last Supper i. Matthew 26:26-28, "Now as they were eating, Jesus took bread, and blessed, and broke it, and gave it to His disciples and said, ‘Take; eat, this is My Body.’ And He took the cup and when He had given thanks He gave it to them, saying, ‘Drink of it all of you; for this is My Blood of the new covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins.’" b. Three-fold purpose i. To be Really Present with us ii. To offer Himself for us iii. To nourish us 3. Gives Grace a. Sanctifying Grace b. Sacramental Grace i. Christ Himself, the Source of all graces
V. The Holy Eucharist in the Mass as a Memorial A. A memory is a remembrance of a past event B. A memorial is the physical presence of a past event C. Example: 1. Nativity: past historical birth of Christ 2. Christmas: made objectively present at Mass 3. Future Good: our birth in heaven D. Diagram E. Anamnesis 1. Eucharistic Prayer I: Father, we celebrate the memory of Christ, your Son. We, your people and your ministers, recall His passion, is Resurrection from the dead, and His Ascension into glory. F. Living Presence of Jesus is present in all His saving mysteries 1. Incarnation at the Annunciation 2. Birth in Bethlehem 3. Public Ministry beginning at Cana 4. Transfiguration 5. Suffering and Death at Calvary 6. Resurrection and Ascension 7. Descent of the Holy Spirit 8. Jesus in the Life of the Church and Her Saints G. 1st Corinthians 10:17, "Because there is one bread, we who are many are one body, for we all partake of the one bread." H. Luke 22:19, "Do this in remembrance of Me." VI. The Holy Eucharist in the Mass as a Banquet A. Last Supper 1. Passover meal 2. Shared with disciples B. Agape: Love Feast 1. Meal eaten before the Eucharist in the Early Church 2. It was supposed to be shared 3. It was abused a. 1st Corinthians 11:20-22, "When you meet together, it is not the Lord’s Supper that you eat. For in eating, each one goes ahead with his own meal, and one is hungry and another is drunk. What! Do you not have houses to eat and drink in? Or do you despise the Church of God and humiliate those who have nothing? What shall I say to you? Shall I commend you in this? No, I will not." C. Christ gave commandment at Last Supper 1. Had to be in the state of grace to receive Holy Communion VII. The Holy Eucharist in the Mass as a Sacrifice A. Essential Elements of a True Sacrifice 1. A Victim to be offered (e.g., bullock offered by Elijah) 2. An authorized person such as a Priest (Elijah acted as priest) 3. The Offering of the Victim by the Priest to God (bullock was offered to God) 4. The Immolation of the Victim (Burning of bullock) a. 1st Corinthians 8:1-13, "…But some, though being hitherto accustomed to idols, eat food as though really offered to an idol; and their conscience, being weak, is defiled" b. 1st Corinthians 10: 18, "Consider the practices of Israel; are not those who eat the sacrifices partners in the altar?" 5. God’s Acceptance of the Victim (God accepted Elijah’s sacrifices) B. How the Holy Eucharist in the Mass has These Elements 1. Christ is the Victim 2. Christ is the Priest a. The Priest acts "In Persona Christi" 3. Christ offers Himself to His Father 4. The People Immolate (consume) Christ in the Holy Eucharist 5. God the Father Accepts the Offering of His Son. VIII. Eucharistic Adoration IX. Mary and the Eucharist X. Conclusion, "Laud, Zion, Salvatorem," by St. Thomas Aquinas
(1) Zion, lift thy voice and sing: Praise thy savior and thy King; Praise with hymns thy shepherd true: Dare thy most to praise Him well; For He doth all praise excel; None can ever reach his due.
(2) Special theme of praise is thine, That true living bread divine, That life-giving flesh adored, Which the brethren twelve received, As most faithfully believed, At the Supper of the Lord.
(3) Let the chant be loud and high; Sweet and tranquil be the joy Felt today in every breast; On this festival divine Which recounts the origin Of the glorious Eucharist.
(4) At this table of the King, Our new paschal offering Brings to end the olden rite; Here, for empty shadows fled, Is reality instead; Here, instead of darkness, light.
(5) His own act, at supper seated, Christ ordained to be repeated, In His memory divine; Wherefore now, with adoration, We the Host of our salvation Consecrate from bread and wine.
(6) Hear what Holy Church maintaineth, That the bread its substance changeth, Into Flesh, the wine to Blood. Doth it pass thy comprehending? Faith the law of sight transcending, Leaps to things not understood.
(7) Here in outward signs are hidden Priceless things, to sense forbidden; Signs, not things, are all we see: - Flesh from bread, and Blood from wine; Yet is Christ, in either sign, All entire confessed to be.
(8) They too who of Him partake Sever not, nor rend, nor break, But their entire Lord receive. Whether one or thousands eat, All receive the self-same meat, Nor the less for other leave.
(9) Both the wicked and the good Eat of this celestial food; But with ends how opposite! Here ‘tis life, and there ‘tis death; The same, yet issuing to each In a difference infinite.
(10) Nor a single doubt retain, When they break the hosts in twain, But that in each part remains What was in the whole before; Since the simple sign alone Suffers change in state or form, The Signified remaining One And the same forevermore.
(11) Lo! Upon the altar lies, Hidden deep from human eyes, Angel’s bread from Paradise Made the food of mortal man: Children’s meat to dogs denied; In the old types forsignified; In the manna from the skies, In Isaac and the Paschal lamb.
(12) Jesu! Shepherd of the sheep! Thy true flock in safety keep. Living bread! Thy life supply; Strengthen us, or else we die; Fill us with celestial grace: Thou, who feedest us below! Source of all we have or know! Grant that with thy saints above, Sitting at the feast of love, We may see thee face to face. Amen.
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