Eucharist

Scripture

"While they were eating, Jesus took bread, said the blessing, broke it, and giving it to his disciples said, ‘Take and eat; this is my body.' Then he took a cup, gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, ‘Drink from it, all of you, for this is my blood of the covenant, which will be shed on behalf of many for the forgiveness of sins" (Mt 26:26-28).

Catechism

"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.

"At the Last Supper, on the night he was betrayed, our Savior instituted the Eucharistic sacrifice of his Body and Blood. This he did in order to perpetuate the sacrifice of the cross throughout the ages until he should come again, and so to entrust to his beloved Spouse, the Church, a memorial of his death and resurrection: a sacrament of love, a sign of unity, a bond of charity, a Paschal banquet ‘in which Christ is consumed, the mind is filled with grace, and a pledge of future glory is given to us'" (CCC 1322-1323).

At OLV

In the Archdiocese of Washington, and therefore here at OLV, the sacrament of Eucharist normally is celebrated for the first time by children who are 7 years of age and have been baptized. Preparation is required and takes place in our day school and CCD program. Parents should consult with their child's teacher for all requirements.

Adults who desire to receive the sacrament of the Eucharist must complete the RCIA (Rite of Christian Initiation for Adults) and then be baptized and confirmed.

"Before the greatnes of [the Eucharist] St. Augustine exclaims, ‘O sacrament of devotion! O sign of unity! O bond of charity!' The more painful the experience of the divisions in the Church which break the common participation in the table of the Lord, the more urgent are our prayers to the Lord that the time of complete unity among all who believe in him may return.

"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.' A certain communion in sacris, and so in the Eucharist, ‘given suitable circumstances and the approval of the Church authority, is not merely possible but is encouraged.

"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.' It is for this reason that, for the Catholic Church, Eucharistic intercommunion with these communities is not possible. However these ecclesial communities, ‘when they commemorate the Lord's death and resurrection in the Holy Supper…profess that it signifies life in communion with Christ and await his coming in glory.'

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 evidence of holding the Catholic faith regarding these sacraments and possess the required dispositions." (CCC 1398-1401)