Eucharist History Essay, Research Paper

Eucharist History -reenacts the closing events

of jesus’ life -links past-present-future one ceremony

-powerful, meaningful ritual -last of the 3 sacraments of

initiation -prescribed by christ -have to see the eucharist as

body, not bread Eucharist celebrates -"a way of

remembering" -daily reminder of Gods love -jesus shared

bread at last supper/do this in memory of me -a thanksgiving

feast -"eucharist" means giving thanx Ritual Meal -earliest

form of rituals are eating and gathering -sacrifice meal -ritual

not a routine -builds on the symbolism of a ritual mean Sign

and Symbols -symbol of gods love for us -jesus’ body -last

supper/banquet -welcome others to participate in the

eucharist -unfilled celebration -if we went to mass on

sunday, it would make the rest of the week more meaningful

-unified body -it is the most commonly received sacrament,

most pivotal of 7 -as a community, we celebrate the

presence of christ in the eucharist -bread: basic food for

most people/closely assoc with nature human work

Vestements -white/purple/black robe Words -"Do this in

Memory of Me." -"This is my body, which has been given

up for you." ST. ROBERT’S CATHOLIC HIGH

SCHOOL "THE EUCHARIST" BY: MARK HARNUM

Presented to: Mr. DiMaio NRE 2A0-09 Monday

November 29 , 1993 THE EUCHARIST Thesis: The

Eucharist is a sign of Jesus’ death, and how He gave himself

up for us, and how we experience Him through His body.

History of the Eucharist The Eucharist is a Jewish Ritual of

worship. It dates back to the Last Supper, where Jesus

celebrated a typical Jewish community meal with His friends.

Sharing a meal with family, (very important to the Jews) also

dates back to the Passover Meal. This is called the Liturgy

of the Eucharist, and the early Christians added Jewish

synagogue service and then became the Liturgy of the Word.

The Eucharist is a sacrament, and is also a ritual. It is a

repeated sacrament, and is the most frequently used among

all sacraments. It is "a way of remembering" and a daily

reminder if God’s love. Jesus at the Last Supper shared

bread with us, and said "Do this in Memory of Me." This is

why we have bread, because it represents Jesus’ body, and

how He gave Himself up for us. The first little while of the

Church, the "Mass was celebrated as a friendship meal

called agape." Christians shared brought food to the house

where they were assembled, but as the numbers increased,

the meal was cut down to bread and wine. Today, the

offertory collection echoes the early years of the spirit giving

at the Eucharist. It is living bread that came down from

heaven. Whoever believes has eternal life. Rituals of the

Eucharist The Eucharist, breaking of the bread, sharing the

wine, eating and gathering are the earliest form of rituals.

These rituals are a sacrifice meal. They are sacrifice meals

because they take time, and are enjoyed, so therefore it is a

meal, not a routine. The sharing of the meal is important, and

it is a time of experiencing each other. The word Eucharist

means giving thanks, and the ritual of the Eucharist is like a

"Thanksgiving every day of the year". Symbols of the

Eucharist The Eucharist is a symbol of God’s love for us. It

illustrates Jesus’s body, and welcomes others to participate

in the Eucharist. The Eucharist is an unfilled Celebration and

receiving the Eucharist on Sunday, makes the rest of the

week more meaningful. It symbolizes the unified body of

Christ, and the church symbolizes a community as we

celebrate the presence in Christ in the Eucharist. The bread

symbolizes giving thanks, and is the basic food for most

people and is closely associated with nature and work of

human hands. Sharing the Cup represents that drink is

essential to life and both bread and wine are symbols of

Christ. It also symbolizes how we can go forty days without

water as opposed to five days without water. Proclaiming

the Word of God means that Jesus is present in the Gospels

and He comes alive for us in hearing the words and stories

of his life. We stand to welcome Christ into our living word

of God. Vestments The garments worn during the Eucharist

at Church are either Black, White, or Purple. These are for

different times of the year. Black symbolizes death, purple

illustrates Advent, and white portrays ordinary time. Words,

Statements, Responses There are many different expressions

used in the Mass, all with important meanings. First, the

priest prepares the gifts, to make them Holy. We respond

"Blessed it be God forever." Another one is "Do this in

Memory of Me." This means that Jesus gave Himself up for

us, and wants us to remember what He did for us. It

reenacts the closing events of Jesus’ life on earth. This is

followed by the Eucharist Prayer "Holy, Holy, Holy Lord…"

then ensued by "Lord, I am not worth to receive you, but

only say the word, and I shall be healed." This means to

clean yourself of sins, and get ready for the body of Christ.

To ask God if He welcomes you to receive the Eucharist.

BIBLIOGRAPHY COOKE, Bernard, THE EUCHARIST,

"Mystery of Friendship" Centre of Studies in Religious

Education Ohio, 1969. GUZIE, Tad, W. JESUS AND THE

EUCHARIST, Paulist Press New York, 1974 RELIGION

MANUAL p: 117-131 JOHN 6: 47-58, BIBLE LUKE 22:

14-20 BIBLE GIFTS OF THE HOLY SPIRIT, Handout

LITURGY OF THE WORD, Handout WHAT IS THE

SACRAMENT, Handout