The Convert's Catechism of Catholic Doctrine

The Holy Eucharist

What is the Holy Eucharist?: The Holy Eucharist is,

1) The Sacrament which contains the Body and Blood, Soul and Divinity of Jesus Christ, under the appearance of bread and wine;

2) The Sacrifice of the New Law.
When did Christ promise the Holy Eucharist?: Christ promised the Holy Eucharist after the miraculous multiplication of bread, about a year before He died. "I am the living bread which came down from heaven. If any man eat of this bread, he shall live for ever; and the bread that I will give is My flesh, for the life of the world." - John 6:51-52
When did Christ institute the Holy Eucharist?: Christ instituted the Holy Eucharist at the Last Supper, the night before He died.
Who were present when Christ instituted the Holy Eucharist?: When Christ instituted the Holy Eucharist, the twelve Apostles were present.
How did Christ institute the Holy Eucharist?: Christ took bread, blessed, broke and gave to His disciples, saying: "Take ye and eat, this is My Body." He then took a cup of wine and blessed it, saying: "Drink ye all of this: for this is My Blood of the New Testament, which shall be shed for many unto remission of sins. . . . Do this in commemoration of Me." - Matthew 26:26-28; Luke 22:19
Why did Christ institute the Holy Eucharist?: Christ instituted the Holy Eucharist,

1) As a token of His love, by abiding with us on our Altars;

2) As food for our souls and as a pledge of our future glory in Holy Communion;

3) As a Memorial of His death and the lasting Sacrifice of the Hew Law.
What is Transubstantiation?: Transubstantiation is the changing of the substance of bread and wine into the substance of the Body and Blood of Jesus Christ.
When was the substance of bread and wine first changed into the substance of the Body and Blood of Christ?: The substance of bread and wine was first changed into the substance of the Body and Blood of Jesus Christ at the Last Supper, when He said: "This is My Body - This is My Blood."
How is Transubstantiation effected?: Transubstantiation is effected by the almighty power of Jesus Christ.
What remained of the bread and wine after Christ said: "This is My Body - This is My Blood"?: After Christ said: This is My Body - This is My Blood, the accidents, or appearances, of bread and wine alone remained.
What are the accidents, or appearances, of bread and wine?: The accidents, or appearances, of bread and wine are whatever appears to the senses, as color, taste, shape and the like.
Is Christ whole and entire, both under the form of bread and under the form of wine?: Christ is whole and entire, both under the form of bread and under the form of wine.
Why is Christ whole and entire, both under the appearance of bread and under the appearance of wine?: Christ is whole and entire both under the appearance of bread and under the appearance of wine, because in His Living Personality His Body and Blood are united.
When did Christ make the Apostles priests and give them the power to transubstantiate?: Christ made His Apostles priests and gave them the power to transubstantiate, when He said: "Do this in commemoration of Me." - Luke 22:19
When does the priest today change bread and wine into the Body and Blood of Christ?: The priest today changes bread and wine into the Body and Blood of Christ at the Consecration of the Mass.
Is the Holy Eucharist preserved on our Altars?: The Holy Eucharist is preserved on our Altars.
What do we call the Holy Eucharist when preserved on our Altars?: We call the Holy Eucharist, when preserved on our Altars, The Real Presence or The Blessed Sacrament.
Why is the Blessed Sacrament kept on our Altars?: The Blessed Sacrament is kept on our Altars,

1) To be adored by the faithful;

2) To be given in Holy Communion;

3) To be our Emmanuel or God-With-Us to the end of the world.
What is Holy Communion?: Holy Communion is the receiving of Jesus Christ in the Sacrament of the Holy Eucharist.
How is Jesus Christ received in Holy Communion?: In Holy Communion Jesus Christ is received whole and entire; His Body and His Blood, His Soul and His Divinity.
What are the chief benefits of Holy Communion?: The chief benefits of Holy Communion are:

1) Union with Jesus Christ in the Sacrament of His Love;

2) The reception of countless graces to enable us to avoid evil and to do good;

3) The cleansing of our nature from the dross of sin;

4) A pledge of a glorious Resurrection and life everlasting.
What must we do to receive Holy Communion worthily?: To receive Holy Communion worthily we must be in the state of grace and be fasting from midnight.
How can we recover the grace of God, if we are in mortal sin?: If we are in mortal sin, we can recover the grace of God by a good confession.
What does the fast necessary for Holy Communion prescribe?: The fast necessary for Holy Communion prescribes that we take nothing as food or drink from midnight to the time of Holy Communion.
How long does the Real Presence remain with us in Holy Communion?: The Real Presence remains with us in Holy Communion until the Sacred Species, or the appearances of bread and wine are destroyed.
When is a Catholic allowed to receive Holy Communion when not fasting?: A Catholic is allowed to receive Holy Communion when not fasting when he is in danger of death from sickness or accident.
What is the dispensation in favor of those suffering from a lingering illness?: The dispensation in favor of those suffering from a lingering illness is that they may receive Holy Communion occasionally when not fasting.
What is required to receive Holy Communion daily?: To receive Holy Communion daily, it is necessary,

1) To be in the state of grace;

2) To have a right intention;

3) To be guided by our Father Confessor.
What should we do to receive plentifully the graces of Holy Communion?: To receive plentifully the graces of Holy Communion we should strive to overcome deliberate venial sins, perform acts of self-denial, and make acts of lively faith, firm hope, and of ardent love.
How much time should we spend in adoration, petition and thanksgiving after Holy Communion?: After Holy Communion we should spend at least a quarter of an hour in adoration, petition and thanksgiving.
When are we hound to receive Holy Communion under pain of mortal sin?: We are bound to receive Holy Communion under pain of mortal sin during the Easter-time and when we are in danger of death.
Why does the Church give Communion to the Laity only under the form of bread?: The Church gives Communion to the Laity only under the form of bread principally to emphasize the doctrine of the Real Presence of Jesus Christ, whole and entire, under each form.
How do we call the Holy Eucharist as the Sacrifice of the New Law?: As the Sacrifice of the New Law we call the Holy Eucharist the Mass.
What is the Mass?: The Mass is the unbloody Sacrifice of the Body and Blood of Christ.
What is a sacrifice?: A sacrifice is the offering of an object by a priest to God alone, and the destroying of it as the supreme act of adoration, thanksgiving, petition and reparation.
Is a sacrifice necessary to pay God man's debt of religion?: A sacrifice is necessary to pay God man's debt of religion.
When did Christ institute the Sacrifice of the Mass?: Christ instituted the Sacrifice of the Mass at the Last Supper, when He said to the Apostles: "Do this in commemoration of Me." - Luke 22:19
How did the prophet Malachy foretell the Sacrifice of the Mass?: The prophet Malachy foretold the Sacrifice of the Mass when he said: "From the rising of the sun even to the going down, my name is great among the Gentiles, and in every place is Sacrifice, and there is offered to my name a clean oblation." - Malachi 1:11
What did the Hebrews understand by clean oblation?: By clean oblation the Hebrews understood a sacrifice of bread and wine.
Are the Last Supper, the Sacrifice of the Cross, and the Sacrifice of the Mass one and the same Sacrifice?: The Last Supper, the Sacrifice of the Cross, and the Sacrifice of the Mass are one and the same Sacrifice.
Why are the Last Supper, the Sacrifice of the Cross, and the Sacrifice of the Mass one and the same Sacrifice?: The Last Supper, the Sacrifice of the Cross, and the Sacrifice of the Mass are one and the same Sacrifice, because the Victim and the Priest, Jesus Christ, is the same in all three.
How do the Sacrifice of the Cross and the Sacrifice of the Mass differ?: The Sacrifice of the Cross and the Sacrifice of the Mass differ in three ways:

1) The Sacrifice of the Cross was bloody, the Sacrifice of the Mass is an unbloody and commemorative Sacrifice;

2) On the Cross Jesus Christ offered Himself by Himself, in the Mass He offers Himself by the hands of the ministering Priest;

3) On the Cross Christ merited our salvation, in the Mass He applies His merits to the faithful.
Which is the best manner of assisting at Mass?: The best manner of assisting at Mass is to offer it to God in union with the priest, to meditate on Christ's suffering and death, and to receive Holy Communion.
Why are Ceremonies used in divine worship?: Ceremonies are used in divine worship, because:

1) They are prompted by the human heart;

2) They raise the mind and heart to God;

3) They are pleasing to God.
Were the Rites and Ceremonies of the Mass instituted by Christ or by the Church?: The Rites and Ceremonies of the Mass were instituted by the Church.
What do the Ceremonies of the Mass represent?: The Ceremonies of the Mass represent the details of the Sacrifice of Calvary.