Holy Eucharist

At the Last Supper, on the night he was betrayed, our Savior, Jesus,  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: as sacrament of love, a sign of unity, a bond of charity. We are encouraged to receive the holy Eucharist every Sunday and on feast days. During the Mass the Holy Spirit makes present the mystery of Christ to:

• Prepare the assembly to encounter Christ in an intimate union.
• To recall and manifest Christ to the faith of the assembly.
• To make the saving work of Christ present and active by his transforming power.
• Wipe away our venial sin and strengthen our charity.
• Unite us to all the faithful in one body-the Church.
• To make the gift of communion bear fruit in the Church.

The Eucharist is the source and summit of the Christian Life. For in the blessed Eucharist is contained the whole spiritual good of the Church, Christ himself. (Catechism of the Catholic Church, 1324)