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