Understanding the Eucharist

Sep 30, 2022

By Ann Sheela
Parishioners of the Church of Our Lady of Fatima recently attended a talk on The Eucharist – Our Source and Summit by Fr Michael Chua.

The Eucharist is the source and summit of our Christian life. It is an action of thanksgiving to God for His work of creation, redemption and sanctification. All other sacraments, ecclesiastical ministries and works are oriented toward the Eucharist.

The richness of this sacrament is expressed in different names such as The Lord’s Supper which is a Memorial of the Passover of our Lord. It is by the action of ‘Breaking of Bread’ that the disciples recognise Jesus after His resurrection.

The Eucharistic Assembly, celebrated amidst the assembly of the faithful, is the visible expression of the Church. The first Christians used this expression to designate their Eucharistic Assemblies. By doing so they signified that all who eat the broken bread will be in communion with our Lord Jesus Christ.

The Memorial of the Lord’s Passion and Resurrection commemorates Christ’s Passover and is made present in the sacrifice Christ offered, once and for all, on the cross. The Holy Sacrifice is an act of adoration, sanctification, thanksgiving and petition. It is also the Holy and Divine Liturgy because the Church’s whole liturgy finds its centre and most intense expression in the celebration of this sacrament. It is Holy Communion because, by this sacrament, we unite ourselves to Christ and Holy Mass where the mystery of salvation is accomplished. And it concludes with the sending forth of the faithful with a mission to spread the Good News.

A similar session in Tamil was held a week earlier, presented by Fr Peter Anthoney.