THE HOLY EUCHARIST AND THE HOLY MASS

"Now as they were eating, Jesus took bread, and when he had said the blessing he broke it and gave it to the disciples. 'Take it and eat,' he said, 'this is my body.' Then he took a cup, and when he had given thanks he handed it to them saying, "Drink from this all of you, for this is my blood, the blood of the covenant, poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins." Matthew 26: 26-28

Graces Derived from Assisting at Mass

(Note: Assisting at Mass simply means attending Mass. By attending a Mass Catholics are actually assisting in Mass.)

1. The Mass is Calvary continued.

2. Every Mass is worth as much as the sacrifice of our Lord's life, sufferings and death.

3. Holy Mass is the most powerful atonement for your sins.

4. At the hour of death the Masses you have heard will be your greatest consolation.

5. Every Mass will go with you to judgment and plead for pardon.

6. At Mass you can diminish more or less temporal punishment due to your sins, according to your fervor.

7. Assisting devoutly at Holy Mass you render to the sacred humanity of Our Lord the greatest homage.

8. He supplies for many of your negligences and omissions.

9. He forgives the venial sins which you have not confessed. The power of Satan over you is diminished.

10. You afford the souls in Purgatory the greatest possible relief.

11. One Mass heard during life will be of more benefit to you than many heard for you after your death.

12. You are preserved from dangers and misfortunes which otherwise might have befallen you. You shorten your Purgatory.

13. Every Mass wins for you a higher degree of glory in Heaven.

14. You receive the priest's blessing which Our Lord ratifies in Heaven.

15. You kneel amidst a multitude of holy angels, who are present at the adorable Sacrifice with reverential awe.

16. You are blessed in your temporal goods and affairs.

In eternity, we shall fully realize that it was certainly worthwhile to have assisted at Holy Mass daily. PRAY FOR PRIESTS THAT THEY MAY OFFER THE MASS WITH HOLY LOVE AND REVERENCE.

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"WHY Should I Go To Mass Every Day?"

"The Mass is the most perfect form of prayer!"

For each Mass we hear with devotion, Our Lord sends a saint to comfort us at death. (revelation of Christ to St. Gertrude the great).

Padre Pio, the stigmatic priest, said, the world could exist more easily without the sun than without the Mass.

The Cure'd' Ars, St. Jean Vianney said, if we knew the value of the Mass we would die of joy.

A great doctor of the Church, St. Anselm, declares that a single Mass offered for oneself during life may be worth more than a thousand celebrated for the same intention after death. St. Leonard of Port Maurice supports this statement by saying that one Mass before death may be more profitable than many after it.

"The Holy Mass would be of greater profit if people had it offered in their lifetime, rather than having it celebrated for the relief of their souls after death." (Pope Benedict XV).

Once, St. Teresa was overwhelmed with God's Goodness and asked Our Lord, "How can I thank you?" Our Lord replied, "ATTEND ONE MASS".

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QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS ABOUT THE HOLY MASS AND THE HOLY EUCHARIST

The following is from the book CATHOLIC CATECHISM BY Rev. W. Faerber, published by TAN BOOKS AND PUBLISHERS, INC. Rockford, Illinois 61105, Copyright 1978 by TAN Books and Publishers, Inc. Used with permission.

1. THE SACRAMENT

Question 272. What is the Holy Eucharist?

The Holy Eucharist is the body and blood of our Lord Jesus Christ under the appearances of bread and wine.

Other names: Blessed Sacrament of the Altar, Lord's Supper, Corpus Christi, Sacred Host, Bread of Angels, Heavenly Manna, Viaticum (food for a journey).

Question 273. How is Jesus Christ present in the Holy Eucharist?

Jesus Christ is present in the Holy Eucharist as He is in heaven.

Jesus is present really; not figuratively, not in a symbol. He is present truly; not imagined, not in a picture. He is present essentially, as God and as man.

Question 274. When did Jesus promise the Blessed Sacrament?

Jesus promised the Blessed Sacrament after the miracle of the loaves and fishes.

"The bread that I will give is My flesh for the life of the world. ...Amen, amen I say unto you: Except you eat the flesh of the Son of man, and drink His blood, you shall not have life in you .... For My flesh is meat indeed, and My blood is drink indeed" (John 6: 52, 54). Read John 6:25-70.

Question 275. When did Jesus institute the Blessed sacrament?

Jesus instituted the Blessed Sacrament on the eve of His death.

Holy Thursday.

Question 276. How did Jesus institute the Blessed Sacrament?

Jesus took bread, blessed it, broke it, and gave it to His disciples, saying: "Take ye, and eat; this is My body." He then took the chalice with wine, blessed it, and gave it to His disciples, saying: "Drink ye all of this; for this is My blood. ... Do this for a commemoration of Me."

Question 277. What happened when Jesus said, "This is My body," "this is My blood,"?

When Jesus said, "This is My body," "this is My blood," the bread was changed into His body, and the wine into His blood. Transubstantiation = change of a thing into something else.

Question 278. What power did Jesus give to apostles when He said, "do this for a commemoration of Me"?

When Jesus said, "Do this for a commemoration of Me" He gave to His apostles the power to change bread and wine into His body and blood. The apostles were the first Catholic priests.

Question 279. Who received from the apostles the power of changing bread and wine into the body and blood of Christ?

The bishops and priest received from the apostles the power of changing bread and wine into the body and blood of Christ.

Question 280. When do the bishops and priests change bread and wine into the body and blood of Christ?

The bishops and priests change bread and wine into the body and blood of Christ in the Mass.

Question 281. After the consecration, what is on the altar in the place of bread and wine?

After the consecration there is on the altar in the place of bread and wine, the body and blood of Jesus Christ.

Question 282. What remains of the bread and wine after the consecration?

Only the appearances of bread and wine remain after the consecration.

Question 282. What remains of the bread and wine after the consecration?

Only the appearances of bread and wine remain after the consecration.

Question 283. What is meant by appearances of bread and wine?

By appearances of bread and wine is meant all that the senses perceive of bread and wine: the color, taste, etc.

Question 284. Under how many appearances is Jesus present?

Jesus is present under two appearances: those of bread and wine.

Question 285. Is Jesus present whole and entire under each appearance?

Jesus is present whole and entire under each appearance.

Question 286. Is Jesus present whole and entire in each particle of the appearances of bread and wine?

Jesus is present whole and entire in each particle of the appearances of bread and wine.

Question 287. How long does Jesus remain present in the Blessed Sacrament?

Jesus remains present in the Blessed Sacrament as long as the appearances exist.

Question 288. What must we do because Jesus is present in the Blessed Sacrament?

Because Jesus is present in the Blessed Sacrament, we must adore the Blessed Sacrament. Genuflection. Holy hour. Forty Hours' Devotion.

Question 289. Why did Jesus institute the Blessed Sacrament?

Jesus instituted the Blessed Sacrament

1. To honor the Blessed Trinity (Mass);

2. To be the food of our souls (Holy Communion).

Application. When we pass a church we should greet our Savior with a short prayer. (Praised be Jesus Christ. O Sacrament most holy, O Sacrament divine, all praise and all thanksgiving, be every moment Thine.) Let us frequently visit our Lord in the Blessed Sacrament and love to attend the Benediction service. It is a privilege to contribute to the ornamentation of altar, tabernacle, and sanctuary. This will please Jesus and bring us a rich reward.

2. THE HOLY SACRIFICE OF THE MASS

290. What is a sacrifice?

A sacrifice is a visible gift offered to God.

291. Why is sacrifice offered?

Sacrifice is offered to adore, thank, implore, and propitiate God.

292. What is required for a sacrifice?

For a sacrifice is required

1. a visible gift (victim, host)

2. a priest

3. an altar.

293. Which is the perfect sacrifice?

The perfect sacrifice is the sacrifice of Jesus on the cross.

"By one oblation He hath perfected forever them that are sanctified" (Heb. 10: 14).

294. Is the sacrifice of the cross still offered?

The sacrifice of the cross is still offered in every Mass.

"From the rising of the sun even to the going down, My name is great among the Gentiles, and in every place there is a sacrifice, and there is offered to My name a clean oblation" (Mal. 1: 11).

295. How does Jesus offer Himself in the Mass?

Jesus offers Himself in the Mass to the Blessed Trinity in an unbloody manner.

296. When did Jesus institute the holy sacrifice of the Mass?

Jesus instituted the holy sacrifice of the Mass at the Last Supper.

"Do this for a commemoration of Me" (Luke 22:19).

297. Who is the invisible priest in the Mass?

The invisible priest in the Mass is Jesus Christ.

298. How is the Mass divided?

The Mass is divided into:

1. the preparatory and instructive part (Mass of the catechumens);

2. the sacrificial part (Mass of the faithful).

299. Which are the principal parts of the Mass?

The principal parts of the Mass are:

1. the offertory

2. the consecration

3. the communion.

300. Who are specially benefited by the Mass?

Those specially benefited by the Mass are:

1. the priest who celebrates the Mass

2. those for whom it is especially offered

3. all who take part in it.

301. Why is the Mass offered?

The Mass is offered

1. to honor the Blessed Trinity;

2. to distribute the graces which Christ earned by His death on the cross.

Definition: The Mass is the perfect sacrifice of the New Testament in which Jesus Christ offers Himself to the Blessed Trinity under the appearances of bread and wine.

The Mass is a sacrifice of adoration, thanksgiving, expiation, and petition.

Application. The holiest action that takes place on earth is the Mass. We should go to Mass often, be attentive during the instructive part, and devout during the sacrificial part. The best way to take part in the Mass is to unite with the priest in prayer by using a missal and to receive the Holy Eucharist. It is an honor to serve the priest at Mass.

3. HOLY COMMUNION

The act of receiving the Holy Eucharist is called Holy Communion.

302. What are the effects of Holy Communion?

The effects of Holy Communion are:

1. it unites us most intimately with Christ;

2. it increases sanctifying grace in us;

3. it weakens our evil inclinations;

4. it strengthens us in the practice of all virtues;

5. it cleanses us from venial sins;

6. it preserves us from mortal sins;

7. it is a pledge of eternal life.

Pledge---- guarantee.

"He that eateth My flesh, and drinketh My blood, abideth in Me and I in Him" (John 6: 57). "He that eateth My flesh and drinketh My blood hath everlasting life and I will raise him up in the last day" (John 6: 55).

303. How must we receive the Holy Eucharist to obtain the graces of this sacrament?

To obtain the graces of this sacrament we must receive the Holy Eucharist worthily.

304. Who receives the Holy Eucharist worthily?

He receives the Holy Eucharist worthily who receives it in the state of sanctifying grace.

Venial sins do not render Holy Communion unworthy, but they lessen the effects.

305. Who receives the Holy Eucharist unworthily?

He receives the Holy Eucharist unworthily who knowingly receives it in the state of mortal sin.

306. Why is an unworthy Communion a fearful crime?

An unworthy Communion is a fearful crime because it is a horrible sacrilege.

"Whosoever shall eat this bread or drink the chalice of the Lord unworthily, shall be guilty of the body and of the blood of the Lord." "For he that eateth and drinketh unworthily, eateth and drinketh judgment to himself, not discerning the body of the Lord" (I Cor. 11:27, 29).

307. How often should we receive the Holy Eucharist?

We should receive the Holy Eucharist frequently. The Church recommends daily Communion. For daily Communion there are two requisites:

1. to be free from mortal sin;

2. to have a right intention.

308. How must we prepare for Holy Communion?

To prepare for Holy Communion we must:

1. make a good confession to cleanse ourselves from mortal sin;

2. fast, that is, take no food or alcoholic drinks for one hour or other liquids for one hour, except water, which may be taken at any time.*

"Let a man prove himself, and so let him eat of that bread, and drink of the chalice" (I Cot. 11:28).

309. How should we approach and leave the holy table?

We should approach and leave the holy table with the greatest reverence.