Essay/Term paper: The eucharist: summary

Essay, term paper, research paper:  Political Science

The Eucharist: Summary

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."


BY: MARK HARNUM
Presented to: Mr. DiMaio

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