Catholics believe that, during the Eucharistic Prayer, a miracle occurs. At a moment called the Consecration, the priest calls the Holy Spirit to come down upon the gifts of bread and wine. Then he says the very words Jesus used at the Last Supper over the bread and wine. At this point the following happens:
¢ The bread ceases to be bread and becomes the body of Jesus. ¢ The wine ceases to be wine and becomes the blood of Jesus. Catholics call this the doctrine of transubstantiation.
REMEMBER! Transubstantiation means that the body and blood, soul and divinity of Jesus are really and truly present under the appearance of bread and wine.
This is the essential difference between the Eucharist and the other six sacraments. The other six sacraments communicate the grace (i.e. strengthening love) of Christ. However, the Eucharist contains Jesus himself.
This means that, when Catholics receive the Holy Communion (i.e. the consecrated bread) during the Mass, they receive the gift of the risen Jesus himself.
D. The Concluding Rites
These include: 1. The Final Blessing in the name of the Trinity. 2. The Dismissal (i.e. sending out) in the peace of Christ to love one another.
When you receive Holy Communion, you make a commitment to go out from the Mass and show how much difference your faith in Jesus really makes in your life.
4. The role of the bishop and the priest
Only a bishop or a priest (i.e. an ordained person) can preside at the Mass.
Why? Because bishops and priests have received the Sacrament of Holy Orders.
REMEMBER! To preside means to lead the community in worship.
Through the Sacrament of Holy Orders, the bishop/priest is given power by the Holy Spirit to act ‘in persona Christi’ (i.e. to fulfil the role of Jesus Christ himself in the sacraments).
This is why only a bishop or a priest can consecrate the bread and wine during the Mass.
