Lesson 25: On the blessed Eucharist

1. What is the blessed Eucharist 1

TIip body and blood, soul and divinity of Jesus Christ, under the appearance of bread and wine.

2. What means the word Eucharist 1

A special grace or Gift of God; and it means also \ solemn act of thanksgiving to God for all his mercies.

3. What do you mean by the appearances of bread •and wine?

The taste, colour, and form of bread and wine, which still remain, after the bread and wine are changed into the body and blood of Christ.

4. Are both the body and blood of Christ under the appearance of bread and under the appearance of wine 1

Yes; Christ is whole and entire, true God and true Man, under the appearance of each.

5. Are we to believe, that the God of all Glory is under the appearance of our corporal food?

. Yes; as we also believe, that the same God of all Glory suffered death, under the appearance of a criminal on the cross.

6. How can the bread and wTine become the body and blood of Christ]

By the goodness and power of God, with whom no word shall be impossible. Luke, i. 37.

7. Are we assured, that Christ changed bread and wine into his body and blood?

Yes; by the very words which Christ himself said, when he instituted the blessed Eucharist at his last supper.

8. Which are the words Christ said, when he instituted the blessed Eucharist?

This is my body — this is my blood. Matt. xy.

9. Did Christ give power to the priests of his cnurch, to change bread and wine into his body and blood?

Yes; when he said to his apostles at his last supper: Do this for a commemoration of me. Luke xxii. 19.

10. Why did Christ give to the priests of his church so great a power?

*That his children, throughout, all ages and nations, might have a most acceptable sacrifice to offer to their Heavenly Father — and the most precious food to nourish their souls. **

11. What is a sacrifice?

That first and most necessary act of religion, whereby we acknowledge God's supreme domiuion over us, and our total dependence on him.

12. What is the sacrifice of the new law 1

The Mass.

13. What is the Mass 1

The sacrifice of the body and blood of Christ, which are really present under the appearances of bread and wine; and are offered to God by the priest for the living and the dead.

14. Is the Mass a different sacrifice from that of the cross1?

No; because the same Christ, who once offered himself a bleeding victim to his heavenly Father on the cross, continues to offer himself, in an unbloody manner, by the hands of his priests, on our altars.

15. Was Mass offered in the old law %

No; so great a sacrifice was reserved for the new law, which was to fulfil the figures of the old law, and to give religion its full perfection.

16. At what part of the M ass are the bread and wine changed into the body and blood of Christ?

At the consecration.

17. By whom are the bread and w^ine changed into the body and blood of Christ?

By the priest; but in virtue of the words of Christ, whose person the priest represents, at the awful moment of consecration.

18. What are the ends for which Mass is said 1

To give God honour and glory; to thank him for his benefits; to obtain the remission of our sins and all other graces and blessings through Jesus Christ.

19. For what other end is Mass offered 1

To continue and represent the sacrifice of Christ on the cross — This do, says Christ, for the commemoration oj me. 1 Cor. xi.

20. How should we assist at Mass?

With great interior recollection and piety: and with every mark of outward respect and devotion.

21. Which is the besc manner of hearing Mass?

To offer it to God with the priest for the same purposes for which it is said; to meditate on Christ's sufFer iiigs, and to go to communion.