Part III, Section I, Chapter IV — Eucharist

316. What is the Eucharist?

The Eucharist is the sacrament that, under the appearances of bread and wine, really contains the Body, Blood, Soul, and Divinity of Our Lord Jesus Christ for the nourishment of souls.

317. What is the matter of the Eucharist?

The matter of the Eucharist is wheat bread and wine of the grape.

318. What is the form of the Eucharist?

The form of the Eucharist is the words of Jesus Christ: "This is my Body; this is the chalice of my Blood ... shed for you and for many unto the remission of sins."

319. Who is the minister of the Eucharist?

The minister of the Eucharist is the priest, who, by pronouncing in the Mass the words of Jesus Christ, changes the bread into His Body and the wine into His Blood.

320. When did Jesus Christ institute the Eucharist?

Jesus Christ instituted the Eucharist at the Last Supper, before His Passion, when He consecrated bread and wine and distributed them to the Apostles as His Body and Blood, commanding that they should afterward do the same in His memory.

321. Why did Jesus Christ institute the Eucharist?

Jesus Christ instituted the Eucharist so that it might be in the Mass the permanent sacrifice of the New Testament, and in Communion the food of souls, in perpetual remembrance of His love and of His Passion and Death.

322. Is the same Jesus Christ in the Eucharist who is in heaven and who was born on earth of the Virgin Mary?

In the Eucharist is the same Jesus Christ who is in heaven and who was born on earth of the Virgin Mary.

323. Why do you believe that Jesus Christ is truly in the Eucharist?

I believe that Jesus Christ is truly in the Eucharist because He Himself called the consecrated bread and wine His Body and Blood, and because the Church teaches us so; but it is a mystery, and a great mystery.

324. What is the host before the consecration?

The host before the consecration is bread.

325. After the consecration, what is the host?

After the consecration, the host is the true Body of Our Lord Jesus Christ under the appearances of bread.

326. What is contained in the chalice before the consecration?

Before the consecration, the chalice contains wine with a few drops of water.

327. What is in the chalice after the consecration?

In the chalice after the consecration is the true Blood of Our Lord Jesus Christ under the appearances of wine.

328. When do the bread and the wine become the Body and Blood of Jesus?

The bread and the wine become the Body and Blood of Jesus at the moment of the consecration.

329. After the consecration, is there nothing left of the bread and wine?

After the consecration, there is no longer either bread or wine, but only the species or appearances remain, without the substance.

330. What are the species or appearances?

The species or appearances are all that falls under the senses, such as the figure, the color, the odor, and the taste of bread and wine.

331. Under the appearances of bread is there only the Body of Jesus Christ, or under those of wine only His Blood?

No: under the appearances of bread is the whole Jesus Christ, in Body, Blood, Soul, and Divinity; and so also under those of wine.

332. When the host is broken into many parts, is the Body of Jesus Christ broken?

When the host is broken into many parts, the Body of Jesus Christ is not broken, but only the species of bread; and the Body of the Lord remains whole in each part.

333. Is Jesus Christ found in all the consecrated hosts of the world?

Yes, Jesus Christ is found in all the consecrated hosts of the world.

334. Why is the Most Holy Eucharist preserved in churches?

The Most Holy Eucharist is preserved in churches so that the faithful may adore it, may receive it in Communion, and may sense in it the perpetual assistance and presence of Jesus Christ in the Church.

§ 3. Holy Communion: Dispositions, Obligation, Effects

335. How many things are necessary to make a good Communion?

To make a good Communion three things are necessary: 1. to be in the grace of God; 2. to know and to think about whom one is going to receive; 3. to be fasting from midnight.

336. What does "to be in the grace of God" mean?

To be in the grace of God means to have one's conscience clean of every mortal sin.

337. Does one who receives Communion knowing that he is in mortal sin receive Jesus Christ?

One who receives Communion knowing that he is in mortal sin does receive Jesus Christ, but not His grace; rather, by committing a horrible sacrilege, he renders himself deserving of damnation.

338. What does "to know and to think about whom one is going to receive" mean?

To know and to think about whom one is going to receive means to approach Our Lord Jesus Christ in the Eucharist with living faith, with ardent desire, and with deep humility and modesty.

339. What fast is required before Communion?

Before Communion the natural — that is, total — fast is required, which is broken by anything taken in the manner of food or drink.

340. Is Communion ever permitted to one who is not fasting?

Communion is permitted to one who is not fasting in danger of death, and during long illnesses, under the conditions determined by the Church.

341. Is there an obligation to receive Communion?

There is an obligation to receive Communion every year at Easter, and in danger of death, as Viaticum, to sustain the soul on its journey to eternity.

342. At what age does the obligation of the Easter Communion begin?

The obligation of the Easter Communion begins at the age at which one is capable of making it with sufficient dispositions, that is, ordinarily about the seventh year.

343. Is it good and useful to receive Communion often?

It is most good and most useful to receive Communion often, even every day, provided one always does so with the proper dispositions.

344. After Communion, how long does Jesus Christ remain in us?

After Communion, Jesus Christ remains in us as long as the eucharistic species last.

345. What effects does the Eucharist produce in one who receives it worthily?

The Eucharist, in one who receives it worthily, preserves and increases the grace that is the life of the soul, as food does for the life of the body; remits venial sins and preserves from mortal ones; gives spiritual consolation and comfort, increasing charity and the hope of eternal life, of which it is the pledge.

346. Is the Eucharist only a sacrament?

The Eucharist is not only a sacrament, but is also the permanent sacrifice of the New Testament, and as such is called the Holy Mass.

347. What is sacrifice?

Sacrifice is the public offering to God of a thing that is destroyed in order to profess that He is the Creator and supreme Master, to whom everything entirely is due.

348. What is the Holy Mass?

The Holy Mass is the sacrifice of the Body and Blood of Jesus Christ which, under the species of bread and wine, is offered by the priest to God upon the altar, in memory and renewal of the sacrifice of the Cross.

349. Is the sacrifice of the Mass the same sacrifice as that of the Cross?

The sacrifice of the Mass is the same sacrifice as that of the Cross; there is only a difference in the manner of accomplishing it.

350. What difference is there between the sacrifice of the Cross and that of the Mass?

Between the sacrifice of the Cross and that of the Mass there is this difference: that Jesus Christ on the Cross sacrificed Himself by voluntarily giving His own Blood, and merited every grace for us; whereas on the altar He, without shedding blood, sacrifices and annihilates Himself mystically through the ministry of the priest, and applies to us the merits of the sacrifice of the Cross.

351. For what ends is the Mass offered to God?

The Mass is offered to God in order to render Him supreme worship of latria or adoration, to thank Him for His benefits, to appease Him and to give Him satisfaction for our sins, and to obtain graces for the benefit of the faithful living and departed.

352. Is the Mass not also offered to the Saints?

The Mass is not offered to the Saints, but to God alone, even when it is celebrated in honor of the Saints: sacrifice belongs only to the Creator and supreme Master.

353. Are we bound to hear Mass?

We are bound to hear Mass on Sundays and on the other commanded feast days; but it is profitable to assist at it often, in order to share in the greatest act of religion, supremely pleasing to God and meritorious.

354. What is the most fitting way to assist at Mass?

The most fitting way to assist at Mass is to offer it to God in union with the priest, recalling the sacrifice of the Cross — that is, the Passion and Death of the Lord — and receiving Communion: Communion is real union with the immolated Victim, and is therefore the greatest sharing in the Holy Sacrifice.