Chapter IV — On the Eucharist

§ 1. On the nature of this sacrament and the real presence of Jesus Christ therein

1. What is the sacrament of the Eucharist?

The Eucharist is a sacrament in which, by the wonderful conversion of all the substance of bread into the Body of Jesus Christ, and of all the substance of wine into His precious Blood, there are truly, really, and substantially contained the Body, Blood, Soul, and Divinity of the same Jesus Christ our Lord, under the species of bread and wine, to be our spiritual nourishment.

2. Is there in the Eucharist the same Jesus Christ who is in heaven and who was born on earth of the most holy Virgin?

Yes, in the Eucharist there is truly the same Jesus Christ who is in heaven and who was born on earth of the most holy Virgin.

3. Why do you believe that in the sacrament of the Eucharist there is truly Jesus Christ?

I believe that in the sacrament of the Eucharist Jesus Christ is truly present, because He Himself has said so, and because the holy Church teaches it to me.

4. What is the matter of the sacrament of the Eucharist?

The matter of the sacrament of the Eucharist is that used by Jesus Christ, namely, wheaten bread and wine of the vine.

5. What is the form of the sacrament of the Eucharist?

The form of the sacrament of the Eucharist consists in the words used by Jesus Christ: "This is my Body; this is my Blood."

6. What, then, is the host before the consecration?

The host before the consecration is bread.

7. After the consecration, what is the host?

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

8. What is in the chalice before the consecration?

Before the consecration there is in the chalice wine with a few drops of water.

9. After the consecration, what is in the chalice?

After the consecration there is in the chalice the true Blood of Our Lord Jesus Christ under the species of wine.

10. When is the conversion of the bread into the Body, and of the wine into the Blood, of Jesus Christ made?

The conversion of the bread into the Body, and of the wine into the Blood, of Jesus Christ is made in the very act in which the priest, at Holy Mass, pronounces the words of the consecration.

11. What is the consecration?

The consecration is the renewal, by means of the priest, of the miracle worked by Jesus Christ at the Last Supper of changing bread and wine into His adorable Body and Blood, saying: "This is my body, this is my blood."

12. What is the miraculous conversion of the bread and wine into the Body and Blood of Jesus Christ called by the Church?

The miraculous conversion which is wrought every day on our altars is called by the Church transubstantiation.

13. Who has given such power to the words of the consecration?

Our Lord Jesus Christ Himself, who is almighty God, has given such power to the words of the consecration.

14. After the consecration, does nothing of the bread and wine remain?

After the consecration only the species of bread and wine remain.

15. What are the species of bread and wine?

The species are the quantity and the sensible qualities of bread and wine, such as figure, color, and taste.

16. In what way can the species of bread and wine remain without their substance?

The species of bread and wine remain miraculously without their substance, by the power of almighty God.

17. Under the species of bread is there only the Body of Jesus Christ, and under the species of wine only His Blood?

Both under the species of bread and under the species of wine there is the whole living Jesus Christ, in Body, Blood, Soul, and Divinity.

18. Could you tell me why both in the host and in the chalice there is the whole Jesus Christ?

Both in the host and in the chalice there is the whole Jesus Christ, because He is in the Eucharist alive and immortal as in heaven; therefore where His Body is, there too is His Blood, Soul, and Divinity; and where His Blood is, there is also His Body, Soul, and Divinity, all this being inseparable in Jesus Christ.

19. When Jesus is in the host, does He cease to be in heaven?

When Jesus is in the host, He does not cease to be in heaven, but is at the same time in heaven and in the Most Holy Sacrament.

20. Is Jesus Christ in all the consecrated hosts in the world?

Yes, Jesus Christ is in all the consecrated hosts.

21. How can it be that Jesus Christ is in all the consecrated hosts?

Jesus Christ is in all the consecrated hosts by the omnipotence of God, to whom nothing is impossible.

22. When the host is broken, is the Body of Jesus Christ broken?

When the host is broken, the Body of Jesus Christ is not broken, but only the species of bread are broken.

23. In which part of the host does the Body of Jesus Christ remain?

The Body of Jesus Christ remains entire in all the parts into which the host has been divided.

24. Is Jesus Christ as much in a large host as in a small particle of a host?

As much in a large host as in a small particle of a host there is the same Jesus Christ.

25. For what reason is the Most Holy Eucharist preserved in the churches?

The Most Holy Eucharist is preserved in the churches so that it may be adored by the faithful and carried to the sick as need requires.

26. Must the Eucharist be adored?

The Eucharist must be adored by all, because it contains truly, really, and substantially our Lord Jesus Christ Himself.

§ 2. On the institution and effects of the sacrament of the Eucharist

27. At what time did Jesus Christ institute the sacrament of the Eucharist?

Jesus Christ instituted the sacrament of the Eucharist at the Last Supper, which He took with His disciples on the evening before His passion.

28. Why did Jesus Christ institute the Most Holy Eucharist?

Jesus Christ instituted the Most Holy Eucharist for three principal reasons:

1. That it might be the sacrifice of the new law.

2. That it might be the food of our soul.

3. That it might be a perpetual memorial of His passion and death, and a precious pledge of His love toward us, and of eternal life.

29. Why did Jesus Christ institute this sacrament under the species of bread and wine?

Jesus Christ instituted this sacrament under the species of bread and wine, because the Eucharist was to be our spiritual nourishment, and it was therefore fitting that it be given to us in the form of food and drink.

30. What effects does the Most Holy Eucharist produce in us?

The principal effects which the Most Holy Eucharist produces in him who receives it worthily are these: 1. it preserves and increases the life of the soul, which is grace, as material food sustains and increases the life of the body; 2. it remits venial sins and preserves from mortal sins; 3. it produces spiritual consolation.

31. Does the Most Holy Eucharist not produce other effects in us?

Yes, the Most Holy Eucharist produces in us three other effects, namely: 1. it weakens our passions, and in particular it quenches in us the flames of concupiscence; 2. it increases in us the fervor of charity toward God and toward our neighbor, and helps us to act in conformity with the desires of Jesus Christ; 3. it gives us a pledge of future glory and of the resurrection itself of our body.

§ 3. On the dispositions necessary for receiving Communion well

32. Does the sacrament of the Eucharist always produce in us its wonderful effects?

The sacrament of the Eucharist produces in us its wonderful effects when it is received with the due dispositions.

33. How many things are necessary for making a good Communion?

For making a good Communion three things are necessary: 1. to be in the grace of God; 2. to be fasting from midnight until the act of Communion; 3. to know what one is going to receive, and to approach Holy Communion with devotion.

34. What does it mean to be in the grace of God?

To be in the grace of God means to have a conscience pure and clean of every mortal sin.

35. What must one do before communicating who knows that he is in mortal sin?

One who knows that he is in mortal sin must, before communicating, make a good confession; an act of perfect contrition without confession is not sufficient for one who is in mortal sin to communicate as he ought.

36. Why is even an act of perfect contrition not sufficient for one who knows that he is in mortal sin to be able to communicate?

Because the Church has established, out of respect for this sacrament, that one who is guilty of mortal sin should not dare to make Communion unless he has first confessed.

37. If one were to communicate in mortal sin, would he receive Jesus Christ?

One who communicated in mortal sin would receive Jesus Christ, but not His grace; rather, he would commit sacrilege and would make himself deserving of the sentence of damnation.

38. What is the fast required before Communion?

Before Communion the natural fast is required, which is broken by every small thing taken in the manner of food or drink.

39. If one swallows something remaining between the teeth, or some drop of water that has entered his mouth, may he still communicate?

One who swallowed something remaining between the teeth, or some drop of water in washing himself, may still communicate, because in that case these things are either not taken in the manner of food or drink, or have already lost their nature.

40. Is it ever permitted to make Communion without being fasting?

To make Communion without being fasting is permitted to the sick who are in danger of death, and to him who has obtained a special faculty from the Pope on account of prolonged infirmity. Communion made by the sick in danger of death is called Viaticum, because it sustains them on the journey they make from this life to eternity.

41. What does it mean to "know what one is going to receive"?

To know what one is going to receive means to know those things which are taught about this sacrament in Christian Doctrine, and to believe them firmly.

42. What does it mean to communicate with devotion?

To communicate with devotion means to approach Holy Communion with humility and modesty, both in person and in dress; and to make the preparation before, and the thanksgiving after, Holy Communion.

43. In what does the preparation before Communion consist?

The preparation before Communion consists in spending some time considering whom we are going to receive and who we are; and in making acts of faith, hope, charity, contrition, adoration, humility, and desire to receive Jesus Christ.

44. In what does the thanksgiving after Communion consist?

The thanksgiving after Communion consists in remaining recollected to honor within ourselves the Lord, renewing the acts of faith, hope, charity, adoration, thanksgiving, offering, and petition, especially of those graces which are most necessary for us and for those for whom we are obliged to pray.

45. What must one do on the day of Communion?

On the day of Communion one must remain recollected as much as possible, occupy oneself in works of piety, and fulfill with greater diligence the duties of one's state.

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

After Holy Communion Jesus Christ remains in us with His grace until we sin mortally; and with His real presence He remains in us until the sacramental species are consumed.

§ 4. On the manner of communicating

47. How must one present oneself in the act of receiving Holy Communion?

In the act of receiving Holy Communion one must be kneeling, hold the head moderately raised, the eyes modest and turned to the sacred particle, the mouth sufficiently open, and the tongue slightly forward on the lips.

48. How must the Communion cloth or paten be held?

The Communion cloth or paten must be held in such a way that it may catch the sacred particle should it fall.

49. When must the sacred particle be swallowed?

We must try to swallow the sacred particle as soon as possible, and for some time to refrain from spitting.

50. If the sacred particle should stick to the palate, what should be done?

If the sacred particle should stick to the palate, it must be detached with the tongue, and never with the finger.

§ 5. On the precept of Communion

51. When is there the obligation of communicating?

There is the obligation of communicating every year, at Easter, each one in his own parish; and also in danger of death.

52. At what age does the commandment of Easter Communion begin to oblige?

The commandment of Easter Communion begins to oblige at the age at which a child is capable of approaching it with the due dispositions.

53. Do those sin who are of an age capable of being admitted to Communion and do not communicate?

Those who, being of an age capable of being admitted to Communion, do not communicate, either because they will not, or because they are uninstructed through their own fault, sin without doubt. Their parents, or those who take their place, also sin if the deferral of Communion takes place through their fault, and they shall have to render a great account of it to God.

54. Is it a good and useful thing to communicate often?

It is a most excellent thing to communicate often, provided it be done with the due dispositions.

55. With what frequency may one go to Communion?

Each one may go to Communion with such greater frequency as is advised him by a pious and learned confessor.