The Mass
The Church teaches us that the Mass is ‘the source and summit of the Christian Life’. It is the primary point of contact that we have with the Universal Church. Even so, we don’t always see the Mass clearly and we can easily underestimate its power.
The Names of the Sacrament
- The Eucharist
- The Lord’s Supper
- The Breaking of Bread
- The Eucharistic Assembly
- The memorial of the Lord’s Passion and Resurrection
- The Holy Sacrifice
- The Holy and Divine Liturgy
- Holy Communion
- Holy Mass (Missa)
‘It was above all on “the first day of the week,” Sunday, the day of Jesus’ resurrection, that the Christians met “to break bread.” From that time on down to our own day the celebration of the Eucharist has been continued so that today we encounter it everywhere in the Church with the same fundamental structure. It remains the centre of the Church’s life.’
Catechism of the Catholic Church, Section 1343“In the Eucharist we become one with God like food with the body.”
Saint Francis de Sales“Your life must be woven around the Eucharist. Direct your eyes to Him, who is the Light; bring your hearts very close to His Divine Heart; ask Him for the grace to know Him, for the charity to love Him, for the courage to serve Him. Seek Him longingly.”
“We must not separate our lives from the Eucharist. The moment we do so, something shatters. People ask us, ‘Where to the Sisters get the joy and the strength to do what they do?’ The Eucharist contains more than just receiving; it contains the satisfaction of Christ’s hunger. He says, ‘Come to me.’ He hungers for souls.”
Saint Teresa of CalcuttaPrevious: The Christian Life