Source and Summit of Church Life
From the Catechism of the Catholic Church, Simplified
All Oriented to the Eucharist (1324)
All the Church's sacraments and ministries are oriented to the Eucharist, "the source and summit of Christian life". In the Eucharist, the whole spiritual good of the Church (Christ himself) is contained.
Culmination of God's Saving Acts (1325-1327)
The Church is kept in being by the Eucharist (the sign and cause of the unity of God's People). In the Eucharist we are united with the heavenly liturgy and anticipate eternal life with God. "Our thinking is attuned to the Eucharist and the Eucharist in turn confirms our way of thinking" (St. Irenaeus).
Ten Names (1328-1332)
This inexhaustible richness has many names. It is called:
- Eucharist - As an action of thanksgiving which recalls the Jewish blessings that proclaim God's mighty works.
- Lord's Supper - As a memorial of the Last Supper which anticipates the heavenly wedding feast of the Lamb.
- Breaking of the Bread - In recollection of the Jewish practice of blessing and distributing bread which Jesus used at the Last Supper. After the Resurrection, the two disciples recognized Jesus in the breaking of the bread (Lk 24:31). After Pentecost, the disciples "devoted themselves... to the breaking of the bread" (the earliest Christian term for Eucharist) (Acts 2:42).
- Eucharistic Assembly - As the sacrament should be celebrated communally.
- Memorial - As a recollection of the Lord's Passion and Resurrection.
- Holy Sacrifice - In making present the sacrifice of the cross.
- Holy and Divine Liturgy - In Eucharist, the Church's liturgy finds its most intense expression.
- The Most Blessed Sacrament - This name is also given to the reserved Eucharistic species because the Eucharist is the Sacrament of sacraments.
- Holy Communion - Highlights our union with Christ. (Also used are - holy things, bread of angels, bread from heaven, medicine of immortality, viaticum....)
- Holy Mass - The liturgy concludes with a sending forth (Missio).
