We have seen already that the Sacrament of the Eucharist completes  the sequence of sacraments that make for Christian initiation.  The new Catechism in its chapter dedicated to this sacrament uses about twenty pages to elaborate on what it means by its fundamental appraisal: “The Eucharist is ‘the source and summit of the Christian life.’”(1324)

  What a profound presentation of the significance of this Sacrament of the Eucharist. No wonder it takes twenty pages of theological explanation. We will reflect only on some of  the main highlights of the Catechism..

  The basic reason for such a lofty evaluation is because the blessed Eucharist contains the whole spiritual good of the Church, namely Christ himself, who is both God and man. Nothing and no one could be higher.

  The Eucharist is referred to in a number of ways. Eucharist  because it is an action of thanksgiving to God. That word  means thanksgiving in Greek. The Jewish blessing at a meal was also a thanksgiving expression for all that God had done for them.

    The Breaking of Bread was done by Jesus when He instituted the Eucharist at the Last Supper. His  disciples recognized Him when He did the same at Emmaus. It is also a term that the early Christians used to describe their liturgical gatherings.

  The Holy Sacrifice because it makes present the one sacrifice of Christ  the Saviour and includes the Church’s offering. In this same context are used the terms holy sacrifice of the Mass, sacrifice of praise, spiritual sacrifice, pue and holy sacrifice.

 The most common term in this part of the world is Mass but it is not used or understood in the original meaning. The term comes  from the final words of dismissal   formerly spoken in Latin Ite missa est (Go this is the sending forth). We use it in the sense of a statement about the Mass being ended, instead of as a directive to be an evangelizer. Quite a difference!