Eucharist

The Eucharist is the source and summit of the Christian life, because it is Jesus wholly present: Body, Blood, Soul, and Divinity. 

The Eucharist is also a sacrifice because it makes Jesus’ unique sacrifice on the Cross present to us.  At every Mass, Jesus unites our sufferings, prayer, and work with the total gift of Himself to the Father. 
 
In Holy Communion, we take Jesus into our bodies under the appearance of bread and wine, but He transforms us into Himself. The whole Christ is really, truly, and substantially present in the Holy Eucharist. We use the words "really, truly, and substantially" to describe Christ's presence in the Holy Eucharist to distinguish Our Lord's teaching from that of mere men who falsely teach that the Holy Eucharist is only a sign or figure of Christ, or that He is present only by His power.

The Catholic doctrine of the Real Presence is the belief that Jesus Christ is literally, not symbolically, present in the Holy Eucharist—Body, Blood, Soul, and Divinity. Catholics believe in the Real Presence of Christ in the Eucharist because Jesus tells us this is true in the Bible: “I am the bread of life. Your fathers ate the manna in the wilderness, and they died. This is the bread which comes down from heaven, that a man may eat of it and not die. I am the living bread which came down from heaven; if anyone eats of this bread, he will live for ever; and the bread which I shall give for the life of the world is my flesh. The Jews then disputed among themselves, saying, ‘How can this man give us his flesh to eat?’ So Jesus said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of man and drink his blood, you have no life in you; he who eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day. For my flesh is food indeed, and my blood is drink indeed. He who eats my flesh and drinks my blood abides in me, and I in him” (John 6:48-56). 
 
Furthermore, the early Church Fathers either imply or directly state that the bread and wine offered in the celebration of the Lord’s Supper is really the Body and Blood of Jesus Christ. In other words, the doctrine of the Real Presence that Catholics believe today was believed by the earliest Christians 2,000 years ago!
 
This miracle of God’s physical presence to us at every Mass is the truest testament to Christ’s love for us and His desire for each of us to have a personal relationship with Him.

Christ instituted the first Mass beginning on Holy Thursday night at the Last Supper and leading into Good Friday when He offered Himself once and for all on the cross as a sacrifice in atonement for all the sins of the world, yours and mine alike: “This is My body given up for you. This is My blood shed for the forgiveness of sins.”

Although Christ offered Himself as a sacrifice once and for all upon the cross, He intended that His Church down through the ages would have access to and participate in that one saving event by means of the Mass: “Do this in memory of Me.”

The Mass is not simply a symbol or a re-enactment of a past event, but a real participation in that one saving event made present on the altar today. That is why the Mass is the supreme form of prayer and worship for Catholics.

If you have never been to Mass before, we understand that it may feel foreign at first, and some parts may seem confusing. Broadly, the Mass is divided into two main parts: the Liturgy of the Word and the Liturgy of the Eucharist.

During the Liturgy of the Word, there are various prayers, readings from the Old and New Testament, a homily, and the whole congregation recites the Creed together.

In the Liturgy of the Eucharist, the sacrifice of Christ at Calvary becomes present on the altar. The Catholic faithful receive the Holy Eucharist and spend some time in thankful reflection before the final blessing/dismissal.

Books are typically available in the pews, which you can use as a reference. If you are thinking of coming to Mass and are nervous, we suggest you arrive a few minutes early. You can even simply observe from the back if that is more comfortable. After Mass, you are more than welcome to speak with our priest about your experience.

Christ came not to leave us symbols but to bring us supernatural life—His own divine life! The Holy Eucharist is not a symbol but the real, living presence of our Risen Lord (Body, Blood, Soul, and Divinity).

When Catholics receive Holy Eucharist, it is an act of unity with all those in the Catholic Church throughout the world, an act of belief in the Real Presence of Christ in the Eucharist. Therefore, only those who believe in the True Presence may receive the Eucharist and take part in this sacrament of unity with Christ and His Church.

The sacraments are the primary and ordinary means by which God gives and increases this supernatural life. Just as any living thing needs to be born and fed to live, every person needs to be supernaturally born (Baptism) and fed (Eucharist) for the divine life to grow. We should always approach the Eucharist with respect, gratitude, faith, love, and worship.

More Scripture about the Real Presence of Christ in the Eucharist:
 
• (John 6:53-56 RSV) So Jesus said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of man and drink his blood, you have no life in you; {54} he who eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day. {55} For my flesh is food indeed, and my blood is drink indeed. {56} He who eats my flesh and drinks my blood abides in me, and I in him.
 
• In the Aramaic language that Our Lord spoke, to symbolically “eat the flesh” or “drink the blood” of someone meant to persecute or assault them. See the following… (Psalm 27:2 KJV) When the wicked, even mine enemies and my foes, came upon me to eat up my flesh, they stumbled and fell.
 
• (Isa 9:18-20 RSV) For wickedness burns like a fire, it consumes briers and thorns; it kindles the thickets of the forest, and they roll upward in a column of smoke. {19} Through the wrath of the LORD of hosts the land is burned, and the people are like fuel for the fire; no man spares his brother. {20} They snatch on the right, but are still hungry, and they devour on the left, but are not satisfied; each devours his neighbor’s flesh,
 
• (Isa 49:26 RSV) I will make your oppressors eat their own flesh, and they shall be drunk with their own blood as with wine. Then all flesh shall know that I am the LORD your Savior, and your Redeemer, the Mighty One of Jacob.”
 
• (Micah 3:3 RSV) who eat the flesh of my people, and flay their skin from off them, and break their bones in pieces, and chop them up like meat in a kettle, like flesh in a caldron.
 
• (2 Sam 23:17 RSV) “Far be it from me, O LORD, that I should do this. Shall I drink the blood of the men who went at the risk of their lives?” Therefore, he would not drink it. These things did the three mighty men.
 
• (Rev 17:6 RSV) And I saw the woman, drunk with the blood of the saints and the blood of the martyrs of Jesus. When I saw her, I marveled greatly.
 
 • (Rev 17:16 NIV) The beast and the ten horns you saw will hate the prostitute. They will bring her to ruin and leave her naked; they will eat her flesh and burn her with fire.
 
 Thus, if Jesus were only speaking symbolically about eating His flesh and drinking His blood, as the Protestants say, then what He really meant was “whoever persecutes and assaults me will have eternal life” — which, of course, makes nonsense of the passage!
 
Bread and wine are not normal or natural symbols of flesh and blood. To call a man a “fox” is an understandable symbol for cleverness. To call a man “bread” is not an understandable symbol without some explanation. Either the symbols would have been clearly explained (which is not the case) or Jesus spoke literally (which is the case!).
 
Taken from Beginning Apologetics, How to Explain and Defend the Catholic Faith, by San Juan Catholic Seminars, P.O. Box 5253, Farmington, NM 87499-52539889

Thank you for your interest in assisting with the Liturgy of the Mass at St. Matthew. Please read the descriptions below for the available positions.

Lector:  Proclaim the Word of God and lead the assembly in prayer at liturgical celebrations. Training is provided for new lectors. Scheduled on a rotating basis. You may choose between 5:30 PM, 7:30 AM, and 10:30 AM Masses.
 
Extraordinary Minister of Holy Communion (EMHC):  Serves the community by distributing Holy Communion at weekend Masses.  Minister must be Confirmed, 17 years of age, and able to participate fully in the Sacramental life of the Church.  Involves serving at weekend liturgies scheduled on a rotating basis. You may choose between 5:30 PM, 7:30 AM, and 10:30 AM Masses.
 
Liturgical Choir: The choir is open to anyone who enjoys singing and has a desire to encourage congregational participation. You may choose between 5:30 PM, 7:30 AM, and 10:30 AM Masses.