Holy Eucharist: Spiritual Nourishment

• The Sacrament of the Eucharist helps Christians to be nourished in order to grow in faith
• Jesus gave his Body and Blood to be our spiritual nourishment and to always be with all

Holy Eucharist

• It is the sacrament in which Jesus gives His Body and Blood
• Fed by Jesus with spiritual food to receive Him and be united with Him
• For all to be joined with the one Body of Christ, The Church

Eucharist

• It comes from the Greek word Eukaristia which means "thanksgiving."
• Encounter Jesus in the Word proclaimed and in His Sacramental presence in the appearance of bread and wine
• Thank God for the wonderful gift of himself

Prefigurations in Scripture

• In Genesis Melchizedek, the priest, blessed Abram (Abraham) by offering to God brand and wine as a sacrifice
• In Exodus, God let fall bread from heaven in order to feed the Israelites who were hungry during their journey to the Promised Land
• In the Gospels, Jesus miraculously fed thousands of people by multiplying bread and fish after offering them to the Father

Institution of the Sacrament

• "Then he took the bread, said the blessing, broke it, and gave it to them, saying, "This is my body, which will be given for you; do this in memory of me." And likewise the cup after they had eaten, saying, "This cup is the new covenant in my blood, which will be shed for you.” (Luke 22:19-20)

Names of the Sacrament

• The Eucharist
• The Lord's Supper
• The Holy Sacrifice of the Mass
• The Memorial of Jesus' Resurrection
• The Blessed Sacrament
• The Holy Communion

The Eucharist

• In every Mass thanks is given to the Lord for what He has done

The Lord's Supper

• Every time Eucharist is celebrated, the Last Supper of Jesus is remembered
• Fellowship is created among the faithful

The Holy Sacrifice of the Mass

• In the Eucharist, the passion and death of Jesus is sacramentally made present

The Memorial of Jesus's Resurrection

• In every Eucharist the glorious resurrection of Jesus Christ is celebrated

The Blessed Sacrament

• In the Eucharist, the body and blood of Christ is received in the form of consecrated sacramental bread and wine

The Holy Communion

• Through this sacrament, union with Christ occurs
• Makes people sharers in his Body and Blood to form a single body

Economy of Salvation

• Economy comes from the Greek word oikonomia which literally means "household management"
• Refers to how God manages his house
• Shows how God carries out His plan of salvation to provide for His people
• Also known as the “Divine Plan," saw the unfolding of the story of salvation from the Old Testament culminating in Jesus Christ
• Viewing sacraments according to the economy of salvation shows its roots in scripture and its important role in fulfilling God's plan so that people may be saved

The Eucharist in the Divine Plan

• Bread and wine have been used even in the Old Covenant for sacrifice
• They were offered as first fruits of the earth as a sign of grateful acknowledgment to the Creator

The Eucharist is Instituted

• In the Gospels, Jesus used bread and wine to establish the memorial of His death and resurrection
• Perfect sacrifice is made and celebrated until He comes again.

Participation in His Sacrifice

• Jesus did not ask to just remember but also to participate in his sacrifice
• Christians gather on Sunday, the first day of the week, "to break bread"

The Eucharist is our Participation in Christ' Paschal Mystery!

• It is called the Paschal Banquet because in Holy Communion, people receive Jesus himself and are united in Him, who sacrificed Himself

Therefore, the Eucharist is...

• A Thanksgiving of Praise to the Father
• A Sacrificial Memorial of Christ and his Body, the Church
• The Presence of Christ by the power of His Word and His Spirit

Essential Elements

• Matter
• Form
• Minister

Matter - Bread and Wine

• Bread and wine are used in this sacrament as Jesus himself used bread and wine in order to feed with His Body and Blood
• These are also important for the Passover Meal of the Jews, reminding of Jesus as the Paschal Sacrifice

Form - Words of Consecration

• The "words of consecration" are part of the "Institution Narrative" which narrates the events of the Last Supper
• During this portion of the Eucharistic Prayer, the bread and wine are transubstantiated to the Body and Blood of Christ

Minister - Priests and Bishops

• Only validly ordained priests and bishops can celebrate Mass for they act in the person of Christ (in persona Christi)
• If someone else assumes the role of the priest and pretends to celebrate Mass, bread and wine will not become the Body and Blood of Christ.

The Sacrament of Healing

• Healing
  • The process of making or becoming sound or healthy again
• Physical Healing
  • The process of becoming well again, especially after a cut or other injury, or of making someone well again
• Spiritual Healing
  • It is often associated with cleansing of the soul and wholeness of the spirit
  • Strengthening of faith and restoring connection with God

Areas in life in need of healing

• Social
  • The effect of society and social norms
• Relationships
  • Interpersonal relationships and relationship satisfaction
• Family
  • Family patterns and interactions
• Spiritual
  • Concept of existence beyond physical and mental
• Psychological
  • Thoughts patterns and emotional or mental stability
• Physical or Biological
  • Physical health and diet
• Intellectual or Educational
  • One's knowledge and understanding
• Environment
  • About one's home and community
• Occupational or Economical
  • Job satisfaction and economic stability

The Importance of Healing

• Through the Sacraments of Penance and Sacrament of the Anointing of the Sick, Jesus restores the sick back to health in bodies and souls, just as He during earthly ministry.

• These Sacraments are made not just to heal physical and spiritual ailments, but to empower to understand the mystery of suffering and to courageously bear it

• Our mind, body, and spirit are all deeply intertwined

• The health of one can significantly affect the health of another. While spirituality won't cure you, it will help in coping with pain and navigating troubled waters

7 Ways to Boost Your Spiritual Health

1. Connect With Your Faith Community
   • Find someone or an organization in a parish and reconnect with them - whether online, over the phone or in-person
   • Reach out to a priest or spiritual leader and find ways to connect with like-minded people within a faith community who can support and encourage
2. Volunteer or Help Others
   • Find a cause that matters and give back to feel connected to spirituality and faith
   • Working at a food pantry, become a mentor or tutor or foster an animal can grow a community and connect with like-minded people
   • Helping others gives a sense of purpose and gratitude
3. Meditate
   • Meditating for as little as five minutes can help reduce stress, depression and anxiety and increase mindfulness
   • There are some excellent guided meditation apps available
4. Keep a Journal
   • The act of writing can help process emotions, increase awareness and give a nonjudgmental space to express feelings in the moment
   • Writing down worries and fears or start a daily gratitude journal with prompts can help
5. Spend Time in Nature
   • Spending time in nature can boost spiritual health
   • Disconnect from technology and troubles
   • Watching the birds, the trees swaying in the wind or the crashing waves on the shoreline can be therapeutic
6. Focus on Your Hobbies
   • Find things that are enjoyable, whether it be knitting, coloring, cooking, playing a sport or working out
   • Focusing on things to enjoy can bring back a sense of purpose and keep focused in the moment-even just for a little bit
7. Speak with a Priest, Nun, or Someone You Trust
   • If struggling to connect with spirituality or mental health, reach out to someone specially trained or with someone to trust who can help

The Sacrament of Penance

• Penance
  • The making of the restitution or satisfaction for a wrong that has been committed

What Names Are There For The Sacrament Of Penance?

• The sacrament of Reconciliation, of forgiveness, of conversion, or of confession
• Reconciliation came from the Latin word reconsiliare meaning "to bring back together, to restore"

Different Names of the Sacrament of Penance

• Sacrament of Conversion
  • Makes sacramentally present Jesus' call to conversion, the first step in returning to the Father from whom one has strayed by sin
• Sacrament of Penance
  • Consecrates the Christian sinner's personal and ecclesial steps of conversion, penance, and satisfaction
• Sacrament of Confession - The disclosure or confession of sins to a priest is an essential element of this sacrament - Also a confession: acknowledgement and praise of the holiness of God and of His mercy toward sinful man - Confession is needed to reconcile back to God
• Sacrament of Forgiveness - The priest's sacramental absolution is how God grants the penitent "pardon and peace."
• Sacrament of Reconciliation - Imparts to the sinner the love of God who reconciles - Living by God's merciful love means responding to the Lord's Call and reconciling with others

Importance of the Sacrament

• In the Old Testament, God always rescued and liberated people even after disobeying and betraying Him
• In the New Testament, Jesus continued God's initiative to draw sinners back to the love of the Father
• The Sacrament of Penance frees from human weakness and inclination to sin

Essential Elements of the Sacrament of Penance

• Who Instituted the Sacrament of Penance?
  • Instituted by Christ on Easter day by delegating His Apostles and successors
  • “Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained.” John 20:23

Minister of the Sacrament of Penance

• Ministers of the Sacrament of Penance are the Priests and Bishops

Why do we Confess to a Priest and not Directly to God?

1. Obedience to Christ
   • "I will give you the keys to the Kingdom of Heaven. Whatever you bind on Earth shall be bound in Heaven; and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in Heaven." - Matthew 16:19
   • Refusing confession from the priest disobeys Christ's command thus unable to obtain divine forgiveness and salvation
2. Reconciliation with the Church
   • Each time sins are forgive, the church welcomes back to us

Matter of the Sacrament of Penance

• The confession of sins

Form of the Sacrament of Penance

• "God, the Father of mercies, through the death and the resurrection of His Son has reconciled the world to Himself and sent the Holy Spirit among us for the forgiveness of sins; through the ministry of the Church and may God give you peace, and I absolve you from all sins in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit."

The Effects and Graces of the Sacrament of Penance

• Reconciliation with God is the purpose and effect of this sacrament
• Forgiveness of Sins and Receiving the Sanctifying Grace
• Reconciliation with the Church

What Must We Bring Into a Confession?

• Examination of Conscience
• Contrition
• Purpose of Amendment
• Confession
• Penance

Examination of Conscience

• The act of recalling sins with the help of the teachings

How Can We Make a Good Examination of Conscience?

• Careful examination of ourselves, considering sin in thoughts, desire, word, deed, and omission
• Recall how often mortal sin is committed
• Not too anxious about examining on venial sins
• Should recall all the circumstances that might change the nature of the sins we are to confess
• Determine exactly what being confessed and how to express it avoiding random talk

Careless Examination

• Rushed examination results to failing to remember sins and omitting to confess mortal sins due to deliberate carelessness

Scrupulous Examination

• An unnecessary, prolonged examination by examining themselves in the minutest detail
• It is not important to worry over what is not remembered

Contrition

• Sincere sorrow for offending God and regret for the sins that have been committed

Two Kinds of Contrition

1. Perfect Contrition
   • A contraction is perfect sin is offended is God the root is pure love of Him
2. Imperfect Contrition
   • Also known as attrition, occurs with sorrow, is imperfect because sorry for the fear of God's punishment

• Act of Contrition
  • Used to express being sorry for having offended God

Purpose of Amendment

• This is a strong resolution to not sin again

• This purpose must accompany the act of contrition

• Through this, determine firmly to amend

• Our purpose of amendment must have reference to God

• Even if, after confession, we should fall again to the same sins that we have so often confessed, we should not despair

Qualities of Purpose of Amendment

• Firm Purpose
  • A firm purpose does not hesitate back and forth to cut ourselves from what bounds us to sin and its occasions at any cost
• Universal Purpose
  • A determination to keep away from all mortal sins
• Efficacious Purpose
  • Resolve to use all means to carry out the determination to amend, as by avoiding the occasions of sins people, places, and things that ordinarily led to sin in the past and may do so again in the future
• Confession
  • The disclosure or telling of sins to the priest

The Rite of Confession

• Blessing of the Sign of the Cross before confessing
• Tell the priest how long it when since last confession
• "For these and all my sins I am truly sorry especially for..."
• Mention of sins that have previously confessed and is particularly sorry for

How Should We Confess Our Sins to a Priest?

• State sins as clearly and briefly as possible
• Tell all mortal sins, including those that may have been forgotten in previous confessions, with the nature and number of each
• Confess venial sins
• Do not waste time at any random talk

Absolution

• From the Latin word absolvere meaning "to loosen or to acquit"
• Used by priests to forgive one or more sins after the penitent's confession

Essential Requirements for Absolution

• Repentance: Sincere sorrow for sins committed
• Resolution: Firm commitment to not sin again
• Reparation: Determination to make up for the sins committed

Penance

• Making amends for the wrongdoings that have been done

Why does priest give us penance after confession?

• Priests gives penance after confession so that atonement to God can be made
• Help is received to avoid sins in the future and to make some satisfaction for the temporal punishment due to sins
• Today, the most common satisfaction is the saying of certain prayers imposed
• Where a sin calls for material reparation, restoration of property or public apology is also imposed
• If the penance consists of prayers, it needs to be expressed/stated
• Those who do not devout are not satisfied to do the penance imposed
• They participate in voluntary works of charity

Anointing of the Sick

• The sacrament instituted by Christ to cure the sickness of the body and of the soul to prepare for the holy death.

Also Known as Extreme Unction

• A term from the Latin for "last anointing"
• It is once referred to the reception of the Sacrament of the Anointing of the Sick just before death
• It is accompanied by viaticum

How is Sickness Interpreted in the Old Testament?

• Sickness was often experienced as a severe trial, against which one could protest but in which one could also see God's hand
• In the prophets, the thought appears that sufferings are not just a curse and not always a consequence of personal sins, that by patiently bearing sufferings and can also be there for others.
• Empowering understand the mystery of suffering and courageously bear it

For Whom is the Sacrament Anointing of the Sick Intended?

• The sacrament can be received by any Catholic facing a critical condition or sickness

Is the Sacrament appropriate?

• Anyone facing a serious operation

• Anyone facing graver condition with the same illness

• Anyone facing old age

• Granted courage to accept the face of death, by granting spiritual blessings or before the road to heaven

• Instituted by Jesus Christ, for those who are sick to be healed of body and soul, before being acknowledged in God's Kingdom

Initiating the Sacrament

• Done by bishops and priests who facilitate acts through Christ by virtue of ordination

Matter of the Sacrament of the Anointing of the Sick

• Oil of the sick

Form of the Sacrament of the Anointing of the Sick

• “Through this holy anointing, may the Lord in His love and mercy help you with the grace of the Holy Spirit"

Curing Physical and Spiritual Ailments

• The soul and the body are closely related - Healling the soul heals the body

Preparing for Holy Death

• Restoring the State of Grace essential for escaping satan's grip and strengthening for resurrection and paradise

###Graces Conferred by the Sacrament

• Granted to have a:
  • Share in Christ's Passion
  • Forgiveness of Sins
  • Grant to heal from sickness or preparation for holy death
• Sharing in Jesus Passion as a redeeming purpose of the sick person's pain
• Forgiveness of sins unless unconscious or physically unable
• Physical or Spiritual Healing to help the patient heal from physical sickness or to prepare the patient for Holy Death

The Last Rights of the Dying

• Administering the sacrament to the forehead and hands of the sick with holy oil, and accompanied by prayers
• Confession & Apostolic Pardon
• Anointing of the Sick
• Viaticum

Confession & Apostolic Pardon

• Encouraging the patient to have general confession for past sins

Anointing of the Sick

• Praying over the sick for healing along with family and close relatives

###Viaticum

• Granting Holy Communion as allowance for the journey to the afterlife

• The Church offers those who are about to leave this life the Eucharist as viaticum

• Penance, Anointing of the Sick and the Eucharist is meant to prepare for the end of Christian life