1. the source and summit of Christian life
2. the final sacrament of initiation
3. instituted by Christ (Last Supper)
4. a sign of unity
5. the presence of Christ manifested by the power of the Holy Spirit and his word
6. sacrament of thanksgiving and praise to the Father
7. what helps us enter into a most intimate relationship with Christ
8. the central act of Christian worship

• Greek; "thanksgiving" --> the Eucharist is a thanksgiving
• from the "breaking of the bread", reflected in the Last Supper

• transubstantiation
• brought about on the consecration at mass
• a validly ordained priest calls down Holy Spirit --> sanctifies gifts of bread and wine
• bread and wine changed into body and blood of Christ
• recitation of words of institution

• all 7 sacraments of the Church, all Church ministries, and all works of the apostolates are bound up with the Eucharist and oriented towards it
• it contains the spiritual good of the Church, namely Christ himself, our Paschal sacrifice

• it is a Holy Sacrifice
• re-presents, or makes present the one Sacrifice of Christ --> in mass, it is the same Christ who offered himself on the cross, contained under appearances of bread and wine
• memorial of Christ's passover and death on the cross

• the assembly
• the person of the priest, via the spoken word
• especially present to us in the Eucharistic species

1. must be in state of grace 
   • free of grave sini
   • f aware of any grave sin, must receive Reconciliation before Eucharist
2. by receiving Eucharist, the receiver's union with Christ is increased
3. the Faithful may receive everytime they participate in mass (if they are properly disposed)
   
   • Church only obliges to receive Eucharist at least once a year, if possible, during Easter Sunday
4. the Faithful have the option of receiving in either the hand or tongue

• all agree that Christ instituted Eucharist during the Last Supper
• 3 different views concerning the Eucharist

1. transubstantiation (Catholic view; the literal interpretation of Jesus's words at the Last Supper)
2. consubstantiation (associated with Martin Luther)
3. transignification (some Protestants)

• traditionally, age of reason (7)
• if able to distinguish the Eucharist from ordinary food, any age

• wheat bread and natural grape wine
• symbolizes the offering of ourself to God
• a sign of grateful acknowledgment to creation
• brought in offertory at mass --> our sacrifice of self is united with the sacrifice of Christ
• the same matter used by Jesus when he instituted it at the Last Supper

• for the bread: "This is my body...do this in memory of me."
• for the wine: "This is my blood...do this in memory of me."

• ordinary minister = priests
• extraordinary minister = none, except special cases (not enough priests, lay ministers are allowed)