In Home Discipleship Formation January 2023
Parts of the Mass: Liturgy of the Eucharist

Session January 15 & 18

We continue to explore the Catholic Mass by learning about the third part of the Mass, The Liturgy of the Eucharist.

Opening Prayer:

Join hands as a family and pray The Our Father together.

Family Discussion Question:

• What is a favorite meal your family likes to share together? What makes this meal special to your family? How would you feel if someone didn’t show up for the special meal?

Catechesis:

The Liturgy of the Eucharist is the third part of the Mass.  This is the part of the Mass where the bread and wine BECOME the Body & Blood of Jesus.  We then take that bread into ourselves so that we can be sent out into the world to become Jesus to those whom we meet.

Presentation and Preparation of the Gifts:

The Liturgy of the Eucharist begins with the presentation of the gifts of bread, wine, and money. These gifts represent us and our hard work. The gifts are brought forth to the altar by members of the assembly. Then Fr. Nonito begins the prayer.

Prayer over the Gifts:

Fr. Nonito prays a prayer over the bread then over the wine. 
A dialogue begins the Eucharistic Prayer:

Fr. Nonito:  The Lord be with you
Assembly:  And with your spirit.
Fr. Nonito:  Lift up your hearts
Assembly:  We lift them up to the Lord
Fr. Nonito:  Let us give thanks to the Lord our God
Assembly:  It is right and just

Then Fr. Nonito begins the long prayer of blessing in which the bread and wine become the Body & Blood of Christ.

Eucharistic Prayer: This is the central prayer in which the priest thanks God for all the gifts of bread, wine, and money; he calls down he Holy Spirit, and consecrates (blesses) the bread and wine in which they BECOME the Body & Blood of Christ.

Eucharist is a Greek word that means “thanksgiving.”  The Eucharistic Prayer is a very long prayer of thanksgiving. The Eucharist is a thanksgiving meal.

How do we know that the bread and wine turn into the Body & Blood of Jesus?  Because we BELIEVE they do.

The core of the Eucharistic Prayer is when Fr. Nonito extends his hands over the bread and wine and says the words of Consecration (blessing) used by Jesus at the Last Supper:

“This is my Body, which will be given up for you. . . this is the chalice of my blood. . . which will be poured out for you”.   The bread and wine and these words are the essential sings of the Sacrament of Communion.

Communion Rite:

The Our Father---The Lord’s Prayer is our declaration of dependence on God, our surrender to God’s will, that enables us to truly be free.  Through the Our Father, Jesus teaches us how even the ordinary is transformed into the extraordinary by the power of four little words:  thy will be done.  When we pray, “thy will be done”, we open wide our lives to God’s reign, surrendering our tight hold on life and our desire to control things.

 Sign of Peace--- The sign of peace is needed to help us recognize that the communion we are about to enter into is not only with God but with our neighbors. The powerful intimacy of our offering Christ’s peace to one another allows us to leave arguments and fears behind us before we can share in the Eucharist. Peace is what results when God’s will and the human heart become one

Lamb of God---this prayer quotes the words of the centurion who asked Jesus to cure his servant.  He trusted in the authority of Jesus’ healing word saying: “Lord, I am not worthy of you entering under my roof; only say the word and my servant will be healed”.  When we say these words: “Lord, I am not worthy that you should enter under my roof; only say the word and my soul shall be healed”.  We enter into the same faith and humility as the centurion as we receive Holy Communion.

Receiving Communion---as we approach the Body of Christ we bow in reverence, and put our hands out to receive the Body of Christ:           

The Eucharistic Minister: “The Body of Christ.”
We respond: “Amen”.  Which literally means “I believe.” 

As we receive the Body of Christ we respond “Amen” because we BELIEVE that Jesus is present in the bread and wine as the Body & Blood of Christ.

Holy Communion is not a call to retreat into seclusion with God but a call to action---to be doers of the work of God by loving our neighbors in our daily lives.

We return to the pew, kneel to say a prayer of thanksgiving to God for the gift of Jesus’ Body & Blood.

After everyone has received Communion, Fr. Nonito or Deacon Dan washes out the vessels and sits down.   There is a moment of silence so we can think about how the Body & Blood of Christ can transform us. 

Prayer after Communion:

After everyone in the assembly receives Communion and the vessels are cleaned up, there are a few moments of silence.  The Liturgy of the Eucharist ends with a short prayer after Communion.  Then we prepare to be sent out into the world to be doers of God’s work.

Watch Videos:

Part 1: The Preparation of the Gifts | Understanding the Mass

Part 2: Eucharistic Prayer and Communion | Understanding the Mass

Video Discussion Questions:

• Why do the gifts become offerings?
• What is the purpose of the Priest/Presider raising the bread and the wine? 
• Why do we offer a sign of peace to one another? 

Closing Prayer:

Pray the Anima Christi prayer together. Parents say each line and have the children echo it after you.

Anima Christi---a prayer that is prayed after receiving Communion.

Soul of Christ, sanctify me.
Body of Christ, save me.
Blood of Christ, inebriate me.
Water from the side of Christ, wash me.
Passion of Christ, strengthen me.
O good Jesus, hear me.
Within your wounds conceal me.
Do not permit me to be parted from you.
From the evil foe protect me.
At the hour of my death call me.
And bid me come to you,
to praise you with all your saints
for ever and ever.

Amen.

Questionnaire: 

COMPLETE this session by taking a short Kahoot quiz with your family. 

Click the Kahoot button or "Click Here" for the Kahoot Quiz.

Please list the First Initial (of each youth) and Family Last Name as your "Nickname" for your family to be marked present for this session. 

Thank you! 

Questions or comments please call or email Amy Bolle. Thank you!