Celebrating the Eucharist

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Celebrating the Eucharist
The meaning of Eucharist for Catholics
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• The Eucharist is the summit of all the Churchs
  life.
• Catholics gather as a community to celebrate
  their lives at Eucharist.

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• Catholics bring to the Eucharist their humanness,
  their failings, for example
• Racism
• Family breakdown
• Rejection
• Unemployment
• Lack of communication
• Etc.

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This does not mean that they give into these
failings but realise these are a part of them.
Catholics take stock of their sinfulness and
resolve to change.
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God is present in the Eucharist

• through the Word
• The Word of God tells Catholics who they are.
• They hear the Word of God.
• It penetrates inside them.
• It transforms them into messengers of God.

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God is present in the Eucharist
through the sacrament,

• through symbols.
• God touches their experiences through symbols.

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For Catholics

• The Word should set their hearts on fire.
• The Eucharist becomes the source of power in the
  world.

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• Catholics
• give praise to the Father, through the Son and in
  the Spirit.
• take part in the life, death and resurrection of
  Jesus Christ.
• share the body and blood of Christ.
• as they leave the Mass, are are transformed and
  go out to live more fully, by serving others in
  the community.

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Ritual Structure of the Eucharist
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Introduction Rite
Ritual actions
gathering
reconciliation
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Liturgy of the Word
Ritual actions
proclaiming
Listening to the word
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Liturgy of the Eucharist
Ritual actions
Giving of gifts
Reflecting on our story in the Eucharistic prayer
Sharing the meal
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Concluding Rite
Ritual actions
Going out and making a difference
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How do the Ritual actions of the Eucharist touch
the lives of Catholics in everyday events?
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Introduction Rite
Ritual actions
gathering
reconciliation
of communities of families of friends
making peace with all people
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Liturgy of the Word
Ritual actions
proclaiming
Listening to the Word
Christianity is shared with others
Reflecting on the Word and seeing its universal
significance
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Liturgy of the Eucharist
Ritual actions
Giving of gifts
Reflecting on our story in the Eucharistic prayer
Sharing the meal
realising their gifts, sharing these gifts with
the community
seeing themselves as part of a larger group, the
people who came before them and people who will
follow them
sharing of what they have so that all have what
they need
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Concluding Rite
Ritual actions
Going out and making a difference
living out the ideals