Eucharist
The sacrament of the Eucharist is when Christians remember the Last Supper. The Eucharist is referred to by Catholics as Mass and it involves spiritually feeding participants with the body and blood of Christ.
The Eucharist is also known as Communion, Holy Communion or The Blessed Sacrament.
According to the Catholic Church, the Eucharist is the source and summit of the Christian life
(Catechism of the Catholic Church 1324). This means that Christian spirituality flows from the Eucharist (the source) and so Christian actions should be directed towards it (the summit). Every other sacrament is linked to the Eucharist.
For many non-Catholics this sacrament is very controversial. However, for Catholics it is considered to be of central importance.
Because the Eucharist is so important, the Church teaches that there are certain requirements someone must meet to be able to receive the Eucharist at Mass.
- The person must be Catholic (Eastern Orthodox are also allowed to receive).
- The person must be in a state of grace (i.e. not be aware of any unconfessed mortal sins).
- The person must have fasted for at least one hour before receiving the Eucharist. Drinking water is okay, but for anything else to be acceptable, it must be medically necessary.
Holy Communion can be received twice a day. The second time one receives it, it must be during a Eucharistic celebration (a.k.a. Mass).
If someone is dying, they can receive it for a third time that day as Viaticum.
After one receives it for the first time in his/her life he/she is obliged to receive it at least once per year during the Easter season.
However, the Church strongly encourages the faithful to receive the Eucharist on all Sundays, feast days and even daily (if possible).
