The Eucharist
The Eucharist is another word for Mass
It is the second sacrament of initiation in the Roman Catholic Church
| The Mass is: p the greatest formal act of worship and thanksgiving for Catholics p a remembrance of his death and resurrection p a celebration of Christ’s victory over death p a thanksgiving for the gifts of the earth p when people receive the body and blood of Christ p when people their responsibility for others in the world - it shows that they are part of a community
Outline of the Mass 1. Greeting & penitential rite (welcome and asking forgiveness for your sins) 2. Liturgy of the word: readings and homily 3. Creed (Statement of Christian belief ‘I believe in one God....) and the prayers of the faithful (Bidding prayers) 4. Offertory- bread, wine and gifts (collection) 5. Preface and Eucharistic prayer (When the bread and wine are consecrated) 6. Our Father; sign of peace; ‘Lamb of God’ 7. Communion (receiving the body and blood of Jesus Christ under the appearance of bread and wine) 8. Blessing and command to ‘Love and serve the Lord.’ |
Roman Catholics believe that the Mass is the starting point for their Christian life. They must then go out in to the world to ‘love and serve the Lord’, in other words they must help those in need in their local community and in the world wide community. Christians learn from the teaching of Jesus (e.g. The good Samaritan, teachings from the sermon on the mount) that it is our responsibility to help those in need in the world. CAFOD is the Catholic Fund for Overseas Development, they help in providing short term aid for emergency relief (E.g. for famine, drought, flood) and for long term aid (Helping people in their own communities fend for themselves.