“I am the living bread that came down from heaven; whoever eats of this Bread will live for ever; …Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life and … abides in me, and I in him” - Jesus of Nazareth (Jn 6:51, 54, 56)
“At the Last Supper, on the night when He was betrayed, our Savior instituted the eucharistic sacrifice of His Body and Blood. He did this in order to perpetuate the sacrifice of the Cross throughout the centuries until He should come again, and so to entrust to His beloved spouse, the Church, a memorial of His death and resurrection: a sacrament of love, a sign of unity, a bond of charity, a paschal banquet in which Christ is eaten, the mind is filled with grace, and a pledge of future glory is given to us.” (Sacrosanctum Concilium #47)
“Do this in memory of me”
“From the beginning the Church has been faithful to the Lord's command. Of the Church of Jerusalem it is written:
‘They devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers. . . . Day by day, attending the temple together and breaking bread in their homes, they partook of food with glad and generous hearts.’” (Catechism #1342)
The fruits of Holy Communion
Holy Communion augments our union with Christ
Holy Communion separates us from sin
The unity of the Mystical Body: the Eucharist makes the Church
The Eucharist commits us to the poor
“Having passed from this world to the Father, Christ gives us in the Eucharist the pledge of glory with him. Participation in the Holy Sacrifice identifies us with his Heart, sustains our strength along the pilgrimage of this life, makes us long for eternal life, and unites us even now to the Church in heaven, the Blessed Virgin Mary, and all the saints.” (Catechism #1419)