first holy communion - Archdiocese of St Andrews and Edinburgh

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Because the Eucharist is celebrated in the midst of the gathered assembly, webecome one body, one spirit in Christ, so that Christ is present in theEucharistic Assembly.When we pray the Eucharistic Prayer the sacrifice of Christ becomes present tous once more, we then offer this sacrifice of praise to God in thanksgiving aswe recall the Holy Sacrifice.The expression Sacred Mysteries reminds us that here in this celebration thewhole of the Church’s life of prayer and worship finds its source.We use the phrase Blessed Sacrament as it is the Sacrament of sacraments whereChrist is really present to us. When we reserve the Eucharistic species in atabernacle we also refer to this as the Blessed Sacrament.We speak also of Holy Mass because this comes from the Latin phrase forsending out (Missa). We are sent forth from this assembly to share Christ’scontinued presence with the world and to live this presence in our lives.Finally we refer to Holy Communion because we are united to Christ as weshare in his Body and Blood to form one single body.1) What strikes you about any of the above? What’s new for you?2) What prayers of thanksgiving and gratitude do you bring to the Sunday celebrationof the Eucharist?3) Which of the above phrases do you find most helpful and why?6
Gathering every Sunday:Why is it so important?“On the day called Sunday” by Justin Martyr (A.D. 110-165)And on the day called Sunday, all who live in cities or in the country gather togetherto one place, and the memoirs of the apostles or the writings of the prophets areread, as long as time permits; then, when the reader has ceased, the overseer verballyinstructs, and exhorts to the imitation of these good things.Then we all rise together and pray, and, as we before said, when our prayer is ended,bread and wine and water are brought, and the overseer in like manner offers prayersand thanksgivings, according to his ability, and the people assent, saying Amen; andthere is a distribution to each, and a participation of that over which thanks havebeen given, and to those who are absent a portion is sent by the deacons.And they who are well to do, and willing, give what each thinks fit; and what iscollected is deposited with the overseer, who provides for the orphans and widowsand those who, through sickness or any other cause, are in want, and those who arein bonds and the strangers sojourning among us, and in a word takes care of all whoare in need.But Sunday is the day on which we all hold our common assembly, because it is thefirst day on which God, having wrought a change in the darkness and matter, madethe world; and Jesus Christ our Saviour on the same day rose from the dead.This amazing passage describes how the early Christians gathered every Sunday for thecelebration of the Eucharist.What similarities do you see between then and now?How does your family help each other to make the celebration of Sunday Massthe highlight of the week?Why is it so important to gather every Sunday?7
Page 8 and 9: What should we be doing atMass? Enc
Page 10 and 11: Take this and eat it,all of you: CO
Page 12 and 13: Words of Encouragement fromPope Ben
Page 14 and 15: We are Christ’s BodyIn this year
Page 16: FURTHER RESOURCES:Catholic Truth So

first holy communion - Archdiocese of St Andrews and Edinburgh

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