The Eucharist is the very sacrifice of the Body and Blood of the Lord Jesus which He instituted to perpetuate the sacrifice of the cross throughout the ages until His return in glory. Thus He entrusted to His Church this memorial of his Death and Resurrection. It is a sign of unity, a bond of charity, a paschal banquet, in which Christ is consumed, the mind is filled with grace, and a pledge of future glory is given to us.
Jesus instituted the Eucharist on Holy Thursday “the night on which He was betrayed” (1 Corinthians 11:23), as He celebrated the Last Supper with his apostles.
After He had gathered with His apostles, Jesus took bread in His hands, broke the bread and gave it to them saying, “Take this and eat it, all of you; this is my Body which will be given up for you”. Then, He took the cup of wine in His hands and said, “Take this and drink this, all of you. This is the cup of my Blood, the Blood of new and everlasting covenant. It will be shed for you and for all so that sins may be forgiven. Do this in memory of me”.
The Eucharist is the source of all Christian life. The Eucharist contains the whole spiritual good of the Church and Christ Himself. Communion with divine life and the unity of the People of God are both expressed and effected by the Eucharist. Through the Eucharistic celebration we are united with the liturgy of heaven and we have a foretaste of eternal life.