Consecration of the Holy Eucharist

Consecration is taken from the Latin, consecrare, which means to render sacred. The words of institution of the Eucharist, pronounced at Mass, accomplishes the very sacrifice that Christ instituted at the Last Supper. The formula of consecration is uniform for all the approved canons of the Mass and reads, in literal translation:

“Take this, all of you, and eat of it, for this is my body, which will be given up for you. … take This, all of you, and drink from it, for this is the chalice of my blood, the blood of the new and eternal covenant, which Will be poured out for you and for many for the forgiveness of sins. Do this in memory of me.”

The Mass has two esential parts: the Liturgy of the Word, and the Liturgy of the Eucharist. The Eucharistic Prayer is the core prayer of the Liturgy of the Eucharist. In it are the words of the Consecration when the bread and wine are transformedd into the Body and Blood of Christ. Jesus spoke the truth and fact when He said: This is My Body, and this is My Blood. He did not mean it as a symbol; He, Himself, is present in the Eucharist. Read from the Catechism of the Catholic Church sections 1333 – 1336 and 1377.

Catechism References

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