Valin Pastoral Unit
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What is the sacrament of the Eucharist?
Etymologically, the word eucharist comes from the Latin, eucharistĭa, which in turn has its origin in the Greek word εὐχαριστία (eucharistía), meaning 'thanksgiving'.
It is the thanksgiving that the believer raises to God through his Son Jesus in the Holy Spirit. This sacrament has its origin in the meal of the Last Supper of Jesus with his Apostles.
The Eucharist is the sacrament of sacraments, it is the source and the summit of our Christian life. The Holy Eucharist contains all the spiritual good of the Church: Christ himself, the Living Bread. Through the Eucharist, we enter into communion with God, with the Church and with our brothers and sisters.
The Eucharist is the sacrifice of the Body and Blood of the Lord Jesus, which He institutes to be celebrated until the end of time. The Eucharist makes explicit the sacrifice of Christ on the Cross, where the Lord offers himself for our sins. Each time a Eucharist is celebrated, it is as if a window opened in time and the gift of Christ was repeated. This is why we call it the memorial of the sacrifice of Christ, because this sacrifice becomes truly present and actual on the altar of each Church, during Holy Mass.
The Eucharist strengthens our faith, our hope and our charity, covering us with the grace that comes from above and preparing us to attain, one day, eternal life.
Contact the pastoral center (418-543-7734) or your community for more information.