Sacrament Archives - Amazing Catechists

The Eucharist – An Intimate & Unique Experience

We can’t talk about the Kingship of Jesus without the Eucharist.

My husband and I were both cradle Catholics – but we didn’t stay Catholic. Our youngest son, Danny had a very serious illness at six months of age. Shortly after diagnosis, I was on the hunt to help him get better. I was looking for a healing and determined that God would give me what I wanted.

Something was missing!

We weren’t active in the Church at the time – although we checked off all the boxes and had our children baptized. We were introduced to a non-denominational church. I had no problem jumping into this because I was determined to find this healing for our son and willing to do whatever I had to; to make it happen. My husband, on the other hand, struggled. “We’re Catholic,” he’d say. “We don’t belong there.” But it was truly the right place for us at that time. We learned so much. However, there came a point where we felt like something was missing. We turned to each other and knew immediately what it was. The Eucharist was missing and so we returned home.

Do we need the Eucharist?

The Catholic Catechism tell us that the “Eucharist is the source and summit of the Christian life.” Jesus’ words at the Last Supper – “This is my body – this is my blood” can be found in the Gospels of Matthew, Mark and Luke.

But it is the Gospel of John – Chapter 6 where Jesus really emphasizes the Eucharist.

Bishop Robert Barron, founder of Word on Fire, states, “Without the Eucharist – spiritually speaking – we will starve to death.” Pope St. John Paul II also stated, “Without the Eucharist, the Church dies.” St. Thomas Aquinas stated, “Christ’s power is in the other Sacraments, but in the Eucharist, Christ Himself is Present.”

It is Spelled out in the Gospel of John, Chapter 6

The Gospel of John, Chapter 6 begins with the multiplication of the five loaves and two fish. This massive crowd follows Jesus because of this miracle. Jesus says, “Do not work for food that perishes but for the food that endures for eternal life, which the Son of Man will give you.”

The crowd then says to Jesus, “What sign can you do that we may see and believe in you?” This is amazing because they just experienced the miracle of the five loaves and two fish and yet they are asking for something more. I can certainly relate to these people.

They then recall the manna in the dessert eaten by their ancestors in which Jesus tells them that this manna was not given to them by Moses – but by the Father. Jesus says, “the bread of God is that which comes down from heaven and gives life to the world.” They then say – “Give us this bread always.” Jesus then tells them, “I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me will never hunger, and whoever believes in me will never thirst.”

The crowd is now baffled because they think they know Jesus, after all, isn’t he the Son of Joseph – YES – but He is so much more, and they don’t realize this.

Truth is sometimes hard to believe

Jesus continues, “I am the living bread that came down from heaven; whoever eats this bread will live forever; and the bread that I will give is my flesh for the life of the world…unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you do not have life within you. Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life…For my life is true food, and my blood is true drink. Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood remains in me and I in him.”

At this point, everyone is beyond baffled. Jews do not drink the blood of anything. And eating the flesh of another human being is just too bizarre to comprehend. His many disciples – his followers – choose to return to the former way of life and walk away from Jesus because of this.

Does Jesus miss an Opportunity!

As Bishop Barren states, this is a perfect opportunity for Jesus to explain that what He is referring to is only a symbol – not really my flesh and my blood – but only a symbol. Jesus doesn’t do that. Instead, he turns to the twelve apostles and asks them, “Do you also want to leave?”

Jesus never changes who He is or back tracks on anything He says. He speaks with purpose. When He asks the twelve apostles – “do you also want to leave”, it is Peter who responds, “To Whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. We have come to believe and are convinced that you are the Holy One of God.”

In other words, Peter is saying, “I am convinced of who You are. That doesn’t mean I understand everything you are saying. I don’t understand this flesh and blood thing you’re talking about, but I believe you will explain it to me. I will not give up on You – I will continue to move forward with You.”

I can imagine Peter at the Last Supper when Jesus takes bread, blesses it and says, “This is my body.” I see a light bulb go off in Peter’s head as he breathes a sigh of relief.

Do you believe?

Bishop Barron states that “the Eucharist will always be a decisive point.” Some people will say YES and some will say NO and walk away as many of Jesus’ disciples did that day. This question is for each of us. What will you do? Do you believe the words of Jesus – even though they are hard to understand, OR will you say NO – I can’t do this – and walk away like the disciples did that day?

St. Benedict says that “Christianity is not an idea. It is an experience. It is an encounter with the person, Jesus Christ.” There truly is no better way to encounter Jesus than through the Eucharist. It is an intimate, unique experience.

Sacrament Review

By Deanna Bartalini

The end of the school year is approaching

And it can be hard to keep your group interested in learning. Here is a fun activity that will review all seven sacraments and keep your class involved. It can be done with families as well, each family being a group.

Here is the general outline of the lesson:

Materials for the lesson: large pictures of each sacrament, each sacrament name written on a large piece of paper (I used 11×17 paper and printed out the names using Publisher and clip art.), 1 large chalice/host drawing, about 3’ high, crayons, pencils, markers, glue

Points to get across: Sacraments are signs we can see, hear, feel, taste, and smell. God gave them to us through Jesus so that we could remember him and all the gifts he gave us. All sacraments give us grace to help us live our lives. Grace is another gift from God.

Activity:

Call up 7 children to help while the groups at tables write down the names of each of the sacraments.

How many sacraments are there? 7. Have those left at tables write down the names of the sacraments, one person per group writing.

Part 1: Distribute the names of the sacraments and the pictures and have the children match them up with their backs to the group. Once they are all matched up, ask for the names of the 7 sacraments. As each is named, have the person holding the sacrament name and picture step forward.

Part 2:

Have each table choose one person to be a runner. The group listens to the statement/question, and the runner will go to the sacrament described after conferring with the table on an answer.

Possible Questions: (Add more depending on the size, and attention span of the group)

Takes away Original sin

We say we are sorry for our sins

One man and one woman become a family

We receive Jesus’ body and blood

The Bishops seals you with the Holy Spirit

This sacrament helps you when you are sick

A man who is ordained receives this sacrament

What is the most important sacrament?

Points to make:

Eucharist is the source and summit of the Catholic life. It is our food for our journey. Its purpose is to make us one with Jesus Christ, to help us to live like him, and to form us into a community. That is why we come to Mass, to celebrate together while thanking God for all he has given us, including and most especially his Son.

As St. Paul tells us in 2 Corinthians, all members of the body are necessary and valuable. When one part of the body is hurting because of sin or sickness, it hurts all of us. If a part of the body is missing, we all suffer. That is yet another reason why we need to come together at Mass each week.

Activity:

One in Christ: pass out 4×6 pieces of paper and markers, crayons, and pencils; one piece to each family. Have each group think about an appropriate symbol to put on the paper. It can be a symbol of a sacrament, something special to the family, or abstract. It should not include words. Very little white space should be seen. All need to participate in the coloring in some way.

Note: you may need to make the paper size larger depending on the size of your group; the idea is to cover the large chalice as completely as possible.

Once everyone is done, have one person from each group come forward and put it on the large chalice, covering it like a collage.

First Communion Retreat

By Deanna Bartalini

This time of year often finds those of us who prepare children for First Holy Communion in our final weeks of preparation. In our program, children receive First Holy Communion on the first Sunday in May. We have a morning retreat for them a few weeks before. It’s a chance to come together and do some activities together, take an up close tour of the church, practice the songs for Mass and practice how to receive.

Here is an outline with the resources we use:

9:00 am Welcome, distribute name tags

9:05: Opening Prayer

3 stations, each 20 minutes long;

9:20 – 9:40; 9:45 – 10:05; 10:10- 10:30

Station #1 The Weight of a Mass: A Tale of Faith by Josephine Nobisso; I use the book, but there is also a Youtube video available. We read the book and then ask questions about it. If you have not read it, do so. It is an amazing story with beautiful illustrations. At a certain point in the story, the children listening will start nodding and gasping as they understand what is happening and the meaning behind all the action.

Station #2 Chalice and Host craft; I found this on The Catholic Toolbox.

Station #3 The Last Supper; I read the Last Supper and then do a short reenactment with unleavened bread and grape juice.

10:35: The Making of Communion Bread; this is an awesome video that not only demonstrates how hosts are made but explains what the Eucharist means to us. A Passionist nun of Erlanger, Kentucky, is our guide for this brief ten-minute video.

10:50: Snack and Bathroom break

Mix the following ingredients together in a large bowl, telling what each ingredient represents. We have some for a snack and then the rest is bagged up with a tag on it for the children to take home.

11:00: Church Tour; I point out our various statues, holy water font, tabernacle, how to genuflect, Mass responses and postures. We also practice how to receive Holy Communion, with unconsecrated hosts, of course! Then our music director teaches us the songs we will use at the Mass. We close in prayer in the Church and then go back to the parish hall for parents to pick up the children at noon.

“Go and Sin No More”

By Maureen Smith

As I reflected on this Sunday’s Gospel, the words of Jesus to the woman caught in adultery struck me. “Go, and from now on do not sin anymore.”

What must it have been like for this woman who was known for and identified by her sin? When Jesus forgives her she stands as a new creation, freed from her past.

Nevertheless, Jesus is aware that, while she is cleansed of her sin, she will encounter the same temptations, the same situations, and the same people and therefore cautions her and instructs her very clearly.

Jesus does not gloss over the fact that she has sinned. But he does look upon her with a gentle and merciful gaze because he wants to heal her from the harm wrought in her soul by sin. He desires to free her from the clutches of the evil one and give her the grace to follow the path God has for her.

We are given these same instructions every time we leave the confessional and after Mass to “go and sin no more.” In fact, they are of particular significance during our Lenten journey, a season of repentance and conversion of heart.

Jesus does not condemn us but he does take our sins seriously. He died for them, after all! He does not desire perfection for its own sake, but for our own freedom, that we might be restored to our original dignity and be drawn closer to His Sacred Heart.

But what if we don’t feel ready to change? What if we are not sorry? If you think you are the only person who struggles with these problems and questions, know that you have at least one other friend out there who finds herself in the midst of this struggle.

Fortunately, we don’t have to rely on ourselves to conquer our resistance to grace! The words of Jesus in today’s Gospel remind us that we are not bound by our past. Jesus’ redemptive and transformative grace is more powerful than if we had never sinned, because “God proves his love for us in that while we were still sinners Christ died for us” (Romans 5:8). This kind of healing love is the answer to our feeble hearts.

Few people know that the Sacrament of Confession is a healing Sacrament. Only recently did I come to know this fact. So, sometimes when I approach the confessional, knowing that my heart is not “firmly resolved to sin no more” but willing it to be, I confess this state of my soul and ask for the healing necessary to be free from whatever is holding me back from doing the will of God and from letting go of my attachment to sin.

As we see in the image of the woman caught in adultery, the Lord comes to us, his children, as we are, knowing our sinfulness and our inability to choose the narrow path over what is easy. He not only forgives us but gives us a share in his power to resist temptation and choose life.

This invitation by Jesus to start anew reminded me of the following passage from the Old Testament that I encourage you to take to heart during your Lenten pilgrimage.

“I have set before you life and death, the blessing and the curse. Choose life, then, that you and your descendants may live, by loving the Lord your God, obeying his voice, and holding fast to him” (Deut 30: 19b, 20a).

The next time you enter the presence of the Blessed Sacrament or the Confessional, consider asking the Lord for this healing, to choose life.

When you leave Mass or exit the Confessional and hear those beautiful words of the priest, “go in peace,” remember the words of Jesus in the Gospel today and remember that his healing and grace is with you.