By Fr. Gilbert Choondal, SDB –
Easter Triduum begins with Maundy Thursday and ends with Easter. Eucharist is the main theme that runs through all these three days. We begin the Day-One with the Institution of Eucharist, Day-Two with the real sacrifice of the Lord (Qurbana), and finally Day-Three culminating the full Eucharist with the Day of the Lord.
1) Mass is communion: The word, Communion has two significant meanings in the context of Mass: Communion of the community of people and Communion of the Body and Blood of Christ. Mass is also called “Holy Communion, because by this sacrament we unite ourselves to Christ, who makes us sharers in his Body and Blood to form a single body (CCC 1331).” We also say “Communion of saints” in Apostles’ Creed. Communion means being together as one. Reception of Jesus in the Eucharist fuses our being with that of Christ. St. Cyril of Alexandria describes it as similar to “when melted wax is fused with other wax.” First our body becomes his. Then, we form one body. The response “Amen” (when priest says, “The Body of Christ”) indicates to this double meaning of communion.
2) Mass perfects God’s presence. Though God is present everywhere, He is present specifically during the Mass in many ways. We believe that Jesus Christ is present in the Eucharist in four ways (CCC 1373,1374): (1) in the person of the minister of the Eucharist, the presiding priest, through whom Jesus offers himself (2) in the word of God, the Scriptures being proclaimed and preached (3) in the people gathered to celebrate by praying and participating actively (4), and in the Eucharistic Species, where he is really present. The fourth way, the Eucharistic Presence, is called the Real Presence (Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity) which is not the same way of the other three.
- Mass is prayer. It is prayer par excellence. We encounter the Lord individually and as a community. We pray in silence before the mass begins. Moments of silence before the mass and during the mass are moments of prayer. One can find various types of prayer during mass, namely, prayers of thanksgiving, adoration, praise, petition, etc. The mass is replete with several Scripture verses. The whole church is united in prayer through the Eucharist. One will find most ancient prayers in the Catholic Church (eg. Gloria & offertory prayer) and even a prayer of a foreigner (“Lord I am not worthy….).
4) Mass is an expression of perfect love. “When you look at the Crucifix, you understand how much Jesus loved you then. When you look at the Sacred Host you understand how much Jesus loves you now.” (St. Mother Teresa). The greatest form of love is giving fully one’s life for the other. “There is no greater love…(Jn 15:13).” This love is realised in Mass. It is the way God continues to love us through the Sacrament of Eucharist. Another term for Eucharist is Agape (benevolent and unconditional love). Love of God and love of neighbour are perfectly united in Eucharist. “A Eucharist which does not pass over into concrete practice of love is intrinsically fragmented (Deus Caritas Est, 14).” The converse is true too. Love is a commandment since it is first given in the Eucharist. St. John Paul II says that the washing of the feet and the sacrament of the Eucharist: two expressions of one and the same mystery of love entrusted to the disciples (EE20), so that, Jesus says, “as I have done… so also must you do” (Jn 13: 15).”
5) The mass is a memorial of Paschal Mystery. “The Paschal Mystery of Jesus, which comprises his passion, death, resurrection, and glorification, stands at the center of the Christian faith because God’s saving plan was accomplished once for all by the redemptive death of his Son Jesus Christ (CCCC Q. 112).” The mass makes us participants in the victory over sin and death. It is making present what happened 20 centuries ago, the passion, death and Resurrection of Jesus. “When we go for mass, it is as if we are gong to Calvary. It is not a spectacle,” says Pope Francis. In fact, we begin the mass with the sign of the cross and end with the sign of the Cross. This is how our day begins. We are redeemed by the Lord’s Cross. In all the Eucharistic Prayers we find after the words of institution a prayer called the anamnesis or memorial. “In the anamnesis, the Church calls to mind the Passion, resurrection, and glorious return of Christ Jesus (CCC 1354).”
6) We cannot live without mass. The early Christian martyrs of North Africa (in 304), proclaimed: “We cannot live without Sunday.” If we cannot celebrate Eucharist, we cannot live; our Christian life would die. “The Eucharist is the source and summit of Christian life (LG11).” That means, it is the beginning and culmination of our life. Pope John Paul II says the Church and Eucharist and interdependent. They need each other. “Eucharist makes the Church and the Church builds the Eucharist(EE 26).”
7) Mass commits us to the poor: The words of St. John Chrysostom shame those of us who leave the Eucharistic table without caring for Christ in the poor: “You have tasted the Blood of the Lord, yet you do not recognize your brother,. . . .You dishonour this table when you do not judge worthy of sharing your food someone judged worthy to take part in this meal. . . . God freed you from all your sins and invited you here, but you have not become more merciful.” The Mass continues after the mass with a mission towards the poor. The Apostle Paul says that it is “unworthy” of a Christian community to partake of the Lord’s Supper amid division and indifference towards the poor (cf. 1 Cor 11:17-22, 27-34)
8) Mass is the celebration of a single family. We celebrate the Mass as a single family. It is a communitarian celebration. We may come as strangers but never leave the mass as strangers. We form one body and become brothers and sisters. During the Eucharistic Prayer we are connected to three groups that make up a single family of God. We pray for the living (beginning with Pope, Bishop and all the other living: Militant Church), pray for the souls (Suffering Church) and pray with the saints in heaven (beginning with Blessed Virgin Mary, St. Joseph, apostles and all other saints: Triumphant Church). We are united by all in this family while we say the prayer towards the end, “Our Father.” The moment we utter Our Father (not my father or father of some of us in heaven!) we accept each other as brothers and sisters of the family of God.
9) Mass leads us to reconciliation: The Eucharist begins with the penitential rite that leads the faithful to celebrate the Eucharist in a worthy manner. We acknowledge our sinfulness in the first person singular but asking the prayers of community of brothers and sisters. At times, psalms take the place of penitence or gestures of sprinkling holy water as a sign that stand in need of purification of our hearts. We conclude the Eucharist with the kiss of peace. That is the culmination of reconciliation. We begin the Eucharist as strangers but end it as reconciled brothers and sisters.
10) Mass is a foretaste of heaven. St. Thomas compares the Blessed Sacrament as the “Bread of Angels.” We are united with the angels and saints in heaven. We join the angels and saints by singing the Sanctus. St. Teresa of Child Jesus felt at her first Holy Communion, heaven itself was in her soul! The Eucharist unites heaven and earth, it is an anticipation of heaven, glimpse of heaven, a foretaste of heavenly liturgy and ray of heavenly Jerusalem (Ecclesia de Eucharistia 18,19, Sacramentum Caritatis,35, 66).
10 Tips for an Effective Eucharist
- Prepare well before the Mass. Stay in silence before the Mass. If you are a priest, prepare well in advance your homily with prayer and study.
- Practise Jesus Prayer: Use Jesus Prayer before mass, during post communion and after the mass. Eg. “Lord Jesus, have mercy on me.” Or have your own Jesus prayer formula.
- Practise Spiritual Communion often: Benedict XVI in Sacramentum Caritatis (#55), and St. Alphonsus Liguori recommended this prayer. Customise and make your own Spiritual Communion Prayer.
- Read and Reflect Sacramentum Caritatis and Ecclesia de Eucharistia. They are the latest documents (SC is an Encyclical by John Paul II, EE is an Apostolic Exhortation by Benedict XVI) on the significance of the Eucharist.
- Meditate John 6: This discourse on Bread and Bread of life. has three parts: Jesus multiplies the loaves, walks on water, and His discourse on the Eucharist.
- Attend Holy Hour in your parish: Ven. Fulton Sheen called it as hour of power. Fulton Sheen and Mother Teresa practised it daily.
- Respect and Revere God’s House: As you enter God’s house, your body language tells everything about you and your God. Keep the Sanctuary and Sacristy clean and tidy if you are a responsible person of the Church.
- Visit Blessed Sacrament frequently: A dying tradition that needs to be revived. Make it a habit to visit the Blessed Sacrament as often as possible (even if for a few seconds).
- Practise ACTS: ACTS stands for Adoration, Contrition, Thanksgiving and Supplication. Stay in prayer for a few seconds after the mass. Did you do ACTS daily?
- Be a Eucharistic Missionary: Mary brought communion to Elizabeth. ‘She was the first tabernacle (EE 55).’ We take Jesus to others and others to Jesus. Greet people (even if they are strangers) with a smile after the mass. Then, you are already a missionary!
Fr. Gilbert Choonda SDB, is the Coordinator of Education to Faith of Salesian Provinces of South Asia and Director of Nitika Don Bosco, Catechetical Centre, Kolkata 15. Cell.+91-9007837427