“Understandi

ng our Lives
through the
Holy Mass”
Living according to the gift
received.
We live our lives depending on how we
appreciate the gifts we have received…

Sometimes we could live like plants…

…other times, like animals…

then as simple men simply living…

and others, you and I, as God’s children.

Scriptures reveals the gift…

“And when the hour came, he sat at table, and

the apostles with him. And he said to them, "I
have earnestly desired to eat this Passover with
you before I suffer; for I tell you I shall not eat it
until it is fulfilled in the kingdom of God." (…)
And he took bread, and when he had given
thanks he broke it and gave it to them, saying,
"This is my body which is given for you. Do
this in remembrance of me." And likewise
the cup after supper, saying, "This cup which
is poured out for you is the new covenant
in my blood.” (Lk. 22:14-21)
 The Gift…

"This is my body
which is given for
you. Do this in
remembrance of me.“

"This cup which is

poured out for you is
the new covenant in
my blood.”
Jesus Christ gives us a “miracle
gift”

The sacraments are efficacious signs of

grace, instituted by Christ and entrusted to
the Church, by which divine life is dispensed
to us. The visible rites by which the
sacraments are celebrated signify and make
present the graces proper to each
sacrament. They bear fruit in those who
receive them with the required dispositions.
The Catholic Church Teaches…

Our Saviour, (…) instituted this sacrament, in

which He poured forth, as it were, the riches of
His divine love towards men, making a
remembrance of His wonderful works; (…) and
He willed also that this sacrament should be
received as the spiritual food of souls, whereby
may be fed and strengthened those who live with
His life, who said: 'He that eats me, the same
also shall live by me,'(John 6:58) (Council of
Trent, Sess. xiii. cap ii)
The Gift of the Holy Eucharist…

Center of all the other

sacraments. Mystery of faith
around which revolves the whole
Catholic liturgy; to “give
thanks”; names - Lord's Supper,
the Table of the Lord, the Holy
Sacrifice, the Holy of Holies, the
Blessed Sacrament..
A Dynamic and Transforming
Gift…

Vitalizing core
of the Church
and the
Christian’s Life.
(Ecclesiæ de
Eucharistia)
Three main aspects
of the Eucharistic
mystery, as Real
Presence, as the
Sacrifice of the
Altar, or as the
sacrament of Holy
Communion.
 Real Presence:
the greatest
miracle of our
times.
times.

The Miracle Gift of the

Transubstantiation
Sacrifice of the
Altar: one priest and
one victim – the
work of salvation
continues
Fruits of Holy Communion:
It increases our union with
Christ and with His Church.
It preserves and renews
the life of grace and
makes us grow in love for
our neighbor. It
strengthens charity, wipes
away venial sins and
preserves from mortal sin
in the future.
(Compendium #292)
There will be a
crisis in our lives
when we fail to
understand the Gift
of the Mass.

1) Doubts about the mystery of the Real

Presence closes man to what is spiritual
and transcendental.
2) We are cut off from the vine of charity,
that is our spiritual and human life-source.
3) We then only “have eyes” for what is
material and temporal.
4) Fails to be the hub of our daily
activities and dealings with our
neighbor.
Some questions to ask:

1) Why do I go to Mass?

2) How do I go to
Mass?
3) What do I get from the
Mass?
4) Can I go to Mass and not
receive communion even if
I’m not aware of being in a
serious state of sin?
5) What do I think or say
when a member of my family
doesn’t receive Holy
Communion?
Preparing ourselves and our
Children

1) We cannot give what we

don’t have.

2) We must make the Mass

our Mass.

3) In order to make it our

Mass we must know and love
what the mystery contains.
Some suggestions…

1) Let’s not only attend Mass, let’s strive to

continually pray and live the Mass.
2) Try taking a “piece of this miracle” with us
and appreciating it in a concrete moment.
3) That moment could be our prayer, work,
rest and family life.
4) Strive to give that piece to one concrete
person daily.
Thank you…