Sts. John and Paul, Martyrs

The Eucharist makes the Church, uniting those who receive it more closely to Christ and to all the faithful in one body. As we reflect together, we remember that Communion renews, strengthens, and deepens the incorporation into the Church begun in Baptism. Receiving Christ’s Body and Blood also commits us to recognize Christ in the poorest of his brethren. The divisions that prevent Christians from sharing fully at the Lord’s table are painful, and they call us to pray earnestly for complete unity among all believers. The Church recognizes that Eastern Churches not in full communion possess true sacraments, especially the priesthood and Eucharist, while communities arising from the Reformation have not preserved the Eucharistic mystery in its fullness. In grave necessity, and under the conditions set by the Church, Catholic ministers may administer certain sacraments to other Christians who seek them freely and share the Catholic faith regarding them.

The Eucharist is a profound gift from Christ, celebrated as a sacred banquet in which Christ is received as food. It renews the memory of his Passion, fills the soul with grace, and gives us a pledge of the life to come. At the Last Supper, Jesus directed his disciples toward the fulfillment of the Passover in the kingdom of God, so each celebration of the Eucharist turns our gaze to him who is to come and nourishes our hope for heavenly glory. Although Christ is truly present in the Eucharist, his presence is veiled; therefore, we await his coming and pray, “Come, Lord Jesus.” For families seeking to grow in faith together, the Eucharist offers a precious sign of hope: the one bread, celebrated as the work of our redemption continues, is called the medicine of immortality, the antidote for death, and the food that makes us live forever in Jesus Christ.

The sacrament of confession invites us to face our sins honestly, take responsibility for them, and open ourselves again to God and to the communion of the Church, making a new future possible (CCC 1455). Confession of all mortal sins of which we are conscious after diligent self-examination is an essential part of the sacrament, and those aware of mortal sin ordinarily must receive sacramental absolution before receiving Holy Communion (CCC 1456-1457). Although confession of venial sins is not strictly necessary, the Church strongly recommends it because regular confession helps form our conscience, resist evil tendencies, receive Christ’s healing, and grow in the life of the Spirit (CCC 1458). True repentance also includes doing what we can to repair harm done to our neighbor and accepting penance that seeks our spiritual good. Through prayer, works of mercy, service, self-denial, sacrifice, and patient acceptance of the cross, we are configured more closely to Christ (CCC 1459-1460).