Seven Pillars of Eucharist “Behold, I stand at the door and knock; if anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and eat with him, and he with me.” [Rev 3:20] FIRST PILLAR: The Vatican Council II Church fathers recognized the celebration of Holy Eucharist to be the “. . . source and summit of the whole of the Church's worship and of the Christian life”. [Vatican II] The “living bread which came down from heaven” [Jn 6:51] is the divine school in which disciples of the Lord grow in their love for one another and ministry in his name. SECOND PILLAR: Eucharist means “thanksgiving” (Gk. eucharistia). Our celebration of thanksgiving foreshadows heaven's nuptial banquet to which we, as faithful disciples, are invited: “Blessed are those who are invited to the marriage supper of the Lamb.” [Jn 19:9] THIRD PILLAR: Our Savior who ascended to heaven following Pentecost truly remains with us in a profoundly real and substantial way in the mysterium of consecrated bread and wine. Of the innumerable aspects of the mystery of the Mass, one reality supersedes all other: Jesus Christ offered up his body and blood for us on the cross. We participate in his “once for all” sacrifice in every Mass. FOURTH PILLAR: Because God has conferred upon the Eucharist a power to change the faithful into the likeness of Christ from “one degree of glory to another” [2Cor 3:18], the Church -- through the Sacrament of Holy Orders -- perpetually safeguards the Mass and the distribution of this divine gift, the “living bread which came down from heaven”. [Jn 6:58] FIFTH PILLAR: The Blessed Eucharist commands reverence and devotion. Because all Sundays are ‘little Easters’ -- the ‘day of rest’ which crowns the creation and redemption of the world in Christ Jesus [Gen 2:2-3] -- every Mass is a heavenly witness of our love of the Lord’s Day. Frequent reception of the Eucharist perfects our union with Christ. SIXTH PILLAR: According to Vatican Council II, all forms of prayer, praise, worship, adoration, intercession and hymns have their “origin and consummation” in the Mass. All journeys of faith lead to and are sustained by the Mass. How you pray and serve God outside of Mass truly reveals your beliefs about the Mass itself. Thus the Sacrament of Reconciliation is closely linked to worthily receiving Holy Eucharist. SEVENTH PILLAR: The Holy Mass calls forth a people holy to God. The Eucharist signifies and wonderfully effects our participation in the divine life of the Holy Trinity. It perfects our communion in Christ, the hallmark attribute of our Catholic (universal) Church. Holy Eucharist absolutely sustains us spiritually and physically. Discerning worthily the Body and Blood of the Lord [2Cor 11: 28-29] encompasses human health and well-being in this world and indeed, for those who have great faith, the supreme reward of the Beatific Vision in heaven. +++
Seven Pillars of Eucharist