http://www.catholictradition.org/Eucharist/holy-eucharist.htm
The Messiah
would come from
the
line of Shem
In Gen. 9:26, Noah addresses his three
sons and blesses Shem:
He also said,
"Praise be to the Lord,
the
God of Shem!"
(Gen. 9:26a, NIV)
This is considered to be a
Messianic prophecy,
in that it is the first indication of the
lineage of the Messiah,
that he would be a descendant of Shem, and not
Shem's brothers, Japheth or Ham.
The Old Testament, especially in the
book of Genesis,
gives a series of prophecies
about the
lineage of the Messiah.
Gen. 9:26 is viewed as being the first of those prophecies.
One can never affirm or assert too strongly the fact that
the
Blessed Sacrament
is
Jesus Christ,
a
Divine Thing,
the glorified Body and
Blood of Christ,
the total Person of
Christ
both God and Man,
under the
consecrated elements of
bread and wine,
so that the
fullness
of Our Lord’s human nature,
as well as His Divinity,
is present under the form of the
sacred species,
in an abiding and
permanent way after Consecration.
The bread and wine are changed
into the
Body and Blood of Christ
– full stop.
While they were eating,
Jesus took bread,
said the blessing,
broke it, and giving it to
His disciples said,
"Take and eat; this is My Body."
Then He took a cup, gave thanks,
and gave it to them, saying,
“Drink from it, all of you, for this is
My Blood of the covenant,
which will be shed
on behalf of many for the
forgiveness of sins."
(Matthew 26: 26-28)
THE REAL PRESENCE
Catholics celebrate the Eucharist during every Mass.
At one point during the Mass,
you will see a Catholic priest say prayers
over bread and wine; the
Holy Spirit's power
cause them
to become the
Body and Blood of
Jesus Christ
Catholics rightfully believe that the
whole Christ is truly present
-- body, blood, soul, and divinity --
under the
appearances of bread and wine.
To learn more about this, read this.
To find out more about
Eucharistic miracles,
go to this website, which was designed,
written, and
published by Blessed Carlo Acutis.
PREPARING FOR THE SACRAMENT OF
HOLY COMMUNION
Children prepare for the Sacrament of
Holy Communion
by attending
religious education classes
Adults also prepare
for this Sacrament by
attending
religious education courses
Catholics have the chance to
receive Holy Communion daily;
see our Mass schedule
THE FAITHFUL WHO ARE HOMEBOUND
If you or a loved one is checked into a hospital or a nursing home, please register as a Catholic. When you do so, a Eucharistic Minister will know to bring you Holy Communion. Eucharistic Ministers also visit the homebound. Holy Family priests will visit those in the hospital, in nursing homes, and at home for confessions. Please call the Parish Office at 335-2385 for more information or to arrange for a visit.
GUIDELINES FOR THE RECEPTION OF COMMUNION
For Catholics
As Catholics, we fully participate in the celebration of the Eucharist when we receive Holy Communion. We are encouraged to receive Communion devoutly and frequently. In order to be properly disposed to receive Communion, participants should not be conscious of grave sin and normally should have fasted for one hour. A person who is conscious of grave sin is not to receive the Body and Blood of the Lord without prior sacramental confession except for a grave reason where there is no opportunity for confession. In this case, the person is to be mindful of the obligation to make an act of perfect contrition, including the intention of confessing as soon as possible (Code of Canon Law, canon 916). A frequent reception of the Sacrament of Penance is encouraged for all.
For our fellow Christians
We welcome our fellow Christians to this celebration of the Eucharist as our brothers and sisters. We pray that our common baptism and the action of the Holy Spirit in this Eucharist will draw us closer to one another and begin to dispel the sad divisions which separate us. We pray that these will lessen and finally disappear, in keeping with Christ’s prayer for us “that they may all be one” (John 17:21).
Because Catholics believe that the celebration of the Eucharist is a sign of the reality of the oneness of faith, life, and worship, member of those churches with whom we are not yet fully united are ordinarily not admitted to Holy Communion.
Eucharistic sharing in exceptional circumstances by other Christians requires permission according to the directives of the diocesan bishop and the provisions of canon law (canon 844 § 4). Members of the Orthodox Churches, the Assyrian Church of the East, and the Polish National Catholic Church are urged to respect the discipline of their own Churches. According to Roman Catholic discipline, the Code of Canon Law does not object to the reception of communion by Christians of these Churches (canon 844 § 3).
For those not receiving Holy Communion
All who are not receiving
Holy Communion are encouraged
to express in their hearts a
prayerful desire for unity with the
Lord Jesus and with one another.