20120507 We receive Jesus 我們領受耶穌
The Holy Eucharist is the greatest of all sacraments. All the other sacraments give grace, but in the Holy Eucharist we receive the source of grace, Christ Jesus Himself.
According to the Baltimore Catechism, “The Holy Eucharist is a sacrament and a sacrifice. In the Holy Eucharist, under the appearances of bread and wine, the Lord Christ is contained, offered, and received.”
The form of the sacrament is the words of institution: “This is My Body,” and “This is the chalice of My Blood.” Bread and wine constitute the matter of the sacrament. The minister of Holy Eucharist is the priest.
Holy Eucharist increases sanctifying grace in the soul. According to Father Bennet Kelley, CP, the sacramental grace of Holy Eucharist “nourishes our love of God and one another and helps to overcome our natural self-love and selfishness.”
We can focus on the Holy Eucharist on three levels or in three ways: sacrifice, communion, and presence.
Sacrifice-sacrament
According to the Baltimore Catechism, “The Mass is the sacrifice of the New Law in which Christ, through the ministry of the priest, offers Himself to God in an unbloody manner under the appearances of bread and wine.”
“The Mass is the same sacrifice as the sacrifice of the cross because in the Mass the victim is the same and the principal priest is the same: Jesus Christ.” Also, both have the same purposes: to adore, to give thanks, to implore, and to atone.
The difference between the Mass and the cross is the manner. The sacrifice of the cross was offered in a bloody manner, and the sacrifice of the Mass is offered in an unbloody manner. On the cross Christ merited grace for us, whereas at Mass He applies grace to us.
In catechism class it is very beneficial to explain the different parts of the Mass to the students. You are invited to read four past articles (Feb. 1, 2010 to March 1, 2010) of this column on the different parts of the Mass at my website: www.fatheranthonyho.ca.
Communion-sacrament
Jesus becomes our food in Holy Communion. On our part, we must prepare our soul and body to receive Him properly.
The Baltimore Catechism lists the basic requirements for the proper reception of Communion: to be free from mortal sin, to have a right intention, and to obey the Church’s laws on the fast required before Holy Communion out of reverence for the Body and Blood of Our Divine Lord.
To receive Holy Communion in a state of mortal sin is a grave sin of sacrilege. Those in mortal sin should go to confession before receiving Holy Communion.
The amount of grace we receive in Holy Communion is affected by our disposition. We should always strive to approach Jesus in Holy Communion with greater faith, love, and devotion. After receiving Communion, we should not neglect to make a proper thanksgiving.
Catholics are obliged to receive Communion at Easter time and when in danger of death. However, the Church encourages us to receive Communion often, even daily, for Holy Communion is the greatest aid to holiness of life.
Presence-sacrament
At the consecration, the entire substance of the bread and wine are changed into the Body And blood of Christ. This change is called “transubstantiation.” After the consecration, only the appearances of bread and wine remain. The substance of a thing is what it is, whereas the appearance is what it appears to be to the senses (e.g. colour, taste, weight, and, shape).
Jesus is truly present in our churches. We should show our love and gratitude by visiting Him often, by reverence in church, and by participating in Eucharistic devotions.
聖體是七件聖事中最尊貴的。所有的聖事都給予恩寵，但在聖體聖事，我們更領受恩寵的泉源—–耶穌基督。
「博迪模天主教要理」寫道：「聖體是聖事和聖祭。在聖體中，主基督在餅酒的形下被保存、奉獻、和領受。」
聖體聖事的「形」是成聖體聖血的經文：「這就是我的身體」和「這一杯就是我的血」。聖事的「質」是麵餅和葡萄酒。聖事的施行者是司鐸(神父) 。
聖體聖事增加靈魂的寵愛。苦難會會士本篤.加里神父教導：聖體的特別聖事恩寵滋養我們對天主和對近人的愛，並幫助我們克勝本性的自私與自愛。
我們可以從三方面去理解聖體聖事: 聖祭、聖體、和臨在。
聖祭的聖事
「博迪模天主教要理」寫道：「彌撒是新約的祭獻；當中，主基督藉着司鐸的職務，以不流血的方式，在餅酒的形下，奉獻自己給天主。」
彌撒和十字架的祭獻是同一的祭獻，因為都有同一的祭品和司祭—-耶穌基督。此外，彌撒和十字架的祭獻都有同樣的目的，就是：欽崇、感恩、求恩、和贖罪。
彌撒和十字架的差異在於形式。十字架的祭獻是以流血方式舉行，而彌撒聖祭是以不流血的方式舉行。在十字架上，主基督為我們賺得聖寵；而在彌撒中，祂把聖寵分施給我們。
在道理班，講解彌撒的程序和不同的部份對學生將大有俾益。二Ｏ一Ｏ年二月一日至三月一日的文章，我們曾談及彌撒的程序，大家可到我的網站www.fatheranthonyho.ca灠閱。
聖體的聖事
在聖體中，主耶穌作我們的食糧。我們應該在心靈和肉體上作準備，好能妥善地領受主耶穌。
「博迪模天主教要理」列出妥善領聖體的基本條件: 沒有大罪、有正當的意向、並遵守教會有關守聖體齋的規定，以尊敬耶穌的體血。
帶着大罪去領聖體是褻聖的大罪。有大罪的人必需先妥辦告解，然後才可領聖體。
領聖體所得到聖寵的多寡與領受者的熱心程度有直接關係。我們應努力懷着更大的信德、愛德、和敬禮去領聖體。領聖體後，總別忘記作適當的謝恩祈禱。
天主教徒在每年的復活期間和有死亡的危險時都有嚴重的本份去領聖體。但聖教會鼓勵教友要勤領聖體，甚致每日都去領，因為聖體是成聖最大的幫助。
臨在的聖事
在成聖體時，整個麵餅和葡萄酒的本質都變成耶穌的身體和寶血。在成聖體後，只有麵餅和葡萄酒的外形保留。「本質」是指出一件東西是什麽，而「外形」則是指感官對那東西所能體驗到的，例如: 顏色、味道、重量、和外形。
主耶穌真真正正臨在於我們的聖堂內。我們應藉着朝拜聖體、在聖堂內尊敬、和參與敬禮聖體的活動來表達我們的敬愛與感恩。