THE EUCHARIST:

THE SOURCE and SUMMIT of OUR FAITH

   When we say that something is the source, we are saying that it is where something takes its course. For example, we talk about the source of water, referring to where the water takes its course. When we use the word “summit”, we refer to the highest or top-most end of something. For example, we talk about the summit of a mountain. The catechism of the Catholic church (1324-1327) states that “The Eucharist is the Source and Summit of the Christian life”. It is the “Source” because the Eucharist enables us to make present, and offer anew, Jesus Christ’s one redemptive sacrifice of Calvary which began with his passion ( CCC 1362-68; 1341).

   It is the summit because the Eucharist is truly a foretaste of heaven, in which we partake of Jesus’ body and blood as heaven and earth become most profoundly one. The Eucharist, therefore, stands at the center of our being as Christians. It is the heartbeat of our lives as Christians.

   Jesus himself, in the Gospel of John 6:54, says in very strong terms, “Amen, amen, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of man and drink of his blood, you will not have life in you”. As Christians of the Catholic church, we should not downplay or take the Eucharist for granted. Many people take the Eucharist for granted or just downplay its importance. This led to Paul O’Sullivan referring to this in his little book, “The Wonders of the Mass”, with these words: “The next greatest wonder is the indifference and ignorance of Catholics regarding Holy Mass.” He wonders aloud, ‘How is it that so many Catholics do not go to Mass?’

The Eucharist is our life, simply put…

Our life, because it comes from God and will go

back to God. The Eucharist is, therefore, our

“ Source and Summit”.

~ Father Venantius Nsame ~

“Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood has

eternal life, and I will raise him on the last day.

For my flesh is true food, and my blood is true drink.

Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood remains in

me and I in him. Just as the living Father sent me, and I

have life because of the Father, so also the one who feeds

on me will have life because of me.”

~ John 6: 54-57 ~

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   For additional information and resources, please visit the Diocese of Portland Maine website at https://portlanddiocese.org/Eucharist