The of Holy Eucharist

UNIT 5, LESSON 4

Learning Goals Connection to the Catechism ӹӹ The Eucharist is the Sacrament in of the which we receive the Lord’s Body ӹӹ CCC 1322-1324 ӹӹ CCC 1374 and under the appearances of ӹӹ CCC 1328-1333 ӹӹ CCC 1391-1397 and . ӹӹ CCC 1337 ӹӹ CCC 1406-1409 ӹӹ The Eucharist fulfills our Lord’s promise to give us Himself, the ӹӹ CCC 1341 ӹӹ CCC 1412-1413 Bread of Life. ӹӹ CCC 1359-1368 ӹӹ CCC 1416 ӹӹ The Eucharist was instituted at the , the night before Vocabulary died. ӹӹ The Last Supper ӹӹ The Eucharist is spiritual food for ӹӹ The Eucharist the soul. ӹӹ ӹӹ The Eucharist is not a symbol but is ӹ Jesus ’s true flesh and blood. ӹ ӹӹ Breaking of the Bread ӹӹ The Eucharist is the “source and summit of the Christian life.” ӹӹ Memorial ӹӹ There are many titles for the ӹӹ Eucharist that help us better ӹӹ Mystery understand the Sacrament. ӹӹ

BIBLICAL TOUCHSTONES

And it happened that, while he was with them at Whoever eats my flesh and my blood has table, he took bread, said the , broke it, eternal life, and I will raise him on the last day. and gave it to them. With that their eyes were For my flesh is true food, and my blood is true opened and they recognized him, but he vanished . from their sight. JOHN 6:54-55 LUKE 24:30-31

559 Lesson Plan

Materials ӹӹ The Last Supper ӹӹ Titles for the Eucharist ӹӹ The Eucharist ӹӹ The Eucharist Fill-in-the-Blank

DAY ONE

The Last Supper EONARO A INCI C Warm-Up A. Project the image from The Last Supper (page 287) by Leonardo da Vinci. Give students several minutes to quietly view the art before you say or ask anything. Allow them to come up and stand closer to the image to examine details. B. Once several minutes have passed, ask your C S I students the following questions: ӹӹ What do you first notice about this work of art? ӹӹ What do you like about this work of art? ӹӹ How does this work of art make you feel? ӹӹ Where do the colors in the work of art draw your eye? Answers will vary. ӹӹ What is happening in this picture? It is the Last Supper. ӹӹ Who is the person in the middle of the painting? Jesus. ӹӹ Who are the other figures? The Apostles. ӹӹ Can you name any of the Apostles in this painting? From left to right: Bartholomew, James son of Alphaeus, Andrew, , Peter, John, Jesus in the center, Thomas, James the Greater, Philip, Matthew, Jude, Thaddeus, and Simon the Zealot. ӹӹ What happened at the Last Supper? It was the last meal shared by Jesus and His disciples and took place the night before He died on the Cross. This was the institution of the Holy Eucharist, where the bread and wine become Jesus’ real Body and Blood as spiritual food and drink for us.

560 © SOPHIA INSTITUTE FOR TEACHERS LESSON PLAN

C. Read aloud to your students John 6:48-57: “‘I am the bread of life. Your ancestors ate the manna in the desert, but they died; this is the bread that comes down from heaven so that one may eat it and not die. I am the living bread that came down from heaven; whoever eats this bread will live forever; and the bread that I will give is my flesh for the life of the world.’ The Jews quarreled among themselves, saying, ‘How can this man give us [his] flesh to eat?’ Jesus said to them, ‘Amen, amen, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you do not have life within you. 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.’” D. Ask your students the following questions: ӹӹ What did Jesus tell the crowd that He was? The bread of life, the living bread that came down from heaven. ӹӹ How did the crowd respond to Jesus’ teaching? They were confused and argued among themselves, asking how Jesus could give them His flesh to eat. ӹӹ How did Jesus respond to the confusion of the crowd? He explained further that whoever does not eat His flesh and drink His blood does not have life within them. ӹӹ What does Jesus say about His flesh and blood? It is true food and true drink. ӹӹ Overall, what do we understand Jesus to be teaching about in this passage? (Hint: We receive it every time we attend Mass.) The Eucharist, Jesus’ Body and Blood. E. Read aloud to your students :26-29: 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 , gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, “Drink from it, all of you, for this is my blood of the , which will be shed on behalf of many for the forgiveness of sins. I tell you, from now on I shall not drink this fruit of the vine until the day when I drink it with you new in the kingdom of my Father.” F. Ask your students the following questions: ӹӹ What is this passage the story of? The Last Supper. ӹӹ How does the painting of the Last Supper help illustrate this story? Accept reasoned answers. ӹӹ How are the painting of the Last Supper and the passage from Matthew related to Jesus’ teaching about the Bread of Life in John 6? At the Last Supper, Jesus transformed the bread and wine into His Body and Blood and gave it to His Apostles to eat and drink. Jesus’ teaching in John 6 was fulfilled at the Last Supper, when He made a for the forgiveness of sins.

Unit 5, lesson 4 561 LESSON PLAN

Activity A. Explain to your students that the Catechism of the describes the Eucharist as “the source and summit of the Christian life” (CCC 1324). The source of something is where it begins. Think of the source of a river, where the water begins to flow. The summit of something e as is its highest point. Think of the summit of a Read the following information about the Eucharist, then answer against eonsthe Catholic Faith. Catholics invites us to receive it much more the focus questions. are required to receive Communion often: every week, even every day once a year, but the Church warmly mountain, the very top peak. The Eucharist 8. What does increasing hecharity Eucharist in our is life the mean Body and When we receive Holy Communion, TBlood of Jesus Christ. The we grow closer to Christ. The 1. Whatat is ass, the Eucharist through the , Eucharist helps us avoid sin and is the source and summit of our faith. That transforms bread and wine into strengthens our charity. It helps the actual Body and Blood of Jesus us see the face of Jesus in the . What does2. an What increase happens in charity to the in bread our life and lead wine us atto ass Christ. This transformation is called poor. Just as real food nourishes means that our Christian faith begins with the transubstantiation. Even though the us and gives us strength, the bread and wine look and taste the Eucharist nourishes us spiritually same as they did before, they have and strengthens our souls so that Eucharist or flows out of it, and the Eucharist 10. How often are Catholics required to receive the Eucharist How often can 3. Whatbecome is transubstantiation Christ’s true Body and true we can live faithfully as . we receive it Blood. A desire for eternal life is placed within our hearts. When we receive is the greatest expression of our faith. In other 4. WhyThe are breadthe bread and andwine wine are not just symbols of Jesus’ Body and Blood the Eucharist, we are connected to symbols of Jesus’ Body and Blood. Heaven, the Blessed Virgin ary, At the Last Supper, Jesus was very words, the whole of the Christian life begins and all the angels and . clear. When He gave His Apostles the 5. Whatbread, does Hereceiving did not the say, Eucharist “This is a help sign us toThe do Catechism of the Catholic Church with the Eucharist and is directed toward the of my body.” Instead, He said, “This no. 134 explains that receiving the is my body.” Similarly, when He gave Eucharist often increases charity in His Apostles the cup of wine, He did our daily life. So what does increasing not say, “This is a sign of my blood.” charity in our daily life mean It Eucharist. 6. What does it mean that the Eucharist is spiritual food Instead, He said, “this is my blood.” means that we grow closer to Christ We can believe what Jesus said and see things in a different way — a because He is God. Therefore, we more positive and hopeful way. B. Have your students turn to The Eucharist (page know that the Holy Eucharist is the Seeing things in this way leads us to 7. What desire is placed in our hearts when we receive the Eucharist Body and . practice the values of the Kingdom of God and to avoid activities that go 288). Ask them to read the information with a partner and answer the focus questions.

Formative Assessment When students have finished, review and discuss the correct answers to The Eucharist.

DAY TWO Warm-Up A. Project Luke 24:30-31, and have a student stand and read it aloud: And it happened that, while he was with them at table, he took bread, said the blessing, broke it, and gave it to them. With that their eyes were opened and they recognized him, but he vanished from their sight. B. Explain to your students that this passage from Luke’s Gospel comes from a story called the Road to Emmaus. This story takes place on after Jesus has risen from the dead. Two of Jesus’ disciples are walking to a town outside of Jerusalem called Emmaus. Along the way, they meet a stranger and have a conversation with him about Jesus’ suffering and death three days before. The stranger then begins to teach the disciples about everything in the Scriptures that speaks of Jesus. When they reach their destination, the two disciples and the stranger gather together to break bread.

562 © SOPHIA INSTITUTE FOR TEACHERS LESSON PLAN

C. Ask your students the following questions: ӹӹ What did the person in this passage do while “at table” with the disciples? He took bread, said the blessing, broke it, and gave it to them. ӹӹ What do these actions sound like? The Mass. These are similar to the words the priest says during the . ӹӹ What happened after the breaking of the bread? The eyes of the disciples were opened, and they recognized the stranger they had been traveling with to be Jesus. Then He vanished from their sight. D. Explain to your students that one of the many titles for the Eucharist is the Breaking of the Bread. Just as with the disciples in this story, Jesus is revealed to us in the Breaking of the Bread, the Eucharist. When we participate in the Eucharist at every Mass, Jesus is made known to us. He is literally there with us, Body and Blood, Soul and Divinity. There are other important titles for the Eucharist. In this lesson, we are going to consider some of these titles.

Activity

Have your students turn to Titles for the Eucharist les o e as

eons First, read about some of the different titles for the Eucharist, “the work of God.” The work of God ol onon (page 291). Arrange students into pairs and trios. then complete the chart. is our salvation from sin. Through When we receive the Eucharist we the liturgy, Jesus continues the are united to Jesus Himself. We share Have each group read Titles for the Eucharist aswork of our salvation in His Church. in the one . All who le a oes ean When weWe receive take part the in Eucharist, this work when we receive the Eucharist participate we givereceive thanks theto God. Eucharist. TheEucharist word in the one bread and one cup. together and then fill in the information on the Eucharist comes from a Greek This makes us one . word, eucharisteinae sees, which means We become a common union, or “thanksgiving.”The word The mystery original does Greek not mean communion, united to Christ and chart together. Student should complete the word describeda problem the or main puzzle formemorial to be solved. of the Lord’seach other. of worshipInstead, in the it ancientrefers the JewishPassion great truthsand Resurrection graphic organizer by recording what each title Temple.of This God liturgy and our was salvation, called which ol ass Todah inare Hebrew, greater which than ourmeans ability to The word Mass comes from the “thanksgiving.”understand In the fully. Temple, God,Holy however,the and Divine Liturgyphrase “Ite missa est,” which means means and then drawing a picture to represent Jewish priestsinvites uswould to know offer Him a and His plan “Go, she the Church has been sent.” meal offor bread us andand makeswine. these mysteries These are the last words the priest present to us in the Eucharist in a says at every ass. This phrase gives eoal o e Los Passon an real, physical way. Sacred ysteriesThe sttutus the the mission uharst of Jesus N Himself. P We each title. Make markers and/or colored pencils eseon are called to make disciples of all sacrifi ce is made present to us again A memorial is a way of remembering the nations. Therefore, we are sent at every ass. available for students to complete the activity. the past. The word remember means forth to carry out this mission and “to make present again.” InHoly the Communion announce the Good News. Eucharist, Jesus’ sacrifi ce on the ol an ne L Cross is made present again to us. At The word liturgy originally meant the Last Supper, Jesus commanded a “public work” or a “service in the name of, or on behalf of, the people.” His Apostles, “Do this in memoryHoly ass of me.” Jesus was not simply asking In it means the Formative Assessment us not to forget Him. Rather, Jesus’ participation of the People of God in

When students have finished, review and discuss the correct answers to the chart. For each baptismal symbol, call on a few students to share and briefly explain their drawings.

Unit 5, lesson 4 563 LESSON PLAN

DAY THREE Warm-Up Show the Sophia SketchPad video on the Eucharist, found at SophiaSketchpad.org. Spend a few minutes discussing students’ reactions to the video. You might ask: ӹӹ What stood out to you about this video? ӹӹ What was the most memorable part? ӹӹ Were you surprised by anything?

Activity

e as llnelan A. Have your students turn to The Eucharist Fill-

. Diseaseeons and Fill in the blanks as you crept watch into the the video. world, and we in-the-Blank (page 294). Play the video again. b e c a m e i n c l i n e d t o w a r d .

10. So that1. Apeople t e v e r ycould a s sexperience , the forgiveness a of n d sin, God asked man to This time, have your students complete the s a c r i fi c ebecome ______the Body and Blood i n of t h Jesus e i r p l aChrist. c e .

11. When2. theIn theanimal sixth was chapter killed, of it thesuffered Gospel the of St. John, Jesus said: “I am the worksheet as they watch. meant for men. that came down from heaven; whoever eats this bread will ; and the bread that I will give is my 12. But animal sacrifi ces weren’t enough. f o r th They e l i f e couldo f t h e neverw o r l d pay .” for the ultimate offense man gave to God — an offense that deserves eternal B. Give your students a few minutes after the 3. Here Jesus is telling f r o us m Gthat o d .He will give His for us to eat. 13. In order to pay man’s debts and to conquer death, God came down video to finish writing their answers. from4. Heaven, At the became______, , the fi nal and meal paid Jesus the had price with for our sinsHis Apostles on the . before His Crucifi xion, He Jesus’ celebrated life, Death, the veryand fi rst a r e t h e ando n l y transformed r e a s o n H e a v ebread n i s o and p e n winet o u s .into His Body and Blood. C. When students have finished, review and 14. One reason we eat Christ’s Body is that we live by 5. At the Last Supper, an Christ d made His Apostles the . fi rst and commanded them to follow His example discuss the correct answers to The Eucharist 15. If this isa true n d c efor l e b our r a t e natural life, it makes sense f othat r a l lthe C h rLord i s t i a nwould s . c o m m u n i c a t e l i f e t o u s i n t h i s w a y . 6. To understand why Jesus gave us His fl esh to eat, we have to go back to Fill-in-the-Blank. 16. A l s o , i f wa na ds c o m m i t t e d b y e a t i n g , i t . makes sense that the remedy for sin would come to us through 7. They chose to listen . to rather than God when they ate fruit from the one and only tree God had told them not to eat. 17. Ultimately, Jesus teaches you to eat His fl esh because He wants to be 8. Adam and Eve used w i ttheir h y o u , a n d H e w a n t s y o u t o b eto u nturn i t e d theirw i t h back on Him. G o d , w h i c h i s c a l l e d . Assessment

18. Through Holy Communion, you and I receive God’s own , H i s o w n s t r e n g t h a n d p o w e r , c a l l e d A. On their own paper, have students write a . paragraph that responds to the following prompt: ӹӹ What would you say to someone who said the Eucharist is just a symbol for Jesus’ Body and Blood? B. When students have finished, their paragraphs for your own review.

564 © SOPHIA INSTITUTE FOR TEACHERS Unit 5,lesson 4

The Last Supper EONARO A INCI C

C S I 565 e as

eons Read the following information about the Eucharist, then answer the focus questions.

he Eucharist is the Body and When we receive Holy Communion, TBlood of Jesus Christ. The priest we grow closer to Christ. The at ass, through the Holy Spirit, Eucharist helps us avoid sin and transforms bread and wine into strengthens our charity. It helps the actual Body and Blood of Jesus us see the face of Jesus in the Christ. This transformation is called poor. Just as real food nourishes transubstantiation. Even though the us and gives us strength, the bread and wine look and taste the Eucharist nourishes us spiritually same as they did before, they have and strengthens our souls so that become Christ’s true Body and true we can live faithfully as Christians. Blood. A desire for eternal life is placed within our hearts. When we receive The bread and wine are not just the Eucharist, we are connected to symbols of Jesus’ Body and Blood. Heaven, the Blessed Virgin ary, At the Last Supper, Jesus was very and all the angels and saints. clear. When He gave His Apostles the bread, He did not say, “This is a sign The Catechism of the Catholic Church of my body.” Instead, He said, “This no. 134 explains that receiving the is my body.” Similarly, when He gave Eucharist often increases charity in His Apostles the cup of wine, He did our daily life. So what does increasing not say, “This is a sign of my blood.” charity in our daily life mean It Instead, He said, “this is my blood.” means that we grow closer to Christ We can believe what Jesus said and see things in a different way — a because He is God. Therefore, we more positive and hopeful way. know that the Holy Eucharist is the Seeing things in this way leads us to Body and Blood of Christ. practice the values of the Kingdom of God and to avoid activities that go

566 © SOPHIA INSTITUTE FOR TEACHERS Answer Key 1. It is the real Body and Blood of Jesus against the Catholic Faith. Catholics invites us to receive it much more Christ. are required to receive Communion often: every week, even every day once a year, but the Church warmly 2. By the Holy Spirit, the priest 1. What is the Eucharist transforms them into the actual Body and Blood of 2. What happens to the bread and wine at ass Jesus Christ. 3. The 3. What is transubstantiation transformation of the bread and wine into Jesus’ 4. Why are the bread and wine not just symbols of Jesus’ Body and Blood Body and Blood. 4. At the Last Supper Jesus took the 5. What does receiving the Eucharist help us to do bread and wine and said, “This is my body” and 6. What does it mean that the Eucharist is spiritual food “This is my blood.” We can believe Jesus because He 7. What desire is placed in our hearts when we receive the Eucharist is God. 5. Grow closer to Christ, avoid sin, strengthen our charity, and see the face of Jesus in the poor. 6. Just as real food nourishes us and gives us strength, the Eucharist nourishes us spiritually and strengthens our souls so that we can live faithfully as Christians. 7. A desire for eternal life with Mary and all the angels and saints in Heaven with God.

Unit 5, lesson 4 567 Answer Key 8. It means we grow closer to Christ 8. What does increasing charity in our life mean and see things a

different way — a more positive and . What does an increase in charity in our life lead us to hopeful way.

9. Practicing the values of the 10. How often are Catholics required to receive the Eucharist How often can Kingdom of God we receive it and avoiding values and lifestyles that go against the Catholic faith. 10. Catholics are required to receive the Eucharist once a year, but we can receive it more often, every week or even every day.

568 © SOPHIA INSTITUTE FOR TEACHERS les o e as

eons First, read about some of the different titles for the Eucharist, then complete the chart.

as When we receive the Eucharist, we give thanks to God. The word Eucharist comes from a Greek word, eucharistein, which means “thanksgiving.” The original Greek word described the main form of worship in the ancient Jewish Temple. This liturgy was called Todah in Hebrew, which means “thanksgiving.” In the Temple, the Jewish would offer a sacred meal of bread and wine.

eoal o e Los Passon an The sttut the uharst N P eseon A memorial is a way of remembering sacrifi ce is made present to us again the past. The word remember means at every ass. “to make present again.” In the Eucharist, Jesus’ sacrifi ce on the ol an ne L Cross is made present again to us. At The word liturgy originally meant the Last Supper, Jesus commanded a “public work” or a “service in the His Apostles, “Do this in memory name of, or on behalf of, the people.” of me.” Jesus was not simply asking In Christian tradition it means the us not to forget Him. Rather, Jesus’ participation of the People of God in

Unit 5, lesson 4 569 “the work of God.” The work of God ol onon is our salvation from sin. Through When we receive the Eucharist we the liturgy, Jesus continues the are united to Jesus Himself. We share work of our salvation in His Church. in the one body of Christ. All who We take part in this work when we receive the Eucharist participate receive the Eucharist. in the one bread and one cup. This makes us one People of God. ae sees We become a common union, or The word mystery does not mean communion, united to Christ and a problem or puzzle to be solved. each other. Instead, it refers the great truths of God and our salvation, which ol ass are greater than our ability to The word Mass comes from the Latin understand fully. God, however, phrase “Ite missa est,” which means invites us to know Him and His plan “Go, she the Church has been sent.” for us and makes these mysteries These are the last words the priest present to us in the Eucharist in a says at every ass. This phrase gives real, physical way. us the mission of Jesus Himself. We are called to make disciples of all the nations. Therefore, we are sent forth to carry out this mission and announce the Good News.

570 © SOPHIA INSTITUTE FOR TEACHERS Answer Key 1. Thanksgiving

2. Making present le a oes ean again Jesus’ Eucharist on the Cross

3. The participation emorial of the Lord’s Passion and Resurrection of the People of God in the work of God, which is Holy and our salvation from sin

Sacred ysteries 4. The great truths of God and our salvation which Holy Communion are greater than our ability to fully understand Holy ass 5. When we receive the Eucharist we are united to Christ and to each other

6. Being sent forth to carry out the mission of the Church and announce the Good News

Unit 5, lesson 4 571 Answer Key 1. Bread/wine 2. Living bread/live e as llnelan forever/flesh

3. Body eons Fill in the blanks as you watch the video.

4. Last Supper/Mass 1. A t e v e r y a s s , a n d become the Body and Blood of Jesus Christ. 5. Priests/Mass 2. In the sixth chapter of of St. John, Jesus said: “I am the 6. Adam/Eve that came down from heaven; whoever eats this bread will ; and the bread that I will give is my 7. Satan f o r t h e l i f e o f t h e w o r l d .”

8. Free will/Original 3. Here Jesus is telling us that He will give His for Sin us to eat. 4. At the ______, the fi nal meal Jesus had with His Apostles before His Crucifi xion, He celebrated the very fi rst and transformed bread and wine into His Body and Blood.

5. At the Last Supper, Christ made His Apostles the fi rst and commanded them to follow His example a n d c e l e b r a t e f o r a l l C h r i s t i a n s .

6. To understand why Jesus gave us His fl esh to eat, we have to go back to a n d .

7. They chose to listen to rather than God when they ate fruit from the one and only tree God had told them not to eat.

8. Adam and Eve used their to turn their back on G o d , w h i c h i s c a l l e d .

572 © SOPHIA INSTITUTE FOR TEACHERS Answer Key 9. Death/sin

10. Animals . Disease and crept into the world, and we b e c a m e i n c l i n e d t o w a r d . 11. Punishment 10. So that people could experience the forgiveness of sin, God asked man to 12. Banishment s a c r i fi c e ______i n t h e i r p l a c e . 11. When the animal was killed, it suffered the 13. Man/Cross/ meant for men. Resurrection 12. But animal sacrifi ces weren’t enough. They could never pay for the 14. Eating/drinking ultimate offense man gave to God — an offense that deserves eternal f r o m G o d . 15. Eternal 13. In order to pay man’s debts and to conquer death, God came down 16. / from Heaven, became , and paid the price for our sins on the . Jesus’ life, Death, and Eating a r e t h e o n l y r e a s o n H e a v e n i s o p e n t o u s .

17. United 14. One reason we must eat Christ’s Body is that we live by a n d . 18. Life/grace 15. If this is true for our natural life, it makes sense that the Lord would c o m m u n i c a t e l i f e t o u s i n t h i s w a y .

16. A l s o , i f w a s c o m m i t t e d b y e a t i n g , i t makes sense that the remedy for sin would come to us through .

17. Ultimately, Jesus teaches you to eat His fl esh because He wants to be w i t h y o u , a n d H e w a n t s y o u t o b e u n i t e d w i t h Him.

18. Through Holy Communion, you and I receive God’s own , H i s o w n s t r e n g t h a n d p o w e r , c a l l e d .

UNIT ESSON IN

Unit 5, lesson 4 573