Exploring the Eucharist with Sacred Art

UNIT 5, LESSON 1

Learning Goals Connection to the ӹӹ The narrative of the and Catechism of the the Institution of the Eucharist help us Catholic Church to understand the source and summit ӹӹ CCC 1337-1344 of our Catholic Faith, the Blessed Sacrament. ӹӹ The Eucharist is the true Body and Vocabulary Blood of Jesus Christ, who is truly ӹӹ and substantially present under the ӹӹ The Eucharist appearances of bread and wine. ӹӹ The Paschal Mystery ӹӹ We receive the Eucharist in Holy ӹӹ Mannerism Communion as spiritual food at each and every Mass.

BIBLICAL TOUCHSTONES

When the hour came, he took his place at table “You call me ‘teacher’ and ‘master,’ and rightly so, with the apostles. He said to them, “I have eagerly for indeed I am. If I, therefore, the master and desired to eat this Passover with you before I teacher, have washed your feet, you ought to suffer, for, I tell you, I shall not eat it [again] until wash one another’s feet. I have given you a model there is fulfillment in the kingdom of God.” Then to follow, so that as I have done for you, you he took a cup, gave thanks, and said, “Take this should also do.” and share it among yourselves; for I tell you [that] JOHN 13:13-15 from this time on I shall not drink of the fruit of the vine until the kingdom of God comes.” Then he took the bread, said the blessing, broke it, and gave it to them, saying, “This is my body, which will be given for you; do this in memory of me.” And likewise the cup after they had eaten, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood, which will be shed for you.”

LUKE 22:14-20

237 Lesson Plan

Materials ӹӹ The Last Supper ӹӹ Christ’s Claims and Commandments ӹӹ The Scriptural Rosary

DAY ONE Warm-Up A. Project an image of The Last Supper (page The Last Supper 125) by Jacapo Bassano. 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: 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 How do the colors in the work of art draw your eye? ӹӹ What is happening in this picture? It is the Last Supper. The artist, Jacapo Bassano, painted in a style called called Mannerism. This style of painting uses a lot of exaggerated postures and complicated movement to draw the viewers eye around the painting. What sort of movement do you see in this painting? How does this movement draw your attention to different things?

238 © SOPHIA INSTITUTE FOR TEACHERS LESSON PLAN

Activity

Put students in small groups and have them turn to e Last er

The Last Supper (page 126). Have them discuss the The Last Supper, by Jacapo Bassano (c. 1546)

questions with each other. During this time, focus iretions Take some time to quietly view and refl ect on the art. Let yourself be inspired in any way that happens naturally. Then think about the questions below, and on keeping students intent on the artwork and the discuss them with your classmates. discussion questions, letting their conversations go onersation estions 1. What Biblical event is depicted in this painting? What evidence from the painting tells in unexpected ways. you this? 2. Where does your eye go when you look at this painting?

3. How would you describe the Apostles in this painting? What can you tell about them from their clothing, gestures, etc.?

4. Try to identify the various fi gures in the painting. Which fi gure is Jesus? Which fi gure is St. Peter? Which fi gure is John the Beloved Apostle? Which fi gure is Judas? What makes Formative Assessment you think so for each of these fi gures?

5. What do you notice on the table? What evidence from the painting tells you that Jesus A. Circulate among the groups, listening to their and His Apostles were celebrating a Passover meal together? 6. Read John 13:21-30. What moment in the story has the artist captured in this painting? discussions, keeping them on task, and offering Identify the various parts of the Gospel story in the painting 7. What do you notice at the foot of the table in the very front and bottom of the painting? Read John 13:1-20. What happened in this story from John’s Gospel? How is this insights or clarification where needed. refl ected in the painting? B. Before moving on to the next activity, have each group write one question they would ask the

artist about his painting and turn it in.

DAY TWO Warm-Up Project once again an image of The Last Supper by Jacapo Bassano and read aloud a few of the most interesting questions offered by the student groups the previous day. Allow students to share their reactions and other personal responses to the art.

Activity A. Have students open their workbooks to the art, and have them skim over the questions they discussed the previous day. Then call on groups in turn to share their answers to each of the questions. Conclude the discussion with the question of how the artist probably wanted the people who viewed his painting to feel. B. Explain to your students that at the Last Supper Jesus gave to us His Body and Blood to eat and to drink so that we might be saved from sin. This is called the Eucharist. The Eucharist is the true Body and Blood of Jesus Christ, who is truly and substantially present under the appearances of bread and wine. We receive the Eucharist in Holy Communion at each and every Mass as spiritual food. As we will learn in this unit, Jesus began to prepare us to receive Him in the Eucharist from the very beginning of Salvation History and in through His public ministry, culminating in institution of the Eucharist at the Last Supper and in His sacrifice on the Cross. Jesus is the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world. Christ’s work of redemption which we celebrate and receive in the Eucharist is called the Paschal Mystery.

Unit 5, lesson 1 239 LESSON PLAN

C. Have students turn to Christ’s Claims and rists lais an oanents Commandments (page 127). In groups, have

iretions Read from the Gospel of Luke and then complete the chart with Christ’s Claims made by Jesusclaims during and commandsCommands during the made Last bySupper Jesus and during the Institutionthe of the the Last SupperEucharist. Institution of the Eucharist students read Luke 22:14-20 and complete the 1. 1. Le e Last er When the hour came, he took his place at table with the apostles. He said accompanying activity. 2. to them, “I have eagerly desired2. to eat this Passover with you before I suffer, for, I tell you, I shall not eat it [again] until there is fulfi llment in the kingdom of God.” Then he took a cup, gave thanks, and said, “Take this 3. and share it among yourselves; for I tell you [that] from this time on I shall not drink of the fruit of the vine until the kingdom of God comes.” Then he took the bread, said the blessing, broke it, and gave it to them, saying, 4. Formative Assessment “This is my body, which will be given for you; do this in memory of me.” And likewise the cup after they had eaten, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood, which will be shed for you.” 5. When complete, review and discuss the answers to the activity on Christ’s Claims and Your refl ections on Christ’s claims Your refl ections on Christ’s commands Commandments with your students.

e ritral osar

iretions Refl ect on each scriptural passage as you pray the Rosary.

e it Linos Mster And likewise the cup after they had eaten, e nstittion o te arist saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood, which will be shed for you.” DAY THREE At the last supper, Jesus instructs us to (Luke 22:20) remember him in the celebration of the Eucharist. HAIL MARY… A. Before class begins, familiarize yourself with OUR FATHER… For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the death of the Lord Before the feast of Passover, Jesus knew until he comes. (1 Corinthians 11:26) that his hour had come to pass from this world to the Father. He loved his own in the the 10 scriptural references in the decade of the HAIL MARY… world and he loved them to the end. (John “I pray not only for them, but also for those 13:1) who will believe in me through their word, HAIL MARY… so that they may all be one … that the world Fifth Luminous Mystery. may believe that you sent me.” (John 17:20-21) “My appointed time draws near; in your house I shall celebrate the Passover with HAIL MARY… my disciples.” (Matthew 26:18b) Now you are Christ’s body, and individually parts of it. (1 Corinthians 12:27) B. Ask students to turn to The Scriptural Rosary HAIL MARY… “I have eagerly desired to eat this Passover HAIL MARY… with you before I suffer, for, I tell you, I shall For in one Spirit we were all baptized into not eat it [again] until there is fulfi llment in (page 129). Open class with a scriptural one body, whether Jews or Greeks, slaves or the kingdom of God.” (Luke 22:15-16) free persons, and we were all given to drink HAIL MARY… of one Spirit. (1 Corinthians 12:13) Then he took the bread, said the blessing, decade of the Rosary: The Fifth Luminous HAIL MARY… broke it, and gave it to them, saying, “This If [one] part suffers, all the parts suffer with is my body, which will be given for you; do it; if one part is honored, all the parts share this in memory of me.” (Luke 22:19) its joy. (1 Corinthians 12:26) Mystery, pertaining to the Institution of the HAIL MARY… HAIL MARY… GLORY BE… Eucharist. C. Discuss the unifying themes of the 10 scriptural passages that accompany the USCCB’s rendering of the Fifth Luminous Mystery.

240 © SOPHIA INSTITUTE FOR TEACHERS The Last Supper

Unit 5, lesson 1 241 Answer Key 1. The Last Supper. The elements of e Last er the Last Supper

are all present: The Last Supper, by Jacapo Bassano (c. 1546) bread, wine, and

Jesus has gathered iretions Take some time to quietly view and refl ect on the art. Let yourself be inspired with His Twelve in any way that happens naturally. Then think about the questions below, and discuss them with your classmates. Apostles in the Upper Room. onersation estions

2. Accept reasoned 1. What Biblical event is depicted in this painting? What evidence from the painting tells answers. you this? 2. Where does your eye go when you look at this painting? 3. They are clothed 3. How would you describe the Apostles in this painting? What can you tell about them plainly, barefoot, from their clothing, gestures, etc.?

like simple 4. Try to identify the various fi gures in the painting. Which fi gure is Jesus? Which fi gure is St. Peter? Which fi gure is John the Beloved Apostle? Which fi gure is Judas? What makes fishermen. They you think so for each of these fi gures? also seem to 5. What do you notice on the table? What evidence from the painting tells you that Jesus be agitated, and His Apostles were celebrating a Passover meal together? discussing 6. Read John 13:21-30. What moment in the story has the artist captured in this painting? Identify the various parts of the Gospel story in the painting something. 7. What do you notice at the foot of the table in the very front and bottom of the painting? 4. Jesus is in the Read John 13:1-20. What happened in this story from John’s Gospel? How is this refl ected in the painting? very center of the painting. Peter could be multiple figures in the painting: the figure directly to Jesus’ left or the figure in the bottom front left of the painting. Accept reasoned answers. John the Beloved Apostle is seated directly in front of Jesus. Judas is the darkly clothed person to the left who is taking a drink from his wine glass, seemingly paying little attention to what is going on around him.

5. Students may note: lamb, fruit, bread, wine. There are also several knives. Students may note that the lamb is a symbol of the Old Covenant; Jesus is the “Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world” (John 1:29b). At the end of Jesus’ public ministry, approaching the hour He would depart from this world, “the feast of Unleavened Bread, called the Passover, was drawing near” (Luke 22:1). The Passover was the principle Jewish feast of the Old Testament and had been instituted to commemorate the Jews’ liberation from Egyptian slavery and the fulfillment

(continued)

242 © SOPHIA INSTITUTE FOR TEACHERS Answer Key (continued) of God’s promise to Abraham that He would establish a people uniquely His. By the same covenant, this same people would eventually come into possession of the Promised Land. The Eucharist is a memorial of the Paschal event. He is the Lamb slain by His own trusted people. The Eucharist has become the Passover Lamb for all Christians. Jesus told them: “I have eagerly desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer.” Christ foreshadows His Passion, which demonstrates that He is the Lamb to be sacrificed for our salvation. The bread and wine will become the Body and Blood of Jesus. Jesus said whoever “eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise him on the last day (John 6:54).

6. The painting depicts the dramatic moment when Jesus has just announced that one of the Twelve will betray Him. They are all astonished and wonder who among them will betray Jesus. Read John 13:21-30.

7. A water basin and jug. In John 13:1-20, Jesus washes the Apostle’s feet as a model of service to others. It is here that Jesus says “If I, therefore, the master and teacher, have washed your feet, you ought to wash one another’s feet. I have given you a model to follow, so that as I have done for you, you should also do.” The water basin and jug tells us that in this painting, Jesus had recently washed His Apostles feet, before the current scene depicted. Also, the fact that the Apostles are all barefoot could be referring back to this moment.

Unit 5, lesson 1 243 rists lais an oanents

iretions Read from the Gospel of Luke and then complete the chart with Christ’s claims and commands during the Last Supper and the Institution of the Eucharist.

Le e Last er When the hour came, he took his place at table with the apostles. He said to them, “I have eagerly desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer, for, I tell you, I shall not eat it [again] until there is fulfi llment in the kingdom of God.” Then he took a cup, gave thanks, and said, “Take this and share it among yourselves; for I tell you [that] from this time on I shall not drink of the fruit of the vine until the kingdom of God comes.” Then he took the bread, said the blessing, broke it, and gave it to them, saying, “This is my body, which will be given for you; do this in memory of me.” And likewise the cup after they had eaten, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood, which will be shed for you.”

244 © SOPHIA INSTITUTE FOR TEACHERS Answer Key Claims made by Jesus during the Last Claims made by Jesus during Commands made by Jesus during the Supper: the Last Supper Institution of the Eucharist

1. Luke 22:15: “I have 1. 1. eagerly desired to eat this Passover 2. 2. with you before I suffer.”

3. 2. Luke 22:16: “for, I tell you, I shall not

eat it [again] until 4. there is fulfillment in the kingdom of 5. God.”

3. Luke 22:18: “from this time on I shall Your refl ections on Christ’s claims Your refl ections on Christ’s commands not drink of the fruit of the vine until the kingdom of God comes.”

4. Luke 22:19: “Then he took the bread, said the blessing, broke it, and gave it to them, saying, ‘This is my body, which will be given for you.”

5. Luke 22:20: “This cup is the new covenant in my blood, which will be shed for you.”

Commands made by Jesus during the Institution of the Eucharist:

1. Luke 22:17: “Take this and share it among yourselves.”

2. Luke 22:19: “[D]o this in memory of me.”

Unit 5, lesson 1 245 e ritral osar

iretions Refl ect on each scriptural passage as you pray the Rosary.

e it Linos Mster And likewise the cup after they had eaten, e nstittion o te arist saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood, which will be shed for you.” At the last supper, Jesus instructs us to (Luke 22:20) remember him in the celebration of the Eucharist. HAIL MARY…

OUR FATHER… For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the death of the Lord Before the feast of Passover, Jesus knew until he comes. (1 Corinthians 11:26) that his hour had come to pass from this world to the Father. He loved his own in the HAIL MARY… world and he loved them to the end. (John “I pray not only for them, but also for those 13:1) who will believe in me through their word, HAIL MARY… so that they may all be one … that the world may believe that you sent me.” (John 17:20-21) “My appointed time draws near; in your house I shall celebrate the Passover with HAIL MARY… my disciples.” (Matthew 26:18b) Now you are Christ’s body, and individually HAIL MARY… parts of it. (1 Corinthians 12:27) “I have eagerly desired to eat this Passover HAIL MARY… with you before I suffer, for, I tell you, I shall For in one Spirit we were all baptized into not eat it [again] until there is fulfi llment in one body, whether Jews or Greeks, slaves or the kingdom of God.” (Luke 22:15-16) free persons, and we were all given to drink HAIL MARY… of one Spirit. (1 Corinthians 12:13) Then he took the bread, said the blessing, HAIL MARY… broke it, and gave it to them, saying, “This If [one] part suffers, all the parts suffer with is my body, which will be given for you; do it; if one part is honored, all the parts share this in memory of me.” (Luke 22:19) its joy. (1 Corinthians 12:26) HAIL MARY… HAIL MARY…

GLORY BE…

246 © SOPHIA INSTITUTE FOR TEACHERS The Last Supper BY JACAPO BASSANO (C. 1546)

Jacapo Bassano, The Last Supper, c. 1546, oil on canvas, Courtesy Galleria Borghese, Rome, .

Unit 5, Lesson 1 125 The Last Supper

The Last Supper, by Jacapo Bassano (c. 1546)

Directions: Take some time to quietly view and reflect on the art. Let yourself be inspired in any way that happens naturally. Then think about the questions below, and discuss them with your classmates.

Conversation Questions

1. What Biblical event is depicted in this painting? What evidence from the painting tells you this?

2. Where does your eye go when you look at this painting?

3. How would you describe the Apostles in this painting? What can you tell about them from their clothing, gestures, etc.?

4. Try to identify the various figures in the painting. Which figure is Jesus? Which figure is St. Peter? Which figure is John the Beloved Apostle? Which figure is Judas? What makes you think so for each of these figures?

5. What do you notice on the table? What evidence from the painting tells you that Jesus and His Apostles were celebrating a Passover meal together?

6. Read John 13:21-30. What moment in the story has the artist captured in this painting? Identify the various parts of the Gospel story in the painting

7. What do you notice at the foot of the table in the very front and bottom of the painting? Read John 13:1-20. What happened in this story from John’s Gospel? How is this reflected in the painting?

126 Unit 5, Lesson 1 Christ’s Claims and Commandments

Directions: Read from the Gospel of Luke and then complete the chart with Christ’s claims and commands during the Last Supper and the Institution of the Eucharist.

Luke 22:14-20 – The Last Supper When the hour came, he took his place at table with the apostles. He said to them, “I have eagerly desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer, for, I tell you, I shall not eat it [again] until there is fulfillment in the kingdom of God.” Then he took a cup, gave thanks, and said, “Take this and share it among yourselves; for I tell you [that] from this time on I shall not drink of the fruit of the vine until the kingdom of God comes.” Then he took the bread, said the blessing, broke it, and gave it to them, saying, “This is my body, which will be given for you; do this in memory of me.” And likewise the cup after they had eaten, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood, which will be shed for you.”

Unit 5, Lesson 1 127 Claims made by Jesus during Commands made by Jesus during the the Last Supper Institution of the Eucharist

1. 1.

2. 2.

3.

4.

5.

Your reflections on Christ’s claims Your reflections on Christ’s commands

128 Unit 5, Lesson 1 The Scriptural Rosary

Directions: Reflect on each scriptural passage as you pray the Rosary.

The Fifth Luminous Mystery: And likewise the cup after they had eaten, The Institution of the Eucharist saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood, which will be shed for you.” At the last supper, Jesus instructs us to (Luke 22:20) remember him in the celebration of the Eucharist. HAIL MARY…

OUR FATHER… For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the death of the Lord Before the feast of Passover, Jesus knew until he comes. (1 Corinthians 11:26) that his hour had come to pass from this world to the Father. He loved his own in the HAIL MARY… world and he loved them to the end. (John “I pray not only for them, but also for those 13:1) who will believe in me through their word, HAIL MARY… so that they may all be one … that the world may believe that you sent me.” (John 17:20-21) “My appointed time draws near; in your house I shall celebrate the Passover with HAIL MARY… my disciples.” (Matthew 26:18b) Now you are Christ’s body, and individually HAIL MARY… parts of it. (1 Corinthians 12:27) “I have eagerly desired to eat this Passover HAIL MARY… with you before I suffer, for, I tell you, I shall For in one Spirit we were all baptized into not eat it [again] until there is fulfillment in one body, whether Jews or Greeks, slaves or the kingdom of God.” (Luke 22:15-16) free persons, and we were all given to drink HAIL MARY… of one Spirit. (1 Corinthians 12:13) Then he took the bread, said the blessing, HAIL MARY… broke it, and gave it to them, saying, “This If [one] part suffers, all the parts suffer with is my body, which will be given for you; do it; if one part is honored, all the parts share this in memory of me.” (Luke 22:19) its joy. (1 Corinthians 12:26) HAIL MARY… HAIL MARY…

GLORY BE…

Unit 5, Lesson 1 129