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DEFENDING THE BRIDE
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The Eucharist
Sacrifice-Banquet of the New Covenant
Icon of the Year of the Eucharist : October 2004 - 2005
Click for high resolution 222kb
“Wherever the body is, there the
eagles
will be
gathered together.”
Matthew 24:28
This copyrighted Icon was painted by the
Rev. Msgr. Anthony A. La Femina.
[used with permission]
Sacrificial Banquet of True Love
Some quotations from the Catechism of the Catholic Church [CCC], the Bible, and John Paul II on the Sacrifice of the Mass.
“The Mass is at the same time, and inseparably, the sacrificial memorial in which the sacrifice of the cross is perpetuated and the sacred banquet of communion with the Lord's body and blood.” [CCC 1382]
“Jesus chose the time
of Passover to fulfill what he had announced at Capernaum: giving
his disciples his Body and his Blood’
Then came the day of Unleavened Bread, on which the passover lamb
had to be sacrificed. So Jesus sent Peter and John, saying, ‘Go and
prepare the passover meal for us, that we may eat it....’ They went
... and prepared the passover. And when the hour came, he sat at
table, and the apostles with him. And he said to them, ‘I have
earnestly desired to eat this passover with you before I suffer; for
I tell you I shall not eat it again until it is fulfilled in the
kingdom of God.’ .... And he took bread, and when he had given
thanks he broke it and gave it to them, saying, ‘This is my body
which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me.’ And likewise
the cup after supper, saying, ‘This cup which is poured out for you
is the New Covenant in my blood.’ ” [ CCC 1339]
“The Eucharistic celebration always includes: the proclamation of the Word of God; thanksgiving to God the Father for all his benefits, above all the gift of his Son; the consecration of bread and wine; and participation in the liturgical banquet by receiving the Lord's body and blood. These elements constitute one single act of worship.” [CCC 1408]
“ … The sacrificial character of the Eucharist is manifested in the very words of institution: ‘This is my body which is given for you’ and ‘This cup which is poured out for you is the New Covenant in my blood.’ In the Eucharist Christ gives us the very body which he gave up for us on the cross, the very blood which he ‘poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins.’ ” [ CCC 1365]
“ … The Church which is the Body of Christ participates in the offering of her Head. … The lives of the faithful, their praise, sufferings, prayer, and work, are united with those of Christ and with his total offering, and so acquire a new value. Christ’s sacrifice present on the altar makes it possible for all generations of Christians to be united with his offering.” [ CCC 1368]
“The whole Church is
united with the offering and intercession of Christ.
… not only the members still here on earth, but also those already
in the glory of heaven. In communion with and commemorating the
Blessed Virgin Mary and all the saints, the Church offers the
Eucharistic sacrifice. In the Eucharist the Church is as it were at
the foot of the cross with Mary, united with the offering and
intercession of Christ.” [ CCC 1369 – 1370]
“The Lord's Supper, because of its connection with the supper which the Lord took with his disciples on the eve of his Passion and because it anticipates the wedding feast of the Lamb in the heavenly Jerusalem.” [ CCC 1329]
Revelation 19:9
“And the angel said to me, ‘Write this: Blessed are those who are
invited to the marriage supper of the Lamb,’ And he said to me,
‘These are true words of God.’ ”
“As bodily nourishment restores lost strength, so the Eucharist strengthens our charity, which tends to be weakened in daily life … By giving himself to us Christ revives our love and enables us to break our disordered attachments to creatures and root ourselves in him … Having received the gift of love, let us die to sin and live for God.” [ CCC 1394]
JPII
“The Church's mission stands in continuity with the mission of
Christ: ‘As the Father has sent me, even so I send you’ (Jn
20:21). From the perpetuation of the sacrifice of the Cross and her
communion with the body and blood of Christ in the Eucharist, the
Church draws the spiritual power needed to carry out her mission.
The Eucharist thus appears as both the source and the
summit of all evangelization, since its goal is the communion of
mankind with Christ and in him with the Father and the Holy
Spirit.”
[Pope John Paul II’s Encyclical letter Ecclesia De Eucharistia,
section 22. (2003 AD)]
Read the Commentary of Rev. Msgr. Anthony A. La Femina on his icon above at the Adoremus web site.
Also, see Rev. Msgr. Anthony A. La Femina's Pro-Life Icon of the Annunciation.
I suggest gazing on the beautiful icon above while meditating on one of the following themes:
Humility, Redemption, Obedience, Love, Eucharist, Thanksgiving, Mary, Church, Priesthood, Leadership, Passover, Lamb's Supper, Heavenly Banquet, Mission, Evangelization, Life, Communion of Saints, Fatherhood, Motherhood, Family, Worship, Mass, Sacrifice, Suffering, Salvation, Virtue, or Trinity.
Listen to Scott Hahn’s
Audio Programs on The Mass: Heavenly Banquet, and the Lamb’s Supper or
see
Text Documents on the Eucharist, Fourth Cup, etc.
Articles Relating to the Mass, our Eucharistic Celebration
Matthew 24:28 Vultures or Eagles ?
Are You Bored at Mass ? Getting More out of it
See Articles at