One of the most fundamental teachings and practices of the Catholic Church is the Holy Eucharist and the Church derives its life from it.
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One of the most fundamental teachings and practices of the Catholic Church is the Holy Eucharist. The Church derives its life from the Eucharist. The Eucharist is the “source and summit” of the Catholic faith because it is the sacrament in which Jesus gives Himself to us completely. It is a mystery of love. Through the Eucharist, the faithful are intimately united with Christ and receive the grace to live out their Christian vocation in the world. Catholics are privileged believers because of the continuous grace that flows from the Eucharist.
The word “Eucharist” comes from the Latin word eucharistia, meaning “thanksgiving.” It commemorates Jesus’ Last Supper, where He took bread and wine and changed them to be His Body and Blood. The Eucharist is the real presence of Christ, not just symbolic, but truly and substantially present in the consecrated elements of bread and wine. During the last supper with the apostles, Jesus took a loaf of bread and said, “Take; this is my body.” He took the cup and said, “This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many.” Some people interpret this as only a symbol. However, the institution of the Eucharist is not a symbol. Jesus did not say, this is the symbol of my body or this is the symbol of my blood. St. Cyril of Jerusalem said, “Do not, therefore, regard the bread and wine as simply that, for they are, according to the Master’s declaration, the body and blood of Christ. Even though the senses may suggest to you the other, let faith make you firm. Do not judge in this matter by taste, but by fully assured by faith, not doubting that you have been deemed worthy of the body and blood of Christ.” (Catechetical Discourse: Mystagogic 4:22:9) (The Essential Catholic Survival Guide, 2005).
The Catholic Church, founded by Jesus Christ, continues to keep the Eucharist as the centre of all worship, prayers and sacrifice. Thus, no power on earth can destroy the Church (Mt. 16:18). The priests represent Christ at the altar and offer prayer and sacrifice to God on behalf of the faithful believers. It is both a sacrament and a sacrifice, rooted in the words and actions of Jesus Christ at the Last Supper. When the ordained Catholic Priests consecrate the Bread and the Wine, it becomes the Body and Blood of Christ. This is called “Transubstantiation”. This right is reserved only for validly ordained priests of the Catholic Church.
Thus, the blessing of bread and wine by pastors or reverends of other denominations does not fall under the rite of the Holy Eucharist. In Nagaland, the practice of the so-called “Lord’s Supper” in the protestant churches is not the Holy Eucharist. There is a big chasm between the Catholic Church and Protestant denominations in this regard. There are theological, traditional and practical differences. Adapting the practices of the Catholic Church is not an assurance or justification for the deeds.
Jesus prepared the listeners concerning the Eucharist of which they could not grasp the meaning. The Gospel of John chapter 6 narrates the Holy Eucharist in detail. The Jews asked Jesus what sign he could perform so that they might believe in him. Jesus replied, “I am the bread of life; he who comes to me shall not hunger, and he who believes in me shall never thirst.” “I am the living bread which came down from heaven; if anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever; and the bread which I shall give for the life of the world is my flesh.” “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of man and drink his blood, you have no life in you; he who eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life.” Human beings can only derive life by believing in the life of Jesus, fully present in the Holy Eucharist. Jesus is truly present in the Eucharist – Body and Blood, Soul and Divinity. There is fullness of Christ in the Eucharist. St. Paul wrote to the Corinthians, “The cup of blessing which we bless, is it not a participation in the blood of Christ? The bread which we break, is it not a participation in the body of Christ?” (1st Cor. 10:16). He further emphasised and said, “For as you eat the bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the death of the Lord until he comes again (1st Cor. 11:26). The Holy Eucharist applies to us all the power and merit of the Sacrifice of Jesus on the Cross (Morrow, L. L. 2002).
Blessed Carlo Acutis (1991-2006) conducted research on the miracles of the Holy Eucharist. He listed around 32 Eucharistic miracles. In the Eucharistic miracles, flesh and blood are indeed seen, or one without the other, depending on the miracle. The purpose of these miracles is to show that we should not look for the external appearance (bread and wine), but for the substance, the true reality of things, which is flesh and blood (B. Thomas, 2022). Throughout the history of the Catholic Church, Jesus reveals himself clearly in the Eucharist itself and the Eucharistic miracles. There are 100+Eucharistic miracles approved by the Church. Scientific studies highlight its authenticity. The latest approved Eucharistic miracle was at Vilakkannur, Kerala, in the month of May 2025. The miracle occurred back in November 2013. The real presence of Jesus in the Eucharist sustains the Church in faith and action, enabling it to proclaim the Gospel.
Apart from the Holy Eucharist, the Host is kept in the tabernacle and is exposed for adoration. This is called “Eucharistic Adoration.” The abiding presence of Jesus in the Eucharist is proof of his everlasting love for humanity. “Remain in me, as I remain in you.” (Jn. 15:4). When the Blessed Sacrament is in the tabernacle, a sanctuary lamp is kept burning before it to indicate and honour the presence of Christ (canon 940). The tabernacle is kept in the most worthy place in the Church to emphasise and manifest the truth of the real presence of Christ in the Blessed Sacrament (Catechism of the Catholic Church 1379).
The Catholic Church celebrates the Jubilee year 2025 (proclaimed by late Pope Francis) with the theme, “Pilgrims of Hope.” The Jubilee invites all the faithful to join in a time of grace, conversion, and spiritual renewal (OSV News, 2024). “The coming Jubilee will thus be a Holy Year marked by the hope that does not fade, our hope in God. May it help us to recover the confident trust that we require, in the Church and in society, in our interpersonal relationships, in international relations, and in our task of promoting the dignity of all persons and respect for God’s gift of creation.” (Pope Francis, Spes Non Confundit 25). Some of the important hallmarks for the faithful are pilgrimages, pious visits to sacred places, works of mercy and penance (Nicole O’Leary, 2024).
As part of the celebration of the Jubilee year, the Catholic Church in Nagaland is observing 50 hours of “Eucharistic Adoration”, praying for various intentions of Nagaland and the world. It commenced on 27th June - the feast of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, with the Holy Eucharist officiated by Most Rev. Dr. James Thoppil, Bishop of Kohima, Nagaland. The Eucharistic Adoration will end on 29th June – Feast of St. Peter and St. Paul. The fruits of the Holy Eucharist are granted to those participating in it devoutly, not only in answer to their prayers, but directly in virtue of the sacrifice itself, through which the merits of Christ are applied to them (Morrow, L. L., 2002). God bless you.
Rev. Fr. G. L. Khing
NEISSR, Chümoukedima