CATECHISM

Q. What is the Sacrament of the Holy Eucharist?
A. The Sacrament of the Holy Eucharist is the true Body and Blood of Jesus Christ, together with
his Soul and Divinity, under the appearances of bread and wine.
Holy Eucharist. Holy thanksgiving. This Sacrament is so called because at its institution
our Lord gave thanks to His Father; also, because it is the chief act by which we praise
and thank Almighty God. It is also called the ‘Holy Communion’, the ‘Holy Host’, the
‘Viaticum’, etc. The Holy Eucharist is the greatest of all the Sacraments, for it contains our
Lord Himself, from whom all graces come.
Outward sign. The matter consists of wheaten bread and wine of the grape. The form
consists of the words: ‘This is My Body’; ‘This is the chalice’, etc.
Effects. Gives us our Lord Himself; increases sanctifying grace; and gives a special grace
which nourishes the soul.
Institution. On Maundy Thursday, at the Last Supper, when Jesus took bread and
blessed and broke it, and said, ‘Take ye, and eat: this is My Body.’ And taking the chalice,
He said, ‘This is My Blood of the new testament, which shall be shed for many unto
remission of sins’. (Matt. 26:26–28)
Minister. A priest, or sometimes a deacon.
Under the appearances, etc. It looks, tastes, smells, and feels like bread and wine. These
appearances are sometimes called the accidents of the Sacrament.

Q. How are the bread and wine changed into the Body and Blood of Christ?
A. The bread and wine are changed into the Body and Blood of Christ by the power of God, to
whom nothing is impossible or difficult.

Q. When are the bread and wine changed into the Body and Blood of Christ?
A. The bread and wine are changed into the Body and Blood of Christ when the words of
consecration, ordained by Jesus Christ, are pronounced by the priest in Holy Mass.

Q. Why has Christ given himself to us in the Holy Eucharist?
A. Christ has given himself to us in the Holy Eucharist to be the life and the food of our souls. ‘He
that eateth me, the same also shall live by me’, ‘He that eateth this bread shall live forever’. John
6:58,59
 
Q. Is Christ received whole and entire under either under either kind alone?
A. Christ is received whole and entire under either kind alone.

Q. In order to receive the Blessed Sacrament worthily what is required?
A. In order to receive the Blessed Sacrament worthily it is required that we be in a state of grace
and keep the prescribed fast; water does not break this fast.
The prescribed fast.
1. The faithful are bound to abstain for an hour from solid foods and beverages
before Holy Communion. Those who receive Holy Communion at midnight or in
the small hours of the morning must observe these times.
2. The sick, even if they are not confined to bed, may take non-alcoholic beverages
and genuine medicines, both liquid and solid, before Holy Communion without
any time limit.

Q. What is it to be in a state of grace?
A. To be in a state of grace is to be free from mortal sin, and pleasing to God.

Q. Is it a great sin to receive Holy Communion in mortal sin?
A. It is a great sin to receive Holy Communion in mortal sin; ‘for he that eateth and drinketh
unworthily, eateth and drinketh judgment to himself’. Cor. 11:29

Q. Is the Blessed Eucharist a Sacrament only?
A. The Blessed Eucharist is not a Sacrament only; it is also a sacrifice.

Q. What is a sacrifice?
A. A sacrifice is the offering of a victim by a priest to God alone, in testimony of his being the
Sovereign Lord of all things.

Q. What is the Sacrifice of the New Law?
A. The Sacrifice of the New Law is the Holy Mass.

Q. What is the Holy Mass?
A. The Holy Mass is the Sacrifice of the Body and Blood of Jesus Christ, really present on the altar
under the appearances of bread and wine, and offered to God for the living and the dead.
The Mass. The oblation or offering made or sent to God by the ministry of the priest. As a
sacrifice the Holy Eucharist is commonly called the ‘Mass’. In the Mass the Blood of our
Lord is not visibly shed as it was on Mount Calvary

Q. Is the Holy Mass one and the same Sacrifice with that of the Cross?
A. The Holy Mass is one and the same Sacrifice with that of the Cross, inasmuch as Christ, who
offered himself, a bleeding victim, on the Cross to his heavenly Father, continues to offer
himself in an unbloody manner on the altar, through the ministry of his priests.

Q. For what ends is the Sacrifice of the Mass offered?
A. The Sacrifice of the Mass is offered for four ends: first, to give supreme honour and glory to
God; secondly, to thank him for all his benefits; thirdly, to satisfy God for our sins and to obtain
the grace of repentance; and fourthly, to obtain all other graces and blessings through Jesus
Christ.
The ends. The objects for which it is offered.
Benefit. A favour, a good deed.

Q. Is the Mass also a memorial of the Passion and Death of our Lord?
A. The Mass is also a memorial of the Passion and Death of our Lord, for Christ at his last supper
said: ‘Do this for a commemoration of me’. Luke 22:19
IV. Reconciliation

Q. What is the Sacrament of Reconciliation?
A. Reconciliation is a Sacrament whereby the sins, whether mortal or venial, which we have
committed after Baptism are forgiven.
Reconciliation. Formerly also called the Sacrament of Confession or Penance, which
emphasize various aspects of the sacrament.
Outward sign. The matter consists of the acts of the penitent, viz., contrition, confession,
and satisfaction. The form is the priest’s absolution.
Effects. Takes away actual sin and eternal punishment due to sin; it also restores habitual
grace and the merits of good works done in a state of grace.
Institution. ‘Receive ye the Holy Spirit: whose sins you shall forgive, they are forgiven
them; and whose sins you shall retain, they are retained’. (John 20:22,23)
Minister. A priest approved by the Bishop.

Q. Does the Sacrament of Reconciliation increase the grace of God in the soul?
A. The Sacrament of Reconciliation increases the grace of God in the soul, besides forgiving sin; we
should, therefore, often go to confession.

Q. When did our Lord institute the Sacrament of Reconciliation?
A. Our Lord instituted the Sacrament of Reconciliation when he breathed on his Apostles and gave
them power to forgive sins, saying: ‘Whose sins you shall forgive, they are forgiven.’ John 20:23
Absolution. Pardon; taking away of guilt, and, at least in part, of punishment.

Q. How does the priest forgive sins?
A. The priest forgives sins by the power of God, when he pronounces the words of absolution.

Q. What are the words of absolution?
A. The words of absolution are: ‘I absolve you from your sins, in the name of the Father, and of the
Son, and of the Holy Spirit’.

Q. Are any conditions of forgiveness required on the part of the penitent?
A. Three conditions for forgiveness are required on the part of the penitent - Contrition,
Confession, and Satisfaction.