Christian Liturgy Begins with the Last Supper
In the Full of Grace Youth Journal, we’ve been looking at how the Mass is foreshadowed throughout the Old Testament. But this month, we’ve finally reached the beginning of Christian liturgy with the institution of the Eucharist: the Last Supper.
Institution of the Eucharist
The Last Supper was the first Mass at which Jesus instituted the Eucharist. It was the meal at which Jesus and the Apostles were celebrating the Passover in the Upper Room before the Crucifixion.
The Last Supper was the first Mass because it was the first time when a priest (Jesus) consecrated bread and wine and turned them into the Body, Blood, Soul, and Divinity of Jesus. Jesus instructed the Apostles to continue celebrating this new liturgy when He said “Do this in remembrance of me.”
Body and Blood of Christ
During the Passover meal, Jesus took bread and broke it, and gave it to His disciples, saying “This is my body which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me.” He took the cup of wine and said, “This cup which is poured out for you is the new covenant in my blood.” With these words, He instituted the Eucharist and gave His Apostles the power to celebrate the Mass.
And now, at every Mass, Jesus makes Himself truly present in the Eucharist through the words of the priest. During the consecration, when the priest says the words of Jesus: “This is my Body” and “This is my Blood” the bread and wine change into the Body and Blood of Jesus.
Eucharistic Preparation
How can you prepare for the Sunday Mass? You can prepare for Mass by learning more about the liturgy, by reading the Sunday readings ahead of time, and by meditating on God’s gift of the Eucharist.
Do you know a child who should be receiving the Full of Grace?
If you know a youth who would benefit from receiving monthly editions of Full of Grace, where they’ll dive into the liturgy and other aspects of their faith, sign them up today! Enroll them in The Youth Guild of Saint José Sánchez del Río at YouthGuild.org.
Full of Grace is a monthly journal for those enrolled in The Youth Guild of Saint José Sánchez del Río. Each journal includes a feature on a young saint or blessed, a daily consecration to Our Lady of Fatima, prayer cards and memory verses, Q&A, and art submitted by members of the guild!
Any youth is welcome to enroll. At their enrollment, youths will receive four special benefits:
- On the Feast Day of Saint José Sánchez del Río, February 10, the Shrine will host a special Mass for the youth guild, at the conclusion of which the celebrant will bless guild members with a first-class relic of Saint José Sánchez del Río.
- The youths enrolled in the Guild are remembered in the Prayers of the Faithful daily during Holy Mass.
- As members are commended to the special intercession of Saint José Sánchez del Río, each guild member receives a medal of the young saint.
- Members receive monthly editions of Full of Grace.
