The Holy Eucharist completes Christian initiation. Those who have been raised to the dignity of the royal priesthood by Baptism and configured more deeply to Christ by Confirmation participate with the whole community in the Lord's own sacrifice by means of the Eucharist.
At the Last Supper, on the night he was betrayed, our Savior instituted the Eucharistic sacrifice of his Body and Blood. This he did in order to perpetuate the sacrifice of the cross throughout the ages until he should come again, and so to entrust to his beloved Spouse, the Church, a memorial of his death and resurrection: a sacrament of love, a sign of unity, a bond of charity, a Paschal banquet in which Christ is consumed, the mind is filled with grace, and a pledge of future glory is given to us.
The Eucharist is "the source and summit of the Christian life". By the Eucharistic celebration we already unite ourselves with the heavenly liturgy and anticipate eternal life, when God will be all in all. In brief, the Eucharist is the sum and summary of our faith.
The Holy Eucharist is available at every celebration of the Mass. To see when St. Patrick Parish offers the sacrament and the Mass, consult our schedule of worship.
All baptized Catholics who have received the Sacrament of Reconciliation and have been fully prepared for the sacrament of Holy Eucharist are eligible to receive the sacrament.
To receive the Holy Eucharist, abstain from all food for one hour before you will receive. Approach the Lord with reverence, walking with hands folded. Bow before you receive the Eucharist, displaying your humility and respect. Respond to the Eucharistic Minister’s words with “Amen”.
If you choose to receive the Holy Eucharist in your hands, place one hand below the other, creating a proper throne for our Lord. If your hands are impeded, receive the Eucharist on your tongue. If you choose to receive on your tongue, place your hands over your chest, so that the Eucharistic Minister knows to place the Eucharist in your mouth.
For more information regarding the Holy Eucharist, access the Catechism of the Catholic Church here.
The priests of St. Patrick Parish wish that all may receive this precious sacrament regularly. If you or someone you know in St. Patrick Parish cannot attend Mass to receive the sacrament, we will happily schedule home visits to provide the Holy Eucharist. Please contact the parish office at 610-647-2345 or by email at receptionist@stpatrickmalvern.org to request a visit.