Liturgy of the Eucharist: The Institution and Consecration

The words of Institution and Consecration over the bread and wine are the highlight of our Mass. We have the opportunity to enter sacramentally into Jesus’ loving gift of himself to the Father. The words that the priest speaks over the bread and wine are directly related to the words of Jesus at the Last Supper. And the words of Jesus were parallel to the sacrificial language that was used in traditional Passover feasts. During Passover, the words referred to the sacrifice of a lamb whose blood was separated from the body in ceremonial sacrifice. Jesus used these same words with reference to himself, “Take this, all of you, and eat of it, for this is my body, which will be given up for you... Take this, all of you, and drink from it, for this is the chalice of my blood, the blood of the new and eternal covenant, which will be poured out for you and for many for the forgiveness of sins”. With these words, Jesus identifies himself as the sacrificial lamb. In the Passover meal of the Last Supper, Jesus willingly offers up his own body and blood for the forgiveness of sins.

He also tells the apostles to “do this in memory of me”. The word “memory” in biblical terms means much more than merely remembering the past. A liturgical memorial brings the past and present together, making the long-ago event mystically present for the current generation. This is explained in the Catechism of the Catholic Church, “When the Church celebrates the Eucharist, she commemorates Christ’s Passover, and it is made present: the sacrifice Christ offered once for all on the cross remains ever present.” Let us reflect, then, on being united with Christ during the Institution and Consecration. Christ’s sacrifice present on the altar makes it possible for all of us to be united with his offering.