The Eucharist is a Christian rite that is considered a sacrament in most churches and an ordinance in others. It is also known as Holy Communion, Blessed Sacrament, and the Lords Supper. The term "Eucharist" originates from the Greek word "eucharistia," meaning thanksgiving. The Eucharist is celebrated by Christians around the world as a memorial of the death and resurrection of Jesus.
During the celebration of the Eucharist, bread and wine become the Body and Blood of Jesus Christ through the power of the Holy Spirit and the instrumentality of the priest. The whole Christ is truly present - body, blood, soul, and divinity - under the appearances of bread and wine, which is what the Church means when she speaks of the "Real Presence" of Christ in the Eucharist.
The Eucharist is 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. It is a sacrament and a sacrifice, and in the Catholic Church, it is considered the source and summit of the Christian life.
The Eucharist is mentioned in the Bible in the story of the institution of the Eucharist by Jesus on the night before his Crucifixion, which is reported in the Synoptic Gospels (Matthew 26:26–28; Mark 14:22–24; and Luke 22:17–20) and in the First Letter of Paul to the Corinthians (I Corinthians 11:23–25).
In summary, the Eucharist is a Christian rite that commemorates the Last Supper of Jesus Christ with his disciples. During the celebration, bread and wine become the Body and Blood of Jesus Christ through the power of the Holy Spirit and the instrumentality of the priest. The Eucharist is a sacrament and a sacrifice, and it is considered the source and summit of the Christian life in the Catholic Church.