“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” (Catechism of the Catholic Church, #1322).

This quote might seem odd for many of us because we probably received First Holy Communion before Confirmation, so how can the Eucharist “complete” our Christian initiation. As I mentioned in last weekend’s column, it has only been for about 100 years that the order of the sacraments of initiation has been disrupted. That from the earliest times of the Church until about 100 years ago, the order had always been Baptism, Confirmation, and the Eucharist. I also mentioned that a number of dioceses from around the world are starting to restore the proper theological order of the sacraments of initiation.

The Second Vatican Council clearly taught that the Eucharist is the “source and summit of the Christian life.” As St. Irenaeus once said, “Our way of thinking is attuned to the Eucharist, and the Eucharist in turn confirms our way of thinking.”

While the Eucharist is the Body and Blood, Soul and Divinity of Jesus Christ, we should think of the Eucharist more in terms of an event, and not just an object. It is a participation here in this life in the Heavenly Wedding Banquet of the Lamb, which will be celebrated for all eternity. This is why we really should dress up for the Mass. If the president of the USA (imagine whom ever you want in that position) invited you to his or hers son’s wedding, wouldn’t you dress up? You would wear a suit or dress; certainly not a sweatshirt with your favorite sport team logo. Well at the Mass, God is inviting you to participate in His Son’s wedding banquet; we should dress appropriately.

Receiving Holy Communion produces several fruits. First it augments our union with Christ. It also separates us from sin. The unity of the Mystical Body, in other words, the Eucharist makes the Church. The Eucharist commits us to the poor, and it fosters the unity of all Christians.

“Having passed from this world to the Father, Christ gives us in the Eucharist the pledge of glory with him. Participation in the Holy Sacrifice identifies us with his Heart, sustains our strength along the pilgrimage of this life, makes us long for eternal life, and unites us even now to the Church in heaven, the Blessed Virgin Mary, and all the saints” (CCC #1419).