At the Last Supper, on the night he was betrayed, our Lord Jesus Christ instituted the Eucharistic sacrifice of his Body and Blood. The Eucharist, a sacrament of love serving as a memorial of his death and resurrection, perpetuates the sacrifice of the cross throughout the ages until he should come again.  

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At the heart of the Eucharistic celebration are the bread and wine that, by the words of Christ and the invocation of the Holy Spirit, become Christ's Body and Blood. Faithful to the Lord's command, the Church continues to do, in his memory and until his glorious return, what he did on the eve of his Passion: "He took bread…" "He took the cup filled with wine…" (CCC 1323, 1333)

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The Church obliges the faithful to take part in the Divine Liturgy on Sundays and feast days and to receive the Eucharist at least once a year, if possible during the Easter season. The Church strongly encourages the faithful to receive the Holy Eucharist on Sundays and feast days, or more often still, even daily.

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To prepare for worthy reception of this sacrament:

• The faithful should abstain from food and drink for one hour before receiving Communion

• Anyone conscious of a grave sin must first receive the sacrament of Reconciliation

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Youth and adults who have participated in OCIA complete their initiation with the Holy Eucharist.  Children who have been baptized prepare for their first Eucharist after their first Reconciliation.