Eucharist

[Tab'le De'Bah-Rye]

Pax domini bretheren...
When does JESUS becomes fully present in the hosts of the bread and wine. Is it after the host of bread is broken? Like the momment JESUS says "father into your hands i commend my spirit." Coz a friend of mine has stated he is infuriated how a priest breaks the host at head height insted of over the cup containing the precious blood and he is worried where do the particles go if not falling into the cup and where is the reverance of the host if it is broken willy nilly without thought of each particle for he says JESUS is fully present even in the most minute particle. I guess if jesus becomes fully present after breaking the host than it is ok to break it simply above the alter and not directly above the precious blood.

Onward christian souls
JESUS is LORD
God is Good, God is Love,God Saves.

Edited July 12, 2012 by Tab'le Du'Bah-Rye

[cappie]

The Catechism (#1353) says that as soon as the Institution Narrative begins, the Lord is present in the elements of bread and wine. That is why the universal law of the church directs the assembly to kneel for this part of the Eucharistic Prayer.

The ritual direction in the Missal says that after the Insitution Narrative, the "priest holds the consecrated host and shows it to the congregation." The postures and gestures and texts of the liturgy are clear that the transformation is already complete midway through the Eucharistic Prayer.

The same question never captured the attention of the Eastern Catholic and Orthodox traditions. For them, the critical moment has always been the epiclesis, or the calling down of the Holy Spirit on the gifts of bread and wine and the assembly. The priest extends his hands over the gifts and asks the Holy Spirit to "change them for us into the Body and Blood of Christ." For an Eastern Christian, that's the critical moment.