The Eucharist is the “heart and summit of the Church’s life,” since through it Christ “pours out” on his people the “graces of salvation” won by the sacrifice of his life “offered once for all on the cross” (Catechism, 1407). In every Eucharistic celebration, the very sacrifice of Christ on the cross is “re-presented” on the altar (Catechism, 1366), making us as present to Christ, offering himself to the Father, as were the first disciples who stood by the cross. In the Eucharistic sacrifice of the mass, bread and wine is transformed into “the body and blood, together with the soul and divinity, of our Lord Jesus Christ” (Catechism, 1374). This is the Real Presence. Some Christian denominations consider the Eucharist a mere symbol of Jesus’ spiritual presence among us, even though  Scripture testifies that Jesus plainly told his disciples, “this is my body, this is my blood” (Mt 26:26,28). Jesus’ teaching, “my flesh is real food and my blood real drink,” as shocking then as now, caused “many disciples” to exclaim, “who can accept it?” as they turned back “to their former way of life” (Jn 6:55,60,66). Receiving the Eucharist at mass deepens in a unique way our “union with the Lord” and transforms us into his image (Catechism, 1416). After mass, any consecrated bread left unconsumed, being still the Body of Christ, is reserved in the tabernacle, before which the faithful may come for prayer. This “Blessed Sacrament” is regularly placed in a “monstrance” and displayed on the altar for public adoration.                Fr. Tom