The seven sacraments touch all the stages and all the important moments of Christian life: they give birth and increase, healing and mission to the Christian’s life of faith. – Article 1210 of the Catechism of the Catholic Church
Together with Baptism and Confirmation, the Sacrament of the Holy Eucharist completes Christian initiation. The Eucharist is the “source and summit of the Christian Life” (Lumen Gentium 11). At the heart of the Church’s life, the Eucharist is the sacrifice of Christ himself, offered up for all souls, pouring the graces of salvation on His Body which is the Church (CCC 1407). Jesus said:
I am the living bread that came down from heaven; if any one eats of this bread, he will live for ever; he who eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life and…abides in me, and I in him
– GOSPEL OF JOHN 6:51, 54, 56
Anyone who desires to receive Christ in Eucharistic communion must be in the state of grace. Anyone aware of having sinned mortally must not receive Holy Communion without having received absolution in the Sacrament of Penance (CCC 1415). The effects of receiving this most blessed sacrament includes uniting with the heavenly liturgy, with our Lord, as well as the forgiveness of venial sins and preservation from grave sins. The Church warmly recommends that the faithful prepare well and receive Holy Communion (worship schedule) at least once a year during the Easter Season.
Learn more about the Holy Eucharist and receiving First Holy Communion as children or adults at the Archdiocese of Vancouver website.
聖體聖事是耶穌在最後晚餐時建立的，他使自己真正臨現於餅和酒內，成為信友的食糧。使凡領受這聖體聖事的人，彼此成為兄弟姊妹，在基督內彼此結合，達到與主與人共融的至高境界。
聖體聖事是信德的奧蹟
「我就是生命的食糧，到我這裡來的，永不會飢餓，信從我的總不會渴。」〔若﹒6:35〕
「我所賜給的食糧，就是我的肉，是為世界的生命而賜給的。」〔若﹒6:51〕
以上兩段話，在人聽來是相反理智的，是不可思議和不可能的事，難怪猶太人彼此議論說：「這人怎能把他的肉，賜給我們吃呢？……。」〔參閱若﹒6：51一58〕從這段聖經中，我們得到的是一個極肯定的回答。耶穌並沒有說這是一個假設或象徵的行動；而是更確切地明認他這血肉之軀是信友的真實飲食之糧，透過這食糧，我們得以和基督生活在一起。雖然耶穌明知他的這番話會引起人的反感，甚至自己的門徒亦不相信祂，但祂仍舊說下去，並指出他們的心意說：「這話使你們起反感嗎？」跟便點出最深的奧理：「我給你們所講論的話就是神，就是生命……」；「為此，我對你們說：除非蒙父恩賜的，誰也不能到我這裡來。」〔參閱若﹒6：60-65〕
今天，我們得以相信聖體聖事的奧蹟，是藉著信德，並在信德內去接納這一個事實。雖然肉眼所見的和所信仰的，在外面看來不符合，但是，因為有信德來補充，所以我們能夠毫不懷疑地接受一切。信德是天主給與的，是來自天父的一份禮物，不是憑人的智慧、能力、而是憑天父的慈愛所許下的。我們能夠面對祭台上的聖體，朝拜祂，又能夠恭恭敬敬地上的領受祂，這一切都要我們帶著至大至深的信德。我們能承認及接受耶穌親定下的聖體聖事，是要我們在愛的共融下去完成的，這實在是我們信仰生活的高峰。
中文資料取自香港教區’天主教教義函授課程 ‘