The Hidden Depths of the Mass #25

The Eucharistic Prayer – The Institution Narrative

After the Epiclesis comes the Institution Narrative.  The Institution Narratives are Jesus’ own words at the Last Supper. The Catholic Church did not make up its teaching on the Eucharist.  Our belief in the Real Presence of Jesus is biblical (see Matthew 26:26-28, Mark 14:22-24, Luke 22:14-20, and 1 Corinthians 11:23-25).

Jesus said, ‘this is my body…which will be given up for you…this is my blood which will be shed for you.”  Our Catholic belief that the bread is transubstantiated into the Body of Christ and that the wine is transubstantiated into the Blood of Christ comes to us directly from Jesus. 

Our Catholic belief that we are celebrating the sacrifice of Jesus’ death on the Cross comes from Jesus’ words of his body being given up and his blood that is shed for us.  We repent it each time why celebrate Mass because Jesus said “Do this in memory of me.”