St Paul tells the Corinthians: "Beloved, I received from the Lord what I also handed on to you." (1 Cor 11: 23) What we do on a Sunday, in our eucharistic celebration, is to hand on what we too have received. We do this because we are obedient to the Lord who, according to St Paul says twice: "Do this in remembrance of me." (1 Cor 11: 24-25) What is the effect of this? It is no mere calling to mind. As a living memory, or as the Eucharistic prayers call is a "memorial," Christ is made present and our faith is renewed: "For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord's death until he comes." (1 Cor 11: 26) Preface II of the Most Holy Eucharist puts it this way: "For at the Last Supper with his Apostles, establishing for the ages to come the saving memorial of the Cross, he offered himself to you as the unblemished Lamb, the acceptable gift of perfect praise." Just as in the Hypostatic Union the human and divine natures of Christ are joined so to in the Holy Eucharist the substantial and spiritual are united. The pending canonization of Blessed Carlo Acutis, the apostles of Eucharistic miracles of our time, reminds us of this great mystery which has the power to unite us as Church and gives us a foretaste of the heavenly realities to come as the Preface continues: "Nourishing your faithful by this sacred mystery, you make them holy, so that the human race, bounded by one world, may be enlightened by one faith and united by one bond of charity. And so, we approach the table of this wonderful Sacrament, so that, bathed in the sweetness of your grace, we may pass over to the heavenly realities here foreshadowed."
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