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Cathedral of St. Francis of Assisi

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  • Home
    • Who We Are
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        Memorials
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      • Holy Communion
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        Religious Education?
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        /Confession
      • First Communion
      • First Communion
        Preparation
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      • Mass Attendance
    • Religious Education
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      • Weekly Classes Pgm
        Monthly Calendar
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        Monthly Schedule
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      • St. Francis
        Cathedral School
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      • Adult Catechism
      • OCIA
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      • Directory of All Ministries
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      • BOLD Youth Ministry
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        Organization (CYO)
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      and Grieving
      • Care for the
        Sick or Dying
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        Homebound
      • Care for a
        Departed Loved One
      • Care for those Who
        Lost a Loved One
    • Liturgical Ministries
      • Directory of Liturgical
        Ministries
      • Altar Servers
      • Extraordinary
        Ministers of
        the Eucharist
      • Lectors
      • Ushers and
        Greeters
    • Sacred Music
      • Cathedral Sacred Music
        Ministry
      • Adult Choir
      • Children's Choir
      • Kids of the
        Kingdom
      • Support the
        Concert Series
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      • Eucharistic Adoration
      • Prayer Tree
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    • Time, Talent, Treasure
      • Faith Direct
      • Volunteer Opportunities
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      • Upcoming Cathedral
        & Diocesan Events
    • Encountering Christ
      during Holy Week
      • Cathedral HOLY WEEK
        Celebration
      • Cathedral
        Holy Week Schedule
    • Jingle Bells
      Craft Celebration
    • The 2025 Bishop's
      Annual Appeal
      • The 2025 Bishop's
        Annual Appeal
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      • Guidelines for 2025 Mass Intention Book
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  • the eucharist (Holy communion)

    • The liturgical life of the Church revolves around the sacraments, with the Eucharist at the center (National Directory for Catechesis, #35). At Mass, we are fed by the Word and nourished by the Body and Blood of Christ. We believe that the Risen Jesus is truly and substantially present in the Eucharist. The Eucharist is not a sign or symbol of Jesus; rather we receive Jesus himself in and through the Eucharistic species. The priest, through the power of his ordination and the action of the Holy Spirit, transforms the bread and wine into the Body and Blood of Jesus. This is call transubstantiation.

      By the consecration the transubstantiation of the bread and wine into the Body and Blood of Christ is brought about. Under the consecrated species of bread and wine Christ himself, living and glorious, is present in a true, real, and substantial manner: his Body and his Blood, with his soul and his divinity. (CCC 1413)

      The New Covenant

      I am the living bread that came down from heaven; whoever eats this bread will live forever;…Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life and…remains in me and I in him. (John 6:51, 54, 56)

      In the gospels we read that the Eucharist was instituted at the Last Supper. This is the fulfillment of the covenants in the Hebrew Scriptures. In the Last Supper narratives, Jesus took, broke and gave bread and wine to his disciples. In the blessing of the cup of wine, Jesus calls it “the blood of the covenant” (Matthew and Mark) and the “new covenant in my blood” (Luke).

      This reminds us of the blood ritual with which the covenant was ratified at Sinai (Ex 24) -- the sprinkled the blood of sacrificed animals united God and Israel in one relationship, so now the shed blood of Jesus on the cross is the bond of union between new covenant partners -- God the Father, Jesus and the Christian Church. Through Jesus’ sacrifice, all the baptized are in relationship with God.

      The Catechism teaches that all Catholics who have received their First Holy Communion are welcome to receive Eucharist at Mass unless sin a state of mortal sin.

      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 communion without having received absolution in the sacrament of penance. (CCC 1415)

      The Church warmly recommends that the faithful receive Holy Communion when they participate in the celebration of the Eucharist; she obliges them to do so at least once a year. (CCC 1417)

      Receiving the Eucharist changes us. It signifies and effects the unity of the community and serves to strengthen the Body of Christ.


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