Youcat commented through CCC – Question n. 217 - Part III.

YOUCAT Question n. 217 - Part III. What happens in the Church when she celebrates the Eucharist?

(Youcat answer - repeated) Every time the Church celebrates the Eucharist, she stands before the source from which she herself constantly springs anew. By “eating” the Body of Christ, the Church becomes the Body of Christ, which is just another name for the Church. In the sacrifice of Christ, who gives himself to us, body and soul, there is room for our whole life. We can unite everything—our work and our sufferings, our joys—with Christ’s sacrifice. If we offer ourselves in this way, we are transformed: We become pleasing to God and like good, nourishing bread for our fellowmen.

A deepening through CCC

(CCC 1371 a) The Eucharistic sacrifice is also offered for the faithful departed who "have died in Christ but are not yet wholly purified" (Council of Trent (1562): DS 1743), so that they may be able to enter into the light and peace of Christ: Put this body anywhere! Don't trouble yourselves about it! I simply ask you to remember me at the Lord's altar wherever you are (St. Monica, before her death, to her sons, St. Augustine and his brother; Conf. 9, 11, 27: PL 32, 775).

Reflecting and meditating 

(Youcat comment) Again and again we grumble about the Church, as though she were just an association of more or less good people. In reality the Church is what happens daily in a mysterious way at the altar. God gives himself to each one of us individually, and he wants to transform us through communion with him. Once we are transformed, we are supposed to transform the world. Everything else that the Church is besides that is secondary.

(CCC Comment)

(CCC 1371 b) Then, we pray [in the anaphora] for the holy fathers and bishops who have fallen asleep, and in general for all who have fallen asleep before us, in the belief that it is a great benefit to the souls on whose behalf the supplication is offered, while the holy and tremendous Victim is present…. By offering to God our supplications for those who have fallen asleep, if they have sinned, we… offer Christ sacrificed for the sins of all, and so render favorable, for them and for us, the God who loves man (St. Cyril of Jerusalem, Catech. myst. 5, 9. 10: PG 33, 1116-1117). (CCC 1414) As sacrifice, the Eucharist is also offered in reparation for the sins of the living and the dead and to obtain spiritual or temporal benefits from God.

(This question:  What happens in the Church when she celebrates the Eucharist? is continued)