Day 185: Thanksgiving, Memorial, Presence

If from the beginning Christians have celebrated the Eucharist and in a form whose substance has not changed despite the great diversity of times and liturgies, it is because we know ourselves to be bound by the command the Lord gave on the eve of his Passion: "Do this in remembrance of me." CCC 1356

The Catechism discusses in today's reading how the Eucharist is a sacrifice of thanksgiving and praise to the Father. It is "a sacrifice of praise in thanksgiving for the work of creation" and "a blessing by which the Church expresses her gratitude to God for all his benefits, for all that he has accomplished through creation, redemption, and sanctification. Eucharist means first of all 'thanksgiving'" (CCC 1360). 

The Catechism Companion, Vol II comments:

Jesus instituted the Eucharist, providing clear guidance on how God wants to be worshipped. The Eucharist is a sacrificial memorial of Christ's self-offering to the Father... We acknowledge that all glory and honor belong to God and express our gratitude and adoration through the sacrificial worship made possible by Jesus' redemptive work. God invites, commands, and calls us to be present, engaged, and reverent during the Eucharistic celebration. The Eucharist is an extraordinary gift that surpasses our understanding. (p. 134)

The story of Cain and Abel in the book of Genesis, pictured here, is a reminder of the importance of sacrifice in Catholic tradition (see CCC 1357). (p. 135)