Just Teach Sheet Deep Formation September Week 3

In-Depth Track – Just Teach Sheet

September Week 3
Theme: Faith & Belonging to the Church
Audience: In-depth learners, catechists, apologists, serious students of theology
Focus: The Eucharist as the “source and summit” of the Christian life (CCC 1324), the re-presentation of Christ’s one sacrifice, the Real Presence through transubstantiation, and the obligation of Sunday Mass.

Weekly Goal

To understand and articulate the Catholic teaching on the Eucharist and the Mass, rooted in Scripture, Tradition, and the Magisterium, and to be able to defend it against common objections.

What You’ll Need

This sheet

Bible

Catechism of the Catholic Church (CCC 1322–1419; 2180–2183)

Writings of the Fathers (esp. Ignatius of Antioch, Justin Martyr, Augustine)

Opening Prayer (Daily)

O Lord Jesus Christ,
true High Priest and Victim,
present in Your Church in the Most Holy Eucharist,
grant me deeper faith in Your Real Presence,
deeper love for the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass,
and zeal to make You known in the Sacrament of Your love. Amen.

Day 1 – The Institution and Command of Christ

Teaching:
The Eucharist originates in Christ Himself, who instituted it at the Last Supper as the New Covenant sacrifice.

Luke 22:19–20 – “This is My Body… This cup is the new covenant in My Blood… Do this in memory of Me.”

CCC 1323 – “At the Last Supper, on the night He was betrayed, our Saviour instituted the Eucharistic sacrifice of His Body and Blood.”

Fathers:

St. Ignatius of Antioch (AD 107): condemned those “who do not confess that the Eucharist is the flesh of our Saviour Jesus Christ” (Letter to the Smyrnaeans).

Apologetic Note: Protestants often claim the Eucharist is symbolic. But the plain words of Scripture, backed by unanimous early Christian testimony, teach Real Presence.

Reflection: If Jesus commanded this directly, how can we ignore it?

Day 2 – The Mass as Sacrifice

Teaching:
The Eucharist is not only a meal but a sacrifice — the very sacrifice of Calvary, made sacramentally present.

Hebrews 9:26 – Christ “appeared once for all… to put away sin by the sacrifice of Himself.”
1 Corinthians 11:26 – “As often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until He comes.”

CCC 1367 – “The sacrifice of Christ and the sacrifice of the Eucharist are one single sacrifice… only the manner of offering is different.”

Fathers:

St. Cyprian of Carthage (AD 250): “The sacrifice which we offer is the Passion of Christ.”

Apologetic Note: Many object that Catholics “re-sacrifice Christ.” The Church teaches there is only one sacrifice — the Mass makes it present here and now.

Day 3 – The Real Presence and Transubstantiation

Teaching:
The Church teaches that in the consecration, the whole substance of bread and wine becomes Christ’s Body and Blood. The appearances remain, but the reality is changed.

John 6:53–55 – “Unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink His blood, you have no life in you… For My flesh is true food, and My blood is true drink.”

CCC 1376 – “By the consecration… the whole substance of the bread is changed into the substance of the Body of Christ our Lord and the whole substance of the wine into the substance of His Blood.”

Fathers:

St. Justin Martyr (AD 155): “The food… is both the flesh and blood of that Jesus who was made flesh.” (First Apology, 66)

St. Augustine: “Christ was carried in His own hands, when, referring to His own Body, He said, ‘This is My Body’” (Explanations of the Psalms 33).

Apologetic Note: Symbolic readings of John 6 collapse under the weight of patristic evidence. The earliest Christians clearly understood the Eucharist as Christ Himself.

Day 4 – The Mass as Heaven on Earth

Teaching:
The Mass is participation in the heavenly liturgy. Every Mass unites earth with heaven, angels, and saints.

Revelation 5:11–14 – Worship of the Lamb by countless angels.
Hebrews 12:22–24 – “You have come to Mount Zion… to the assembly of the firstborn, to Jesus, the mediator of a new covenant.”

CCC 1326 – “By the Eucharistic celebration we already unite ourselves with the heavenly liturgy and anticipate eternal life.”

Fathers:

St. John Chrysostom: “When you see the Lord immolated on the altar, and the priest standing and praying over the victim… do you still think you are on earth?” (Homily on 1 Corinthians 24).

Reflection: Every Mass is Calvary, but it is also a glimpse of heaven.

Day 5 – The Obligation and Mission of the Mass

Teaching:
Attendance at Sunday Mass is a grave obligation because it is the primary way we worship God in the New Covenant. It is also our sending forth on mission.

Exodus 20:8 – “Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy.”
CCC 2181 – “Those who deliberately fail in this obligation commit a grave sin.”

CCC 1397 – “The Eucharist commits us to the poor.”

Fathers:

St. Augustine: “The Eucharist is our daily bread. But we must receive it in such a way that it does not become our condemnation.” (Sermon 227).

Reflection: If the Eucharist is Christ Himself, to deliberately skip Mass is to turn away from Him.

Weekend Wrap-Up – Eucharist and Mission

The Eucharist was instituted by Christ Himself.

The Mass is the re-presentation of Calvary.

The Real Presence is guaranteed by Christ’s words and the Fathers’ testimony.

The Mass is heaven on earth.

Mass sends us to live the Gospel in the world.

Study Prompt: Write a one-page summary explaining to a non-Catholic friend why the Eucharist is the heart of Catholic life.

Journal Prompts

“The Eucharist is the source of my life because…”

“The strongest proof of the Real Presence for me is…”

“If I really believed Christ is present in the Eucharist, I would…”

Apologetics Corner

Objection: “The Eucharist is symbolic.”
→ Answer: Jesus’ words are clear, the disciples left because He meant it literally (John 6). The Fathers unanimously affirm Real Presence.

Objection: “Catholics re-sacrifice Christ.”
→ Answer: The sacrifice is one; the Mass makes it present. The Church teaches it is not repetition but re-presentation.

Objection: “Sunday obligation is legalistic.”
→ Answer: Love makes demands. To receive Christ’s greatest gift weekly is not a burden but life itself.

Catechism Deep Dive

CCC 1322–1419 – The Eucharist

CCC 1366–1368 – The Eucharist as sacrifice

CCC 1376–1377 – Transubstantiation

CCC 2180–2183 – Sunday obligation

Recommended Fathers:

Ignatius of Antioch (Letter to the Smyrnaeans)

Justin Martyr (First Apology, ch. 65–67)

Augustine (Sermon 272, Confessions Book 7)

Cyprian (On the Unity of the Church)