“Jesus said: “I am the living bread that came down from heaven; if any one eats of this bread, he will live forever; …he who eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life and … abides in me, and I in him” - (Jn 6:51, 54,66).
The Eucharist is the heart and the summit of the Church’s life, for in it Christ associates his Church and all her members with the sacrifice of the cross to his Father; by this sacrifice he pours out the graces of salvation on his Body which is the Church.
The Eucharistic celebration always includes: the proclamation of the Word of God; thanksgiving to God the Father for all his benefits, above all the gift of his Son; the consecration of bread and wine; and participation in the liturgical banquet by receiving the Lord’s body and blood. These elements constitute one single act of worship.
The Eucharist is the memorial of Christ’s Passover, that is of the work of salvation accomplished by his life, death and resurrection of Christ, a work made present by the liturgical action. (…) 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 divinity (cf. Council of Trent: DS 1640, 1651). As sacrifice, the Eucharist is also offered in reparation for the sins of the living and the dead and to obtain spiritual and temporal benefits from God.
Anyone who desires to receive Christ in the 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. 1406, 1407, 1408, 1409, 1413,1414, 1415).
The Church also recommends frequent communion and adoration (CCC 1417, 1418).