The Eucharist is one of three sacraments of initiation in the Church. The other two are Baptism and Confirmation. Eucharist is also called Holy Communion because by this sacrament we unite ourselves to Christ, who makes us sharers in His Body and Blood.
Eucharist is the reception of the Body and Blood of Christ during Mass. Eucharist refers to both the celebration of the Mass and the consecrated bread and wine, which through transubstantiation become the Body and Blood of Christ. Transubstantiation is the change of the substance of bread (the Host) and wine into the Body and Blood of Christ.
Eucharist unites us with Christ and the Church. At the Last Supper, Jesus told His disciples to “do this in memory of me.” The Eucharist is a memorial of the Last Supper. As a memorial, the Eucharist is more than a simple remembering of past events. It actually makes present the sacrifice of the cross that Christ offered for all people.
This sacrament helps us to recognize the face of Christ in those in need and makes us one in Christ. Our communion with Christ unites us with the Church across time and space and into eternity.