Another important aspect is that the outpouring of Christ for humanity in love happened at the crucifixion, which was the actual sacrificial event; and then, the outpouring of Christ’s Spirit into His people at Pentecost that would not have happened without the crucifixion. Pentecost is when Christ inhabited His people for the first time by His Spirit. After that, Baptism is the sacrament associated with the habitation of Christ’s Spirit within us. Without this presence within us prior to our participation in the Eucharist, there is no sanctifying grace flowing into us before receiving the Eucharist.
And without the Eucharist, the preparatory grace of Baptism is incomplete, since without it we cannot participate fully in His sacrifice: "Except you eat the flesh of the Son of man, and drink his blood, you shall not have life in you." (Jn 6:54) The Last Supper was the beginning of His sacrifice which culminated in the Crucifixion and which is re-presented at every valid Mass as a participation in the Heavenly Liturgy. But, as you say, the Eucharist does not impart sanctifying grace, only Baptism does, and it can only be restored by Confession. Like the blood of the Passover, the Eucharist is the seal.
Here is a quote which Dr. Scott Hahn posted on his Facebook page, from his book "Consuming the Word," which is the main source for my ideas in this reflection:
"If the Eucharist that Jesus instituted was just a meal, then Calvary was just a Roman execution. But if Jesus instituted the Eucharist to be the Passover of the New Covenant, then it had to involve both sacrifice and communion, as did the Old Covenant Passover.
The words of institution show that Jesus established the Eucharist as the sacrifice of the New Covenant. As such, the Eucharist transformed Calvary from a Roman execution to a holy sacrifice—the consummation of his self-offering that was initiated in the Upper Room. Thus, he didn’t lose his life on Good Friday, since he had already given it—in loving sacrifice—on Holy Thursday. Jesus was not the hapless victim of Roman injustice and violence, but rather the willing victim of divine love and mercy."
Baptism is the first sacrament. Christ’s Spirit needs to be within us is by faith prior to the Eucharist. This is how we receive the benefits, gifts, and fruits of the redemptive sacrifice of Christ and His subsequent resurrection and ascension. We walk in the Spirit to experience them; then, we are ready for the Eucharist. Our seal is the Holy Spirit (cf. Ephesians 1:13; 4:30).
The entire focus of the article was the Eucharist. You always seem to bring up points that are irrelevant to the main point of the article. The discussion of Baptism can be a topic for another piece.
Understanding what results from the preparation for receiving the Eucharist and what results from the Eucharist itself does need some clarification at times. Scripture says almost nothing about spiritual benefits from the Eucharist, whereas it has much to say about the benefits from the Holy Spirit who prepares us for receiving it. It seems like many Catholics get the two reversed.
The Holy Spirit is not absent from the Eucharist. He is the power of God's love who enables the transubstantiation of the Eucharist to take place, just as He enabled the Incarnation at the Annunciation. The persons of the Trinity never act alone.
Another important aspect is that the outpouring of Christ for humanity in love happened at the crucifixion, which was the actual sacrificial event; and then, the outpouring of Christ’s Spirit into His people at Pentecost that would not have happened without the crucifixion. Pentecost is when Christ inhabited His people for the first time by His Spirit. After that, Baptism is the sacrament associated with the habitation of Christ’s Spirit within us. Without this presence within us prior to our participation in the Eucharist, there is no sanctifying grace flowing into us before receiving the Eucharist.
And without the Eucharist, the preparatory grace of Baptism is incomplete, since without it we cannot participate fully in His sacrifice: "Except you eat the flesh of the Son of man, and drink his blood, you shall not have life in you." (Jn 6:54) The Last Supper was the beginning of His sacrifice which culminated in the Crucifixion and which is re-presented at every valid Mass as a participation in the Heavenly Liturgy. But, as you say, the Eucharist does not impart sanctifying grace, only Baptism does, and it can only be restored by Confession. Like the blood of the Passover, the Eucharist is the seal.
Here is a quote which Dr. Scott Hahn posted on his Facebook page, from his book "Consuming the Word," which is the main source for my ideas in this reflection:
"If the Eucharist that Jesus instituted was just a meal, then Calvary was just a Roman execution. But if Jesus instituted the Eucharist to be the Passover of the New Covenant, then it had to involve both sacrifice and communion, as did the Old Covenant Passover.
The words of institution show that Jesus established the Eucharist as the sacrifice of the New Covenant. As such, the Eucharist transformed Calvary from a Roman execution to a holy sacrifice—the consummation of his self-offering that was initiated in the Upper Room. Thus, he didn’t lose his life on Good Friday, since he had already given it—in loving sacrifice—on Holy Thursday. Jesus was not the hapless victim of Roman injustice and violence, but rather the willing victim of divine love and mercy."
Agree 100%
Baptism is the first sacrament. Christ’s Spirit needs to be within us is by faith prior to the Eucharist. This is how we receive the benefits, gifts, and fruits of the redemptive sacrifice of Christ and His subsequent resurrection and ascension. We walk in the Spirit to experience them; then, we are ready for the Eucharist. Our seal is the Holy Spirit (cf. Ephesians 1:13; 4:30).
The entire focus of the article was the Eucharist. You always seem to bring up points that are irrelevant to the main point of the article. The discussion of Baptism can be a topic for another piece.
Understanding what results from the preparation for receiving the Eucharist and what results from the Eucharist itself does need some clarification at times. Scripture says almost nothing about spiritual benefits from the Eucharist, whereas it has much to say about the benefits from the Holy Spirit who prepares us for receiving it. It seems like many Catholics get the two reversed.
The Holy Spirit is not absent from the Eucharist. He is the power of God's love who enables the transubstantiation of the Eucharist to take place, just as He enabled the Incarnation at the Annunciation. The persons of the Trinity never act alone.
Amen!