the
servants in a king's palace would act when approaching their king or in
his presence, showing their respect by bowing, kneeling, etc. You will
see this more clearly if you watch the movements of the priest at the
altar while the Blessed Sacrament is exposed.

Lesson 23
ON THE END FOR WHICH THE HOLY EUCHARIST WAS INSTITUTED

251 Q. Why did Christ institute the Holy Eucharist?
A. Christ instituted the Holy Eucharist:

(1) To unite us to Himself and to nourish our souls with His divine
life.
(2) To increase sanctifying grace and all the virtues in our souls.
(3) To lessen our evil inclinations.
(4) To be a pledge of everlasting life.
(5) To fit our bodies for a glorious resurrection.
(6) To continue the sacrifice of the Cross in His Church.

"To nourish." The Holy Eucharist does to our souls what natural food
does to our bodies. It strengthens them and makes up for the losses we
have sustained by sin, etc. "A pledge," because it does not seem
probable that a person who all during life had been fed and nourished
with the sacred body of Our Lord should after death be buried in Hell.
"To fit our bodies," because Our Lord has promised that if we eat His
flesh and drink His blood, that is, receive the Holy Eucharist, He will
raise us up on the last day, or Day of Judgment. (John 6:55).

*252 Q. How are we united to Jesus Christ in the Holy Eucharist?
A. We are united to Jesus Christ in the Holy Eucharist by means of Holy
Communion.

253 Q. What is Holy Communion?
A. Holy Communion is the receiving of the body and blood of Christ.

Holy Communion is therefore the receiving of the Sacrament of Holy
Eucharist.

254 Q. What is necessary to make a good Communion?
A. To make a good Communion it is necessary to be in a state of
sanctifying grace, to be fasting for one hour, and to have a right
intention.

"Fasting"--that is, not having taken any food or drink for one hour
before the time of Communion. (Water and true medicine do not break the
fast and may be taken at any time.) What, then, are you to do, if,
without thinking, you break your fast? Do not go to Communion at that
Mass; you can remain in church and receive Communion at the following
Mass. Never, never, on any account, go to Holy Communion when you have
broken your fast. Never let fear or shame or anything else make you do
such a thing. It is no shame to break your fast by mistake; but it is a
great sin to knowingly go to Communion after break