he Church by Jesus Christ through the ministry
of His priests.

Q. 891. {249} When did Christ give His priests the power to change bread
and wine into His body and blood?
A. Christ gave His priests the power to change bread and wine into His
body and blood when He said to the Apostles, "Do this in commemoration
of Me."

Q. 892. What do the words "Do this in commemoration of Me" mean?
A. The words "Do this in commemoration of Me" mean: Do what I, Christ,
am doing at My last supper, namely, changing the substance of bread and
wine into the substance of My body and blood; and do it in remembrance
of Me.

Q. 893. {250} How do the priests exercise this power of changing bread
and wine into the body and blood of Christ?
A. The priests exercise this power of changing bread and wine into the
body and blood of Christ through the words of consecration in the Mass,
which are words of Christ: "This is my body; this is my blood."

Q. 894. At what part of the Mass does the Consecration take place?
A. The Consecration in the Mass takes place immediately before the
elevation of the Host and Chalice, which are raised above the head of
the priest that the people may adore Our Lord who has just come to the
altar at the words of Consecration.

LESSON TWENTY-THIRD.
ON THE ENDS FOR WHICH THE HOLY EUCHARIST WAS INSTITUTED.

Q. 895. {251} Why did Christ institute the Holy Eucharist?
A. Christ instituted the Holy Eucharist--

1. To unite us to Himself and to nourish our soul with His divine life.
2. To increase sanctifying grace and all virtues in our soul.
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.

Q. 896. Has the Holy Eucharist any other effect?
A. The Holy Eucharist remits venial sins by disposing us to perform acts
of love and contrition. It preserves us from mortal sin by exciting us
to greater fervor and strengthening us against temptation.

Q. 897. {252} 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.

Q. 898. {253} What is Holy Communion?
A. Holy Communion is the receiving of the body and blood of Christ.

Q. 899. Is it not beneath the dignity of Our Lord to enter our bodies
under the appearance of ordinary food?
A. It is not beneath the dignity of Our Lord to enter our bodies under
th