Important Milestones in the Development of the Eucharist

The all-pervasive action of the Triune God brings together the community that worships God as father, inspires the individual believers to perform their different roles in the community’s surrender to God, and authorizes the ordained minister to officiate in the sacramental rite. In this way in the Eucharist, the Memoria Christi (strong memory ) becomes alive, transforming and fulfilling. This is what the Eucharist was meant to be throughout the history of the Church so that the community of faith identified more completely with its Risen Lord. Vatican II, affirms that the Eucharist is” a memorial of his death and resurrection: a sacrament of love, a sign of unity, a bond of charity, a paschal banquet in which Christ is consumed.’’This essay traces the history of eucharistic celebration during four important periods in the life of the Church: (i) in the New Testament times, (ii) during the eleventh century, (iii) at the time of the Council of Trent in the sixteenth century and (iv) during Vatican Council II. Its objective is to highlight theological considerations that have pastoral implications in the Church today. Finally, the author appreciates the need for inculturating the Eucharist so that the strong memory (Memoria Christi) can take effect in the varied cultural communities of believers