Eat this bread

"'For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord's death until he comes' (1 Corinthians 11:26).

"St. Paul reminds the Christians of Corinth that the 'Lord's supper' is not only a convivial gathering, but also -- and above all -- the memorial of the redeeming sacrifice of Christ. Whoever takes part -- the Apostle explains -- unites himself to the mystery of the death of the Lord, in fact, becomes his 'herald.'

"There is, therefore, a very close relation between 'celebrating the Eucharist' and proclaiming Christ. To enter into communion with him in the Pasch memorial means, at the same time, to become missionaries of the event that the ritual realizes. In a certain sense, it means to render it contemporary at all times, until the Lord returns."

John Paul II
Homily on Feast of Corpus Christi 2004