Communion: The Eucharist is the sacrament in which the bread and wine presented at mass becomes the body and blood of are Lord, Jesus Christ. Form: The form of baptism is in the form of the words spoken by the minister. These words are: "Take this, all of you, and eat of it: for this is my body which will be given up for you." "Take this, all of you, and drink from it: for this is the chalice of my blood, the blood of the new and eternal covenant. Which will be poured out for you and for many for the forgiveness of sins." "Do this is memory of me." Matter: The matter for Communion are the bread made from wheat and water and wine made from grapes. Roman or Western Christians do not use yeast in the bread for the Eucharist however, unlike the Eastern or Orthodox Christians who do use yeast in the bread of the Eucharist. Minister: The minister when it comes to consecrating the bread and wine into the Eucharist is only a priest or bishop, however deacons, priests and bishops are the ordinary ministers when it comes to distributing Holy Communion. Lay people can be trained to be extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion to assist at Mass and bring the Eucharist to the homebound. Receiver: Catholics in a state of grace who are not guilty of any mortal or serious sins since their last Reconciliation or their Baptism may receive the sacrament of Communion. Non-Catholics cannot receive the Eucharist. This is because it is a sign of the faithful's communion with each other, the Church and Jesus. Orthodox Christians however, may receive the Eucharist in special circumstances with special permission. Frequency: The minimum for receiving holy communion is once in a year and during the Easter Season. The maximum for receiving communion is no more than once per day unless you receive it in two different celebrations. Effect: The effects of the Eucharist are a stronger union with Christ through receiving His Body and Blood, nourishment of spiritual life, it acts as the medicine of spiritual life, it separates us from sin by removing are venial or minor sins, gives our spirit strength and unites us with the Body of Christ and the whole Church also known as the Mystical Body of Christ. Adoration: Eucharistic Adoration is something your parish may offer that you just might not have been aware of. Eucharistic adoration is a practice in which the blessed sacrament, the consecrated host, is adored by Christians outside of mass. Saint Basil is one of the earliest examples someone who kept the host for adoration. He is said to have placed the remaining portion of the host in a gold case and left it on the altar. This is some what mimicked today as we still place the host in special case to preserve the host inside for all to see and adore. Adoration is celebrated at many parishes and possibly even your own! In fact both my parish and Kellenberg celebrate Eucharistic adoration. Kellenberg celebrates Eucharistic Adoration every month through a program called XLT. XLT begins at 6 pm with food in the cafeteria and ends at 8 pm. At my parish, Our Lady of Lourdes in Malverne, Eucharistic adoration is celebrated on the first Friday of every month from 8 pm to 10 pm and on the second Thursday of each month from 12 pm to 4:45 pm.