Eucharist

The Eucharist, also called Holy Communion or Lord's Supper, is a ritual commemoration of Jesus' Last Supper with his disciples. The Holy Eucharist is a sacrament and a sacrifice. According to Catechism of the Catholic Church (CCC) 1360, “The Eucharist is a sacrifice of thanksgiving to the Father, a blessing by which the Church expresses her gratitude to God for all his benefits…….”

The Carmelite life has always been centred around the Eucharistic celebration. The first hermits on Mount Carmel gathered daily for the Eucharist. The Rule calls on Carmelites to share daily in the Eucharist. The chapel is to be in the midst of the cells, which evokes the heavenly Jerusalem. The Carmelite rule also speaks much about silence, solitude and meditation. Christ is present in both the solitude of the cell and the Eucharist.

The Eucharist is the source and summit of our entire lives as Discalced Carmelites. At the heart of community life is the abiding Eucharistic Presence of Christ. The Eucharist is the power which permits us to arrive at contemplation.

The way of life of a Carmelite is rooted in the Gospels and a deep love for Jesus in the Holy Eucharist. We ponder on the scriptures as we go about our daily tasks. The heart of our day is the celebration of the Eucharist.