The Eucharist is the source of grace, and all sacraments are oriented toward it. The word Eucharist comes from the Greek word eucharistia meaning thanksgiving and is the source of our Faith because everything mankind has comes from it. In this same way, Jesus is the source of grace for all the sacraments, but most of all the Holy Eucharist because the Eucharist is Christ Himself.

Since it is Jesus, one believes that the Eucharist is the “source” because mankind’s source is God. He is its Maker, its Father, its Lord and Master. He is the source of all grace, and Catholics are extremely blessed to receive him in the most holy sacrament of the Eucharist. “For in the blessed Eucharist is contained the whole spiritual good of the Church.” CCC 1324.

One believes the Eucharist is the summit of Christian life because it is the climax of God’s saving actions and our worship of Him who leads us to the Father through the Holy Spirit. The word summit comes from the Latin word summum, meaning the highest. Believing that the Eucharist is the “summit” means that it is the highest, that it is the top of all one seeks. Since it is Christ Himself, there is nothing greater to reach.

The sacrament of Baptism begins mankind’s sacramental initiation, but the sacrament of the Eucharist completes it to the fullest extent. Jesus instituted the Eucharist so that He could continue to be with all people, but more specifically so He could be with the Catholic Church and all its members, so that they might partake of the mystery of His passion, death and resurrection. His command to “do this in memory of Me” has been carried out faithfully by the Catholic Church from the very beginning and will continue until the end of time. In this way, the Eucharist is the very center of the Church’s life, and the Church is the very center of Catholicism. “I am the bread of life; whoever comes to Me will never hunger, and whoever believes in Me will never thirst.” John 6:35.

The Eucharist is the source and summit of Christian life because the Eucharist, to put it simply, is Jesus Christ, the Son of God. There is nothing else that could come close to being as beautiful and fitting as Christ Himself. Christ is “the highest” as well as the “source” of everything true, good, and beautiful, and nothing could be the “summit” except Him who is. “I Am who Am.” Exodus 3:14. All praise and glory be to the Father, to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be forever. Amen.

Bibliography:

The Holy Bible. New American Bible. Wichita, Kansas: Catholic Bible Publishers. Print.

Catechism of the Catholic Church. Second Edition. Washington, DC: United States Catholic Conference. Print.

https://stjosephbcs.org/documents/RCIA/Sessions/Eucharist.pdf

https://www.ewtn.com/catholicism/library/eucharist-source-and-summit-of-christian-spirituality-10380

https://www.catholic.com/qa/why-the-eucharist-is-the-source-and-summit-of-christianity