"The Lamb of God," "The Bread of Life," "The Body and the Blood of Christ"... these are phrases we know from the Mass. But do we understand what they mean in the greater and deeper context of Scripture and Church teaching? Acclaimed author and teacher Dr. Brant Pitre rigorously digs down to the biblical roots of the Eucharist, through its foreshadowing in the miraculous events of the Old Testament, the Gospels, and Apostolic teaching. We'll discover firsthand how Christ's Body and Blood are an integral and wondrous part of God's plan for our salvation.
Why does the Church call the Eucharist the "source and summit of the Christian life?" Dr. Brant Pitre introduces us to the Sacrament of the Eucharist and explores its various names—and how those names give insight into its meaning.
Did you know that hints of the Eucharist can be seen throughout the Old Testament? Going all the way back to the book of Genesis, we'll discover how the Eucharist has been a part of God's plan from the beginning of time.
Lamb of God: The Sacrifice of Isaac & the Passover Lamb
At every Mass many of us use the phrase "Lamb of God" without fully understanding what it means. Dr. Pitre examines two key instances of sacrificial lambs in the Old Testament--and why John the Baptist's disciples were quick to leave him to follow the One he proclaimed as "the Lamb of God."
Jesus spoke of Himself as "the bread which comes down from heaven." What did that mean to the Jews who first heard him? And what meaning do those words have for us today in our understanding of the Eucharist?
Mysteries of the Tabernacle: The Bread of the Presence
When is bread more than just bread? In their pilgrimage through the desert, the people of Israel discover that God's care extends beyond meeting their physical needs to a profound and mysterious kind of relationship.
Miracles of Jesus: Water, Wine, Loaves, and Fishes
Throughout his public ministry, Jesus displayed divine power in the many miracles he performed. Dr. Pitre uncovers a deeper meaning to many of those miracles—and how they enlighten our understanding of the Eucharist.
Bread of Life Discourse: John 6 and the Real Presence
Jesus shocked the Jews of his time by offering his own flesh and blood as real food and real drink to gain eternal life. Was he speaking symbolically, as some argue, or did he mean what he said in ways we're still trying to understand?
The Eucharist affected the thinking of the early Church in all aspects of its worship and practices. But how did the Apostles put into practice Christ's command to "Do this in memory of me?" The story of two men and the miraculous encounter they had on the road to Emmaus could show us more than w...
The book of Revelation, with all of its apocalyptic imagery and focus on the end of time, has a great deal to teach us about liturgy and worship. Dr. Pitre brings our study of the Eucharist to a powerful conclusion.