After the Sign of Peace everyone says or sings the prayer:

Lamb of God, you take away the sins of the world, have mercy on us.

Lamb of God, you take away the sins of the world, have mercy on us.

Lamb of God, you take away the sins of the world, grant us peace.

The priest prepares to receive Jesus in Holy Communion with a prayer.  He then takes the host and, holding it up, says,

“Behold the Lamb of God,

behold him who takes away the sins of the world.

Blessed are those called to the supper of the Lamb.”

The people reply, praying,

“Lord, I am not worthy that you should enter under my roof,

but only say the word and my soul shall be healed.”

The priest receives the Body and Blood of Christ and then the people process to the altar.  The priest or the Extraordinary Minister of Holy Communion raises the host to show to each person saying, “The Body of Christ.”  The same is done with the chalice saying, “The Blood of Christ.” (The chalice is often but not always given).  Each person responds, “Amen.”  Amen means agreement.

This is a most solemn moment.  Christ is really present in the form of bread and wine, in the same way he gave himself to the disciples at the Last Supper, saying, ‘This is my body, this is my blood’.  When Christians receive Christ in Holy Communion, not only do they become one with him, in communion, but also with those whom Christ loves - all people.  Paul reminds Christians in his first letter to the Corinthians 10:17:

‘And as there is one loaf, so we, although there are many of us,

are one single body, for we all share in the one loaf.’

Anyone who is not a Catholic or has not yet made their First Holy Communion, may come up for a blessing and receive Christ in their heart.

Task

Answer the following questions in detail:

1. What do you think is the meaning of the phrase ‘Lamb of God’? (In Jesus’ day a lamb was always sacrificed in the Temple at the Feast of the Passover.)
2. Why do you think there is so much preparation and prayers before the distribution of Holy Communion?
3. Why do you think everyone says, “Lord, I am not worthy...”?
4. What do you think would help people to be worthy?
5. Why should people process to the altar reverently to receive Jesus in Holy Communion?