Many people are perhaps familiar by now with where the word “Eucharist” comes from and what it means. For those not yet familiar, the word comes from the Greek word “eucharistia,” which translates to “thanksgiving.” The Eucharist is a lot of things for us: our new Passover, the source and summit of the Christian life, the Bread of Angels come down from Heaven. But the Church chose to name it “Eucharist” because it is our means of offering thanks to God for all that He has done for us. 

Often times with these reflections, I try to offer something people have not come across before. Sometimes, though, it is good to go back to the basics. With that in mind, let’s look at some basics about receiving Communion.