Catholic Dictionary

Find accurate definitions of over 5,000 Catholic terms and phrases (including abbreviations). Based on Fr. John Hardon's Modern Catholic Dictionary, © Eternal Life. Used with permission.

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WORDS OF INSTITUTION

The words of Christ at the Last Supper, recorded by the sunoptic Gospels (Matthew 26:26-29; Mark 14:22-25; Luke 22:19-21); and St. Paul (I Corinthians 11:23-29). Their essential features are: 1. Christ separately consecrated bread and wine; 2. over the bread he said "This is my body" and over the wine "This is the chalice of my blood"; 3. The elements of bread and wine were thus changed into the living Christ; 4. he empowered the Apostles and their succesors to perform the same consecrating action; 5. he bade his followers to partake of the eucharist; 6. at the Last Supper, Christ offered his life to the Heavenly Father, but the actual death resulting from the sacrifice was to take place on the following day on Calvary.