Raniero Cantalamessa, OFM Cap, taught the history of Christian origins at the Catholic University of Milan and served on the International Theological Commission. He devotes his ministry to preaching and writing, and from 1980-2024 served as the Preacher to the Papal Household. Cantalamessa is author of Shepherds and Fishermen; Jesus Began to Preach; The Mystery of God's Word; Come, Creator Spirit; Mary: Mirror of the Church; The Eucharist: Our Sanctification; The Holy Spirit in the Life of Jesus; The Mystery of Easter; The Mystery of Pentecost; and Life in Christ; (all published by Liturgical Press).

• CONTENTSI.   "CHRIST OUT PASOVER HA BEEN IMMOLATED"The Eucharist in the History of Salvation   51.  Figures and foreshadowings of the Eucharist in the Old Testament   62.  The Eucharist as an event  83.  The Eucharist as sacrament   12II.   "THIS IS MY BODY WHICH WILL BE GIVEN UP FOR YOU" The Eucharist makes the Church through Consecration   161.  He broke the bread   172.  Take this, all of you, and eat it   193.  This is my body, this is my blood   214.  Come to the Father!   24III.   'HE WHO EATS ME WILL LIVE BECAUSE OF ME"The Eucharist make the Church through Communion   271.  Communion with the body and blood of Christ   282.  He who is united to the Lord becomes on Spirit with him   293.  "I in them and you in me": communion with the Father   324.  God placed his body in our hands   335.  Communion with the body of Christ, the Church   36IV:   "UNLESS YOU DRINK THE BLOOD OF THE SONE OF MAN . . ."The Eucharist, Communion with the Blood of Christ   391.  Communion under both kinds   392.  Blood in the Bible: figure, event, and sacrament   443.  "All were made to drink of one Spirit"   47V.     "DO THIS IN MEMORY OF ME"The Eucharist makes the Church through Contemplation   531.  The constant memory of Christ   542.  Adoration of the Most Holy Sacrament   583.  I look at Him and He looks at me   61VI.    "I HAVE GIVEN YOU AN EXAMPLE"The Eucharist makes the Church through Imitation   641.  The significance of the washing of feet   652.  The spirit of service   673.  Service of the Spirit   704.  Service to the poor   72VII.   "BEHOLD, SOMETHING GREATER THAN SOLOMON IS HERE"The Eucharist as the real presence of the Lord   771.  Behold, the dwelling of God with us!   772.  Hold fast what is good   793.  A real but hidden presence: the Catholic tradition   804.  The action of the Holy Spirit: the Orthodox tradition   835.  The importance of faith: Protestant spirituality   856.  The sentiment of the presence   877.  Our answer to the mystery of the real presence   89VIII.  "UNTIL HE COMES'The Eucharist as waiting for the Lord's coming   931.  Sursum corda!   932.  The Eucharist makes the Parish   953.  Behold, the Bridegroom!   984.  Waiting and commitment   1005.  Let us go to the House of the Lord!   102