Christ in the sacrament: "so to eat the flesh of thy dear Son, Jesus Christ, and to drink his blood." It is good to be reminded that the Episcopal Church has always held this doctrine as central to the Eucharist. Every word, action and ceremony at High Mass proclaims this catholic truth.

THE COMMUNION

The fourth thing that Our Lord did at the Last Supper was to give the disciples the sacred gifts of his Body and Blood in the Holy Communion. The Church therefore now passes to the fourth part of the Eucharistic action: the Communion.

The Communion is an essential part of every Mass, and at least the celebrating Priest is bound to receive the Blessed Sacrament. If the Holy Sacrifice is offered at a time when there are no others to do so, those present should at least associate themselves with the Priest's Communion by an act of spiritual communion. By the law of the Universal Church, we are required to receive Holy Communion at least once a year, at Eastertide. We should prepare for our Communions by prayer and by penitence for our sins, and when necessary, by seeking Absolution in the Sacrament of Penance.

The Blessed Sacrament was the weekly food of the members of the early Church and frequent Communion should be the practice of all who are striving to lead a devout Christian life. Our Lord himself has spoken of the blessings that are conferred on those who feed on his Sacred Body and Blood: through the Blessed Sacrament they enter into the eternal life which Christ imparts to his disciples even here on earth; in the Sacrament, they find the pledge of their immortality and by it they are