Features of the Eucharist

 All three circles attempt to explain the important features of the Eucharist.  This conception is not my idea.  Kevin W. Irwin explains the Eucharist in three circles in the conclusion of his book, Models of the Eucharist, (which I will review some day). Father Irwin has the Liturgy the smallest of the circles, yet in the center.  Since prayer, to me, is liturgy, I make it smaller than liturgy.  Prayer make up the liturgy but liturgy includes more than that.

The center, of course, is the rite of the Eucharist, in the Catholic Mass. Our spirituality colors the words, music, gestures, and even the emotions that build on the prayers in the liturgical rite of the Eucharist.

The biggest circle is spirituality.  Picture this as the way Catholics think and view the world expressed in their worship.  It's Trinitarian, meaning we see the world through a Christian lens. We see life as grace with divine providence.

The smallest circle is how we Catholics communicate with God.  There are various ways--something for everybody.  Even our lives can be offered in prayer.  So can music and other forms of art.  Obviously, prayer is how we express our praise and thanks to our creator.

All three circles lead to the Eucharist.  Our Eucharistic spirituality views our lives as God's image.  Our prayer-- thanks and praise to God for His many graces and particularly for giving us His Body and His Blood in the Eucharist.