This Is My Body: The Mystery of the Eucharist
A 33-day evidence-based journey through the Jewish foundations, biblical types, New Testament institution, earliest Christian Eucharistic witnesses, Catholic doctrine and the mystery of the Mass. Explore Melchizedek, manna, the Bread of the Presence, covenant blood, early Eucharistic worship, the Real Presence, Eucharistic sacrifice, and the heavenly banquet. Each day includes RSV-CE Scripture, an in-depth continuous teaching, a traditional prayer, an action, reflection and three knowledge checks.
Day 1 is open to everyone. A free account unlocks every day, saves your progress and lets you open any lesson at your own pace.
What the journey covers
- 1This Is My Body: What Catholics Actually Mean
This Is My Body: What Catholics Actually Mean
about 19 min - 2Why the Eucharist Is Called Thanksgiving: A Jewish Clue
Why the Eucharist Is Called Thanksgiving: A Jewish Clue
about 19 min - 3Melchizedek: A King, a Priest, Bread and Wine
Melchizedek: A King, a Priest, Bread and Wine
about 19 min - 4Twelve Loaves Before God: The Bread of the Presence
Twelve Loaves Before God: The Bread of the Presence
about 19 min - 5Why Israel Preserved Manna in a Sacred Jar
Why Israel Preserved Manna in a Sacred Jar
about 19 min - 6Elisha's Twenty Loaves: The Feeding Miracle Before Jesus
Elisha's Twenty Loaves: The Feeding Miracle Before Jesus
about 19 min - 7The Bread That Kept Elijah Walking for Forty Days
The Bread That Kept Elijah Walking for Forty Days
about 19 min
Show all 33 days
- 8The Passover Lamb Had to Be Eaten
The Passover Lamb Had to Be Eaten
about 20 min - 9Why Drinking Blood Shocked Jewish Listeners
Why Drinking Blood Shocked Jewish Listeners
about 20 min - 10Moses Sprinkled Blood; Jesus Offered the Cup
Moses Sprinkled Blood; Jesus Offered the Cup
about 20 min - 11Jeremiah's New Covenant and the Cup of Jesus
Jeremiah's New Covenant and the Cup of Jesus
about 20 min - 12The Todah: An Ancient Thanksgiving Sacrifice
The Todah: An Ancient Thanksgiving Sacrifice
about 20 min - 13Paul's Cup of Blessing and the One Bread
Paul's Cup of Blessing and the One Bread
about 20 min - 14Was the Last Supper a Passover Seder? The Real Historical Debate
Was the Last Supper a Passover Seder? The Real Historical Debate
about 20 min - 15Anamnesis: Remembering That Makes the Sacrifice Present
Anamnesis: Remembering That Makes the Sacrifice Present
about 20 min - 16Jesus Said Moses Did Not Give the True Bread
Jesus Said Moses Did Not Give the True Bread
about 20 min - 17My Flesh Is True Food: Reading John 6 with Care
My Flesh Is True Food: Reading John 6 with Care
about 20 min - 18Why Some Disciples Walked Away After the Bread of Life
Why Some Disciples Walked Away After the Bread of Life
about 20 min - 19Paul's Eucharistic Account Is Older Than the Written Gospels
Paul's Eucharistic Account Is Older Than the Written Gospels
about 20 min - 20Four Institution Accounts: What Is Common and What Differs?
Four Institution Accounts: What Is Common and What Differs?
about 20 min - 21One Bread, One Body: Communion That Changes Relationships
One Bread, One Body: Communion That Changes Relationships
about 20 min - 22The Corinthians' Scandal: Some Were Hungry While Others Feasted
The Corinthians' Scandal: Some Were Hungry While Others Feasted
about 20 min - 23Emmaus: Recognizing Christ in the Breaking of Bread
Emmaus: Recognizing Christ in the Breaking of Bread
about 20 min - 24The Didache: Early Christians Blessed a Cup Before Bread
The Didache: Early Christians Blessed a Cup Before Bread
about 20 min - 25Ignatius of Antioch: The Eucharist and Christ's Real Flesh
Ignatius of Antioch: The Eucharist and Christ's Real Flesh
about 20 min - 26Justin Martyr: A Description of Sunday Worship Around AD 155
Justin Martyr: A Description of Sunday Worship Around AD 155
about 20 min - 27Irenaeus: Eucharist and the Resurrection of Your Body
Irenaeus: Eucharist and the Resurrection of Your Body
about 20 min - 28Cyril and Ambrose Before Medieval Transubstantiation
Cyril and Ambrose Before Medieval Transubstantiation
about 20 min - 29Holy, Holy, Holy: When the Mass Joins Heaven's Worship
Holy, Holy, Holy: When the Mass Joins Heaven's Worship
about 20 min - 30Epiclesis: Why the Priest Invokes the Holy Spirit
Epiclesis: Why the Priest Invokes the Holy Spirit
about 20 min - 31Does Mass Crucify Jesus Again? The Once-for-All Sacrifice
Does Mass Crucify Jesus Again? The Once-for-All Sacrifice
about 20 min - 32Why the Priest Breaks the Host and Places a Piece in the Chalice
Why the Priest Breaks the Host and Places a Piece in the Chalice
about 20 min - 33The Wedding Supper of the Lamb: Why Eucharist Leads Toward Heaven
The Wedding Supper of the Lamb: Why Eucharist Leads Toward Heaven
about 20 min
Ready to begin?
One short lesson a day is the suggested pace, but you can open any day whenever you like. Your account keeps your place.
Artwork: The Last Supper, Netherlandish (Antwerp Mannerist) Painters, 1515–20; center panel the Last Supper, left Melchizedek offering bread and wine, right Israelites gathering manna. The Metropolitan Museum of Art, Public Domain/Open Access. https://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/437213
SOURCES
- Scripture: Holy Bible — Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition, Day-specific citations, chapters and precise passages are included in each teaching. (RSV–CE; all cited daily Scripture passages) · National Council of Churches · BibleGateway, 1965–1966
- Catechism: Catechism of the Catholic Church: The Sacrament of the Eucharist, Day-specific citations, chapters and precise passages are included in each teaching. (CCC 1322–1419) · Catholic Church · Holy See, 1992
- Catechism: Catechism: The Eucharist and Thanksgiving, Day-specific citations, chapters and precise passages are included in each teaching. (CCC 1328–1332) · Catholic Church · Holy See, 1992
- Catechism: Catechism: Eucharist in the Economy of Salvation, Day-specific citations, chapters and precise passages are included in each teaching. (CCC 1333–1344) · Catholic Church · Holy See, 1992
- Catechism: Catechism: Liturgical Celebration of the Eucharist, Day-specific citations, chapters and precise passages are included in each teaching. (CCC 1345–1355) · Catholic Church · Holy See, 1992
- Catechism: Catechism: Eucharistic Sacrifice, Memorial and Presence, Day-specific citations, chapters and precise passages are included in each teaching. (CCC 1356–1381) · Catholic Church · Holy See, 1992
- Catechism: Catechism: The Paschal Banquet, Day-specific citations, chapters and precise passages are included in each teaching. (CCC 1382–1401) · Catholic Church · Holy See, 1992
- Catechism: Catechism: The Eucharist Pledge of Glory, Day-specific citations, chapters and precise passages are included in each teaching. (CCC 1402–1405) · Catholic Church · Holy See, 1992
- Magisterium: General Instruction of the Roman Missal, Chapter II, Day-specific citations, chapters and precise passages are included in each teaching. (GIRM 72–89, especially 79 and 83) · Roman Missal
- Magisterium: John Paul II — Ecclesia de Eucharistia, Day-specific citations, chapters and precise passages are included in each teaching. (Eucharistic ecclesiology, sacrifice and adoration) · Pope John Paul II · Holy See, 2003
- Church Father: Didache, chapters 9–10 and 14, Day-specific citations, chapters and precise passages are included in each teaching. (Prayers over cup and bread, Lord's Day assembly) · Early Christian community
- Church Father: Ignatius of Antioch — Letter to Smyrnaeans, Day-specific citations, chapters and precise passages are included in each teaching. (Chapters 6–8: Eucharist and Incarnation) · Ignatius of Antioch
- Church Father: Justin Martyr — First Apology, Day-specific citations, chapters and precise passages are included in each teaching. (Chapters 65–67: Sunday worship and Eucharist) · Justin Martyr
- Church Father: Irenaeus — Against Heresies IV.18, Day-specific citations, chapters and precise passages are included in each teaching. (Eucharist and the offering of creation) · Irenaeus of Lyons
- Church Father: Irenaeus — Against Heresies V.2, Day-specific citations, chapters and precise passages are included in each teaching. (Eucharist and resurrection of the flesh) · Irenaeus of Lyons
- Church Father: Cyril of Jerusalem — Mystagogical Catechesis IV, Day-specific citations, chapters and precise passages are included in each teaching. (Lecture 22: Body and Blood of Christ) · Cyril of Jerusalem
- Church Father: Ambrose — On the Mysteries, Day-specific citations, chapters and precise passages are included in each teaching. (Chapters 8–9: consecration and Christ's word) · Ambrose of Milan
- Source: Mishnah Pesachim 10 (later rabbinic Passover order), Day-specific citations, chapters and precise passages are included in each teaching. (Comparative context; compiled around AD 200, not a transcript of Jesus' meal) · Mishnah
- Source: Joshua Kulp — Origins of the Seder and Haggadah, Day-specific citations, chapters and precise passages are included in each teaching. (Peer-reviewed historical caution; Jewish Seder development) · Joshua Kulp · 2005
- Source: Joel Marcus — Passover and Last Supper Revisited, Day-specific citations, chapters and precise passages are included in each teaching. (Passover and Gospel chronology, alternative arguments) · Joel Marcus · 2013
- Source: The Met — The Last Supper Triptych (1515–20), Day-specific citations, chapters and precise passages are included in each teaching. (Art-historical depiction of Melchizedek, manna and Last Supper) · Metropolitan Museum of Art
- Source: The Met — Rubens, Glorification of the Eucharist, Day-specific citations, chapters and precise passages are included in each teaching. (Artwork linking Melchizedek, Elijah, Paul, Cyril and Eucharist) · Metropolitan Museum of Art
- Devotional book: Traditional Eucharistic Prayers — Totus Catholica, Day-specific citations, chapters and precise passages are included in each teaching. (Prayer texts reused from published prayer library, without alteration) · Totus Catholica