The author summarizes the principal themes of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishop's document "The Real Presence of Jesus Christ in the Sacrament of the Eucharist: Basic Questions and Answers." "The Eucharist is, for Catholics, both a meal and a sacrifice," the author writes. "The Lord gave us the Eucharist at the Last Supper because he wanted us to share in the life of the Trinity, the loving communion of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit."