Dissertation on the Most August Sacrament of the Lord's Body and Blood

...of nature, as the same author adds, and as is found in the fifth lesson in the octave An "octave" refers to the eight-day period of celebration following a major religious feast—in this case, Corpus Christi. of the Body of Christ. The same is taught by Irenaeus in book 4, chapter 34; Hilary in On the Trinity, book 8; Chrysostom, Augustine, and others. And for this reason, in harmony with the Scriptures from the Apostle St. Paul cited above, the Eucharist is called Communion by the Fathers. This is because it truly unites us all to the body of Christ, so that with Him and in Him we may all be one. For "Communion," according to the origin of the name, is the common union of the faithful, who by eating the same true body of Christ in the Eucharist, are made into one mystical body of Christ—that is, one Church—as the Venerable Bede well teaches from Augustine. Hence also the Council of Trent The 16th-century ecumenical council that clarified Catholic doctrine in response to the Reformation. states:

VI. Principle. The Sacrament of the Eucharist is a sign of unity, a bond of charity, and a symbol of peace and concord. (Session 13, chapter 8). The reason is that, in an excellent way, it signifies and perfects the unity of the mystical body of Christ, which is the Church of the faithful. For this reason, in former times, the Eucharist was given even to infants after the Sacrament of Baptism, so that they might be perfectly united with the body of Christ—not only the mystical body, but also the true body—and that Christ might remain in them, and they in Christ, as St. John says in chapter 6, verse 20. Chrysostom speaks excellently on this sentiment: Understanding these things, most beloved, let us also desire to preserve charity for one another: for to this end He brings us that dread and admirable Sacrifice, which commands us to approach Him with the greatest charity and concord. (Homily 24 on Paul, in the section on morals). For this reason also, the Eucharist is called synaxis original: "synaxis" — a Greek term meaning assembly or gathering. by St. Dionysius and others, which means "Congregation." This is not only because the faithful are accustomed to gather in the Church to receive it and come together as one, as the Apostle says in 1 Corinthians 11, verse 20, but also because, by the power of this Sacrament, they are united by the spiritual bond of Christian charity. For although they become one through faith and the Sacrament of regeneration Baptism, this unity is perfected in a far more eminent way through the union of the one real body and blood of the Lord, according to that word of the Apostle:

VII. Principle. Because there is one bread, we who are many are one body, for we all partake of the one bread. (1 Corinthians 10, verse 17). For just as one bread is made from many grains, so from all the faithful one mystical body, or Church, is established—not only as a figure and improperly, but in reality and entirely properly. This is because all are in fact united to the truly unique body of Christ, and become one with Him in the Eucharist, just as food becomes one with the person eating it. Thus, that famous axiom has its place here in its own way: Things which are the same as a third thing are the same as