Catholic Answers Live #12668 Is the Road to Emmaus the First Mass? Communion and Doxology - Tom Nash
Apr 10, 2026
Tom Nash, theologian and liturgy expert who writes and speaks widely on the Mass and Eucharist. He tackles whether the Emmaus encounter counts as the first post‑Resurrection Mass, the relation of the Last Supper to the institution of the Eucharist, the order of Melchizedek, the history of the doxology, receiving Communion in the hand, and pastoral responses to irregular Communion practices.
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One Sacrifice Offered Anew At Each Mass
- The Mass is the one sacrifice of Christ made present repeatedly, not multiple separate sacrifices.
- Nash explains each Mass participates anew in Calvary's single offering according to the order of Melchizedek, offered in heaven and made present sacramentally on earth.
Melchizedek Links Old Covenant To Eucharist
- The priesthood of Jesus is understood as according to the order of Melchizedek, linking bread and wine sacrifice imagery from Genesis to the Eucharist.
- Nash references Hebrews and Genesis 14 to show Jesus' priesthood transcends old covenant sacrifices and uses bread and wine signs.
Receive The Eucharist Respectfully In The Hand If Permitted
- Do not treat receiving Communion in the hand as intrinsically sinful because Church discipline permits it when done reverently.
- Nash advises proper hand posture, immediate consumption, and notes the real mortal sin is receiving in a state of mortal sin, not the method.
