287. Why is the Holy Eucharist the paschal banquet?The Holy Eucharist is the paschal banquet in as much as Christ sacramentally makes present his Passover and gives us his Body and Blood, offered as food and drink, uniting us to himself and to one another in his sacrifice.
Further reading: CCC 1382-1384, 1391 - 1396288. What is the meaning of the altar?
The
altar is the symbol of Christ himself who is present both as sacrificial victim (the altar of sacrifice) and as food from heaven which is given to us (the table of the Lord).
Further reading: CCC 1383, 1410