The Eucharist originated at the Last Supper of Jesus with his disciples. It is based on the prayer of thanksgiving that Jesus pronounced over the bread and wine at that meal. "Eucharist" means "thanksgiving", "praise", and "blessing". The Church celebrates the Eucharist as a memorial of the death and Resurrection of Jesus Christ, which is more than a remembrance of the Last Supper of Jesus with his disciples. In the Eucharist the sacrifice of our redemption becomes present sacramentally.

In the past, dogmatic theology has treated the meaning of the Eucharist while disregarding the form of its liturgical celebration, whereas liturgical studies have been content with only the latter. Yet the two cannot be separated, any more than liturgy and dogma or pastoral practice and doctrine can be understood without the other. The Church's liturgy is not something external to Christian revelation, but rather, as Joseph Ratzinger said,"revelation accepted in faith and prayer".

In this work, Helmut Hoping combines the approaches of dogmatic theology and liturgy while examining the Eucharist from a historical and systematic perspective. This new English translation of the second German edition of this major work, revised and expanded, includes a comparative analysis of the Second Eucharistic Prayer and a chapter on the theology of the words of institution.

“This superb book, by one of Germany's foremost theologians, will stand as a guidepost for everyone who cares about extending and developing Pope Benedict XVI's vision of the Eucharist.”— Matthew Levering, James and Mary Perry Jr. Chair of Theology, Mundelein Seminary, Chicago

“ I cannot recommend this book enough for those interested in a liturgically informed and orthodox Catholic theology of the most holy Eucharist.”— Robert L. Fastiggi, Professor of Systematic Theology, Sacred Heart Major Seminary, Detroit

“ My Body Given for You combines a profound doctrinal introduction to the mystery of the Eucharist with an up-to-date account of its liturgical celebration in history, especially in the Roman tradition. It deserves high praise for putting contemporary liturgical renewal on a sound theological footing.”mdash; Uwe Michael Lang, Cong. Orat., St. Mary's University, Twickenham, London

“ The criticisms this book has already attracted bear witness not only to its impeccable orthodoxy but also to the way it resolutely carries forward in its final chapters the liturgical program of Pope Benedict XVI.”— Aidan Nichols, O.P., Author, Lovely, Like Jerusalem: The Fulfillment of the Old Testament in Christ and the Church