COMMENTARY

‘Do this in memory of me’ - The Eucharist

Thursday,  January 26, 2006

As a born-again Roman Catholic I’m often asked by non-Catholics, “Quincy, do you believe that Holy Communion is really, really the body of Christ?” 

My answer is “yes!”

Catholics believe in and trust in transubstantiation. This simply believes that when the priest has consecrated the bread and wine of the Eucharist, they become the literal body and blood of Christ. Just about all of the different Protestant denominations believe Christ is the only present symbolically in the Eucharist.

The belief of Catholics in the real presence of Christ in the Eucharist is an important doctrine. This is just one of the many beliefs that divides us from most Protestants. I would invite all Christians, both Catholics and Protestants to read the following passages: John Chapter 6. 1 Cor 11:23-29, 1 Cor 10:14-17, Mk 14:22-24, Mt 26:26-28, Lk 22:17-20, Lk 24:30-35. Read with an open mind and allow the Holy Spirit to impart His divine understanding.

I have read the following bible verses. Before doing so I prayed that the Holy Spirit would guide me in wisdom, knowledge and understanding. 

Jesus made it clear that we must eat His flesh in order to have life. In order to have eternal life, we must partake. Jesus said, ” My flesh is true food and my blood is true drink”. This, my friend is not the Language of symbolism.

Protestations often cite Jn 6:35 “ I am the bread of Life: whoever comes to me will never hunger; whoever believes in me will never thirst”. Before converting to Catholicism, I too was a protestant. So I know how Protestants think. They claim that when Jesus calls himself the “bread of Life” He is simply saying that if we believe in Him, He will nourish us Spiritually. Just as bread nourishes physically. Protestants claim that Catholics” eat and drink” Jesus, our Spiritual food, by coming to and believing in Him.

However, Jesus tells us exactly what he means by calling Himself “bread”. The bread Jesus is speaking of is not merely a symbol for spiritual nourishment, as I used to think. Jesus tells us and the Holy Catholic Church teaches plainly that the bread is his own flesh, which we must eat in order to have eternal life. Jesus made it clear that the bread of Life is literally His flesh; therefore I believe and accept this as truth.

As Christian, in order for us to receive the ‘ Mystical body’ and blood of Christ, soul and divinity’ we should be in the state of grace.

As for me personally, I make sure I get to confession to a priest before I receive the Holy Eucharist. 

There is no way Jesus can come into my sinful body with so many mortal and venial sins Remember St. Paul’s strong language in 1 Cor 11:27 “ So if anyone eats this bread and drinks from this cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner, he is guilty of sin against the body and blood of the Lord”.

Consides the use of bread and wine by our Lord at the Last supper. Jesus tells us plainly that “this is my body” and “this is my blood”. Never is there a hint that He is speaking symbolically. 

Christ doesn’t say, “This is a representation”. He says, “this is”. I believe with all my heart and with all my understanding that Jesus was speaking literally.

So this is one thing that divides Christians. Roman Catholics say it’s “Literal”, Protestants say it’s just a representation”. But then again they have to say that, if they believed otherwise, they’d be Catholic!

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