Do you believe in the Real Presence of Christ in the Eucharist? We should!

Do you truly believe in the Real Presence of Christ in the Eucharist?

This is more than just a yes or no rhetorical question.  The elements of simple bread from the field and wine from the grapes are more than a way to believe our acceptance of memorializing something that challenges our intellect.  A majority of Catholics take for granted that our communion is not any different that the TV ministries that use crackers and grape juice, and do not adhere to the rule of non-catholics receiving our eucharist.  After all, why constrict other Christian believers from sharing the very elements in a gesture of commonality no matter where you are confirmed in your doctrines.  Christ died for all sinners, regardless of their infinity of what church they attend.

What makes our communion holy is that Euchrist means more than a theological term placed through many Vatican Councils.  The Sacrament is called:  Eucharist, because it is an action of thanksgiving to God.  The Greek words eucharistein or eulogein recall the Jewish blessings that proclaim - especially during a meal - God’s works;  creation, redemption, and sanctification.  (CCC 1328).

All gather together.  Christians come together in one place for the Eucharistic assembly.  At its head is Christ himself, the principal agent of the Eucharist.  He is the high priest of the New Covenant;  it is he himself who presides invisibly over every Euscaristic celebration.  It is in representing him that the bishop or priest, acting in the person of Christ the head presides over the assembly, speaks after the readings, receives the offerings, and says the Eucharistic Prayer.  All have their own active parts to play in the celebration, each in his own way: readers, those who bring up the offerings, those who give communion, and the whole people  whose “Amen” manifests their participation.  (CCC 1348).

An important statement from the preceding paragraph that states clearly, Christ is the principal agent in the celebration of the Eucharist.  The bishop or priest is not the person who is responsible for the Transubstantiation of the elements of bread and wine.  Therefore, it is Christ alone, through the Holy Spirit that accomplishes this.   Looking at the indications of the sacrifice from the Old Testament: The day of atonement:  Aaron shall enter the sanctuary bringing in a young bullock for a sin offering and a ram for a holocaust.  Then he shall slaughter the people’s sin-offering goat, and bringing its blood inside the veil, he shall do with it as he did with the bullock's blood, sprinkling it on the propitiatory and before it.  No one else may be in the meeting tent from the time he enters the sanctuary to make atonement until he departs.  (Lv 16: 3, 15 - 17).  From Exodus:  Once a year Aaron shall perform the atonement rite on its horns.  Throughout your generations this atonement is to be made once a year with the blood of the atoning sin offering.  (Ex 30: 10).

Once when he was serving as a priest in his division’s turn before God, according to the practice of the priest for the sins of the priest and the practice of priestly service, Zechariah was chosen to enter the sanctuary of the Lord to burn incense.  (Lk 1: 8 - 9).  A perfect lamb was chosen to become the sacrifice.  The blood that was shed was an atonement for his sins and those of the people.  This is Christ, a perfect Lamb and the blood he shed was for you and me.

This is what makes the Eucharistic celebration so perfect and pure.  In the communion, preceded by the Lord’s prayer and the breaking of the bread, the faithful receive “the bread of heaven” and “the cup of salvation,” the body and blood of Christ who offered himself “for the life of the world.”  (CCC 1355).

Because this bread and wine have been made Eucharist (eucharisted” according to an ancient expression). We call this food Eucharist, and no one may take part in it unless he believes that what we teach is true, has received baptism for the forgiveness of sins and new birth, and lives in keeping what Christ taught.”  (note following CCC 1355).  

The whole Church is united with the offering and intercession of Christ.  Since he has the ministry of Peter in the Church, the Pope is associated with every celebration of the Eucharist, wherein he is named as the sign and servant of the unity of the universal Church.  The bishop of the place is always responsible for the Eucharist, even when a priest presides; the bishop’s name is mentioned to signify his presidency over the particular Church, in the midst of his presbyterium and with the assistance of deacons.  The community intercedes also for all ministers who, for it and with it, offer the Eucharistic sacrifice.  (CCC1369).

Let only that Eucharist be regarded as legitimate, which is celebrated under (the presidency of) the bishop or him to whom he has entrusted it.  (St. Ignatius of Antioch.)  

Through the ministry of priests the spiritual sacrifice of the faithful is completed in union with the sacrifice of Christ the only Mediator, which in the Eucharist is offered through the priest’s hands in the name of the whole Church in an unbloody and sacramental manner until the Lord himself comes.  (Presbyterian Ordinis).  Priests by sacred ordination and mission which they receive from the bishops are promoted to the service of Christ the Teacher, Priest, and King. 

Putting everything in its proper order the Roman Catholic Church not only reserves the Ecclesiastical right of presenting Christ in his Real Presence it also requires the dogma of this doctrine to teach and promote this teaching that began in Genesis and Leviticus with the priestly offices of Aaron and Zechariah.   We therefore hold to the truth of Christ’s Real Presence in the consecrated elements of his Body and Blood without end. 

Ralph B. Hathaway