The Eucharist is the sacrament in which Jesus Christ gives himself to us as food and drink, under the appearances of bread and wine. It is the source and summit of the Christian life, as it contains the whole spiritual good of the Church: Christ himself.
But what does it mean to say that Christ is present in the Eucharist? How can bread and wine become his body and blood? Who can receive this sacrament and why? In this blog post, we will explore these questions and more, using biblical examples from the Douay-Rheims Catholic Bible.
The Catholic Church teaches that in the Eucharist, the bread and wine are changed into the body and blood of Christ by the power of the Holy Spirit and the words of consecration spoken by the priest. This change is called transubstantiation, which means that the substance or essence of the bread and wine is replaced by the substance or essence of Christ, while the appearances or accidents of bread and wine remain unchanged.
This is a mystery of faith, which means that it cannot be fully understood by human reason, but only accepted by faith. However, this mystery is not contrary to reason, but rather surpasses it. It is based on the authority of God's word, revealed in Scripture and Tradition, and confirmed by the Church's Magisterium.
The biblical basis for the real presence of Christ in the Eucharist can be found in several passages, especially in the accounts of the Last Supper, where Jesus instituted this sacrament. For example, in Matthew 26:26-28, we read:
And whilst they were at supper, Jesus took bread, and blessed, and broke: and gave to his disciples, and said: Take ye, and eat. This is my body. And taking the chalice, he gave thanks, and gave to them, saying: Drink ye all of this. For this is my blood of the new testament, which shall be shed for many unto remission of sins.
Notice that Jesus did not say "this represents my body" or "this symbolizes my blood", but "this is my body" and "this is my blood". He spoke in clear and literal terms, not in figurative or metaphorical language. He also said "this is my blood of the new testament", which recalls the covenant that God made with his people in the Old Testament, sealed with the blood of animals. Now Jesus establishes a new and everlasting covenant with his own blood, which he offers as a sacrifice for our sins.
Another important passage is John 6:22-59, where Jesus gives a long discourse on the bread of life. In this discourse, he reveals that he is the true bread that came down from heaven, and that whoever eats his flesh and drinks his blood will have eternal life. For example, in John 6:53-56, we read:
Then Jesus said to them: Amen, amen I say unto you: Except you eat the flesh of the Son of man, and drink his blood, you shall not have life in you. He that eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, hath everlasting life: and I will raise him up in the last day. For my flesh is meat indeed: and my blood is drink indeed. He that eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, abideth in me, and I in him.
Again, notice that Jesus did not use symbolic or figurative language, but spoke in very concrete and realistic terms. He repeated his words several times, with increasing emphasis and clarity. He also used a Greek verb (trogo) that means "to gnaw" or "to chew", which implies a physical eating of his flesh. He did not correct or explain away his words when many of his disciples were scandalized and left him. Instead, he confirmed his words to his apostles, asking them if they also wanted to leave him.
These passages show that Jesus intended to give us his real body and blood as food and drink for our souls. He did not speak metaphorically or symbolically, but literally and truly. He did not leave any room for doubt or misunderstanding about his meaning. He gave us his word as God incarnate, who cannot lie or deceive us.
The Eucharist is not only a sign of Christ's presence, but also a cause of his grace in us. When we receive the Eucharist with faith and love, we receive Christ himself, who unites us to himself and to his Church. The Eucharist strengthens our spiritual life, nourishes our soul, heals our wounds, forgives our sins, and prepares us for eternal glory.
However, not everyone can receive the Eucharist. The Catholic Church teaches that there are certain requirements that must be met before receiving this sacrament. These requirements are:
These are some of the requirements for receiving the Eucharist, but they are not exhaustive. The Church also gives us other guidelines and norms for receiving this sacrament with dignity and fruitfulness. For example, we should receive the Eucharist regularly, preferably every Sunday or at least once a year during Easter time; we should receive it either on the tongue or in the hand, according to our preference and local custom; we should make a sign of reverence before receiving it, such as bowing or genuflecting; we should say "Amen" when receiving it, as an expression of faith; we should spend some time in prayer and thanksgiving after receiving it, as an act of love.
The Eucharist is the sacrament in which Jesus Christ gives himself to us as food and drink, under the appearances of bread and wine. It is the source and summit of the Christian life, as it contains the whole spiritual good of the Church: Christ himself.
The Eucharist is based on the word of God revealed in Scripture and Tradition, and confirmed by the Church's Magisterium. It is a mystery of faith, which means that it cannot be fully understood by human reason, but only accepted by faith.
The Eucharist is not only a sign of Christ's presence, but also a cause of his grace in us. When we receive the Eucharist with faith and love, we receive Christ himself, who unites us to himself and to his Church. The Eucharist strengthens our spiritual life, nourishes our soul, heals our wounds, forgives our sins, and prepares us for eternal glory.
The Eucharist is a gift of God's love for us. Let us receive it with gratitude and reverence. Let us adore it with awe and wonder. Let us live it with joy and hope.