Learn more about the Eucharist

SCRIPTURE

• Matthew 26:26-29; Mark 14:22-25; Luke 22:14-20; John 6:22-59; 1 Corinthians 11:23-26

• Acts of the Apostles 2:42; 4:32-35

ONLINE

• Mysterium Fidei, encyclical of Pope Paul VI on the Holy Eucharist: tinyurl.com/mysteriumfidei

• “What is the Eucharist?” by the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops: usccb.org/eucharist

• “Why do Christians believe Jesus is God incarnate?” by Alice Camille: tinyurl.com/JesusIncarnate

• “What is the Real Presence of Christ?” by Alice Camille: tinyurl.com/RealPresenceofChrist

BOOKS

• 101 Questions & Answers on the Eucharist by Giles Dimock, O.P. (Paulist Press, 2006)

• The Eucharist and the Hunger of the World by Monika K. Hellwig (Paulist Press, 1976)

• The Eucharist: A Mystery of Faith by Joseph M. Champlain (Paulist Press, 2005)

• The Eucharist and Social Justice by Margaret Scott (Paulist Press, 2009) not a metaphor, it’s a reality. Real.

But how do we arrive at this idea?

Jesus himself promises to be with us “always, to the end of time.” He promises to be present when two or more gather in his name, in the forgiveness of sins, and in the suffering world: “Whatever you did for one of these least . . . you did for me” (Matt. 25:40). Jesus promises to be really present in many ways throughout the gospel. He’s most explicit about being with us, however, in one profound way: “Take it; this is my body” (Mark 14:22). “I am the bread of life. . . .

Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life” (John 6:35, 54).

For nearly a millennium Christians didn’t dispute this understanding. The controversy began in the ninth century when it was suggested that the bread and wine were not physically changed but only signs of the presence of Christ among us. In response, the church formulated the idea of transubstantiation, in which the elements of bread and wine truly become the Body and Blood of Christ—as do we—in our participation in this sacrament.

This teaching is the basis for practices like Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament, prayer before the Eucharist, and processions that feature the Real Presence carried in a monstrance. Not all accepted this teaching, which influenced the reaction of the Reformation movement and the development of other ideas about the Eucharist among Protestants, largely accentuating its symbolism.

Return to our roots

In 1965 Pope Paul VI reiterated that Christ is present in prayer, works of mercy, preaching, teaching, sacraments, and uniquely in the Eucharist, “a way that surpasses all others” (Mysterium Fidei, no. 38).

In 2022, the U.S. bishops organized the National Eucharistic Revival, which will include a national Eucharistic Congress in Indianapolis in July 2024. The culmination will be a year of “going out on mission” nourished by the Body of Christ. On eucharisticrevival.org the bishops explain why Catholics return again and again to this central sacrament:

Scandal, division, disease, doubt. The Church has withstood each of these throughout our very human history. But today we confront all of them, all at once. Our response in this moment is pivotal.

In the midst of these roaring waves, Jesus is present, reminding us that he is more powerful than the storm. He desires to heal, renew, and unify the church and the world.

How will he do it? By uniting us once again around the source and summit of our faith in the celebration of the Eucharist. = related artiCle: VocationNetwork.org, “Ten great things about being Catholic.”

Parts of this article were originally published in “Questions Catholics Ask,” a section of VocationNetwork.org.

DOG GONE?

People sometimes wonder about having a pet once they enter religious life. Every community has its own approach about newcomers bringing a personal animal, but certainly many religious communities do have pets. At left is Sister Maria Eden, O.S.C. with Lady, part of the Franciscan Monastery of St. Clare in Langhorne, Pennsylvania.

Patrice J. Tuohy is publisher of VISION on behalf of the National Religious Vocation Conference, and CEO of TrueQuest Communications.

TAPPING INTO Jesus’ healing power is what a billion Catholics do at every Mass in every corner of the globe when they recite the Creed— our well-honed profession of faith.