Is Jesus really present in the Eucharist?
Catechism Meditation:
The mode of Christ’s presence under the Eucharistic species is unique. It raises the Eucharist above all the sacraments as “the perfection of the spiritual life and the end to which all the sacraments tend.” In the most blessed sacrament of the Eucharist “the body and blood, together with the soul and divinity, of our Lord Jesus Christ and, therefore, the whole Christ is truly, really, and substantially contained.“; “This presence is called ‘real’ – by which is not intended to exclude the other types of presence as if they could not be ‘real’ too, but because it is presence in the fullest sense: that is to say, it is substantial; presence by which Christ, God and man, makes himself wholly and entirely present. ―No. 1374
REFLECTION. For the past three years, the Church in the United States has been experiencing a Eucharistic revival, which will conclude at the National Eucharistic Congress on July 17-21, 2024 in Indianapolis. It is expected to draw tens of thousands of people for Masses, worship, talks, workshops, and more to celebrate Christ’s true presence in the Holy Eucharist. The end of the congress will not mark the end of the multiyear Eucharistic Revival. The third and final year, following the congress, will be dedicated to the Church “going out on mission” to renew the world.
Some of you might be thinking, “Why do we need a Eucharistic Revival?” One reason is that a number of polls over the past decade have shown that many Catholics do not understand what the Church teaches about the Eucharist. Another reason is, and perhaps the key reason, because the devil wages incessant warfare on our love for Jesus in the Most Blessed Sacrament. The Eucharistic Jesus is a mighty force against the devil. The devil sees in the Sanctissimum the crucified Jesus as He really is. A human cannot see this except with the eyes of faith. This is why it is called a sacrament — the bread is a sign of the invisible reality behind it. The Church duly acknowledges the power in the consecrated bread and has given it a home in tabernacles found in millions of churches and chapels throughout the world.
In the book, 30-Day Eucharistic Revival, Fr. Calloway writes… The devil knows that if he can get you to doubt the Real Presence, it is very likely that you will eventually fall away from believing sin, hell, and the devil himself. He knows that to walk away from the Eucharist is to walk away from life. To abandon belief in the Real Presence of Jesus in the Eucharist is to lack trust in God’s merciful love and plan for our salvation. The devil does not want you to trust God. Something every Christian needs to know is that Jesus meant what he said when he taught his apostles and disciples about his Real Presence in the Eucharist. Regarding this, did you know that in the New Testament there is only one book that has 66 verses in the sixth chapter? It’s John 6:66. Everybody knows that 666 is associated with the devil and the number of the beast. So what is John 6:66 about? Lack of belief in the Eucharist! Read it for yourself.
PRAYER. Dear Jesus, have pity on me for the times I have allowed the devil to distract me and make me doubt your teaching on the Eucharist.
Timeless Wisdom Quote:
“The announcement of the Eucharist cracked His followers wide open. No wonder there has been such a division of sects in Christianity when each man decides for himself whether he will accept a segment of the circle of Christ’s truth or the whole circle. Our Lord Himself was responsible for this; He asked a faith too much for most men; His doctrine was too sublime. If He had been only a little more worldly-minded, if He had only allowed His words to be treated as figures of speech, and if He had only been less imperative He might have been more popular.” ― Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen