Holy Thursday: How can we know the Eucharist is real?
FREE Catholic Classes
The Eucharist is the source and summit of our Christian faith. It is at the heart of our Catholic belief. But why? Does it deserve this distinction? How do we know this is real?
How do we know the Eucharist is real?
Highlights
3/27/2024 (1 month ago)
Published in Living Faith
Keywords: Tough Questions, body, blood, Jesus, Sacrament, Eucharist, Holy
LOS ANGELES, CA (California Network) - Our Lord commanded the celebration of the Eucharist during the Last Supper. During His last meal on earth, Our Lord broke bread with His disciples and proclaimed it to be His Body. Next, He passed a cup of wine and declared it to be His Blood. (1 Cor 11:24)
Today, we recognize the Eucharist as the Body, Blood, Soul, and Divinity of Our Lord, Jesus Christ. But how do we know this is so?
In our fallen world, we are taught to see things from the material perspective. There is a notion that the only things that exist are those that science can perceive. It's a remarkable conclusion. Even scientists talk about the "multiverse" and "before" the Big Bang and such. Science cannot peer outside of the universe. It cannot probe into a realm before creation. It cannot discern the soul, or make any sense of the supernatural. In fact, that's what supernatural means. The natural realm is the domain of science. The supernatural realm is the domain of faith. Of course, logic applies to our faith, just as it does to science. God is the author of logic and reason, so it makes sense that these tools help us to understand Him.
When properly used, science can inform us about the natural world and helps us to make decisions. But science cannot inform us about God. It can provide some tantalizing clues. With science, we can see the fingerprint of God in creation. But that seems to be its natural limit. It is tragic to see some people rely upon it alone to understand creation. It is a form of blindness.
This presents a problem when trying to understand the Eucharist. The skeptic expects the Eucharist to turn into a chunk of bleeding flesh. They want to see the wine turn red, before they will believe. Otherwise, they insist the Eucharist is a symbol, instead of the Body, Blood, Soul, and Divinity of Our Lord, Jesus Christ. Compounding this, when we take Communion we taste an unleavened bread. We taste wine, not blood. Our senses tell us what we receive is at best, a symbol. Many Christians fall victim to this deception.
So, how do we know we are consuming the Body and Blood of Jesus Christ? The secret is to understand what is actually happening.
First, the priest stands "In Persona Christi." That means, "in the person of Christ." The priest is present at the altar, but so is Jesus. It is Jesus Christ who transubstantiates the Eucharist. Transubstantiation refers to the turning of bread and wine into the Body and Blood of Jesus. Because Jesus does this Himself, and is present with us, we are participating in the Last Supper. We are as present as the disciples were.
We ask you, humbly: don't scroll away.
Hi readers, it seems you use Catholic Online a lot; that's great! It's a little awkward to ask, but we need your help. If you have already donated, we sincerely thank you. We're not salespeople, but we depend on donations averaging $14.76 and fewer than 1% of readers give. If you donate just $5.00, the price of your coffee, Catholic Online School could keep thriving. Thank you.Help Now >
This is where faith enters the equation.
God cannot make a mistake. He does not mislead. He does not deceive. He does not make any errors. Rather, He commands, and it becomes so. When Jesus says that bread and wine become His Body and Blood, they become so. Even if their outward form does not appear to change, they are so. This is what happened at the Last Supper. The accounts do not mention the bread turned to flesh and blood. Yet, Jesus said "this is" about both. Therefore, they are. This is exactly what's happening when the gifts become the Body and Blood of Our Lord.
No scientific scrutiny can assess such a transformation. Yet it becomes true by the power of Christ. As Christians, we accept this as dogma. This is why the Eucharist is the "source and summit of our Christian faith." For if Jesus misspoke, if He misled, lied, or made an error, then He is not God. If the Eucharist is not His Body as He proclaimed, then He is not God.
Therefore, this is how we know the Eucharist is the Body, Blood, Soul, and Divinity of Jesus Christ. For it is is not so, then Jesus Christ is not God, and all is in vain. Fortunately, logic, reason, and faith combine in this miracle to affirm our belief.
If you want to see more "Tough Questions," from Professor Marshall Connolly, consider supporting Catholic Online School, a Project ofYour Catholic Voice Foundation.
Join the Movement
When you sign up below, you don't just join an email list - you're joining an entire movement for Free world class Catholic education.
-
Mysteries of the Rosary
-
St. Faustina Kowalska
-
Litany of the Blessed Virgin Mary
-
Saint of the Day for Wednesday, Oct 4th, 2023
-
Popular Saints
-
St. Francis of Assisi
-
Bible
-
Female / Women Saints
-
7 Morning Prayers you need to get your day started with God
-
Litany of the Blessed Virgin Mary
Sacrifices of Faith: The Pro-Life Legacies of St. Gianna and Jessica Hanna
-
How to love God by caring for our bodies
-
Pope Francis calls for negotiations to End Russia-Ukraine War
-
Pope Francis Contemplates Return to U.S. for United Nations Assembly Address
-
Pope Francis Calls on Faithful to Embrace Faith, Hope, and Charity in New Teaching Series
Daily Catholic
- Daily Readings for Saturday, April 27, 2024
- St. Zita: Saint of the Day for Saturday, April 27, 2024
- Prayer for the Dead # 2: Prayer of the Day for Saturday, April 27, 2024
- Daily Readings for Friday, April 26, 2024
- St. Cletus: Saint of the Day for Friday, April 26, 2024
- Prayer before the Closing of the Day: Prayer of the Day for Friday, April 26, 2024
We ask you, humbly: don't scroll away.
Hi readers, it seems you use Catholic Online a lot; that's great! It's a little awkward to ask, but we need your help. If you have already donated, we sincerely thank you. We're not salespeople, but we depend on donations averaging $14.76 and fewer than 1% of readers give. If you donate just $5.00, the price of your coffee, Catholic Online School could keep thriving. Thank you.Help Now >
Copyright 2024 Catholic Online. All materials contained on this site, whether written, audible or visual are the exclusive property of Catholic Online and are protected under U.S. and International copyright laws, © Copyright 2024 Catholic Online. Any unauthorized use, without prior written consent of Catholic Online is strictly forbidden and prohibited.
Catholic Online is a Project of Your Catholic Voice Foundation, a Not-for-Profit Corporation. Your Catholic Voice Foundation has been granted a recognition of tax exemption under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. Federal Tax Identification Number: 81-0596847. Your gift is tax-deductible as allowed by law.