June 14, 2004
REFERENCE: The Real Presence (the Eucharist)
There has been some discussion on the blog where non-Catholics claim the Early Church was not convinced of the Real Presence of Christ in the Eucharist. So, I've pulled together the references to the Eucharist from Scripture and the Early Church.
I've probably missed some Scriptural references (they are overwhelming), so let me know if I'm missing something. The Early Church, by the way, was united in their faith in the Real Presence - some of the quotes are outstanding.
Biblical references are always listed first (regardless of date) and formatted as so: Verse. Short synopsis of content and other comments.
Early Church Father references are formatted as so: Author Name of Work. Date – traditional numbering (Jurgen’s Faith of the Early Fathers Numbering). Short synopsis of content and other comments.
The Real Presence (the Eucharist)
- Genesis 14:18. The first mention of a priest offering “bread and wine.” This (along with the other Old Testament references) prefigures the Eucharist. See Psalm 110:1-4.
- Exodus 12:5-11. Explains the Passover, which is key to understanding the Eucharist.
- Exodus 16:4-35. Manna from heaven prefigures the Eucharist.
- Micah 5:3-4. A prophecy concerning Christ that specifically notes he will “feed his flock” - note that this ties into Jesus telling Peter to “feed My sheep” as well.
- John 2:1-11. Jesus turns water into wine, another prefiguring of the Eucharist.
- John 6:4-10. Jesus multiplies bread and feeds the people. Note that He uses His apostles to offer the bread/food.
- John 6:43-68. A key passage where Jesus calls Himself the “bread of life” and demands we eat him literally (the word “eat” gets stronger each time he says it and literally means “gnaw”). He also loses many of His disciples who cannot accept the teaching.
- Luke 22:19-20, Matt 26:26-29, and Mark 14:22-25. The passage recited in the mass, which says “This is My body” etc.
- Luke 24:29-31. They don’t recognize Jesus until He celebrates the Eucharist with them.
- Acts 2:41-42. Notice that they dedicate themselves “to the breaking of bread.”
- 1 Corinthians 11:23-27. Paul explains the reality of the Eucharist and points out that those who accept unworthily become sick and some die. Very clear.
- 1 Corinthians 10:15-21. The cup is a “participation” in “the blood of Christ” and the bread is a “participation” in the “body of Christ.”
- Hebrews 9:11-14. The blood of Jesus “purifies your conscience”
- Revelation 5:6. Description of the slain Lamb of God, which points to the Passover and Eucharistic sacrifice.
- St. Ignatius of Antioch Letter to the Romans. c. 110 A.D. - 7, 3 (54a). He desires “the bread of God, which is the Flesh of Jesus Christ”.
- St. Ignatius of Antioch Letter to the Philadelphians. c. 110 A.D. - 3, 2 (56). There is “one Flesh . . . and one cup” - refres to them as the Eucharist.
- St. Ignatius of Antioch Letter to the Smyrnaeans. c. 110 A.D. - 6, 2 (64). Chastises those who don’t believe that the Eucharist is the Flesh of Christ.
- St. Justin the Martyr First Apology. c. 148 A.D. - 65 (128). Explains clearly that the Eucharist is the flesh and blood of Christ, literally. A detailed quote.
- St. Irenaeus Against Heresies. c. 180 A.D. - 4, 18, 4 (234). The bread is no longer bread but Eucharist - “the Body of the Lord.” Long explanation of transubstantiation and how it affects the receiving believer.
- St. Irenaeus Against Heresies. c. 180 A.D. - 5, 2, 2 (249). Another long explanation of the purpose of the Eucharist and the reality. Says it “is the Body and Blood of Christ.”
- Tertullian The Resurrection of the Dead. c. 208 A.D. - 8, 2 (362). Shows the importance of the Eucharist to us and says “the flesh feeds on the Body and Blood of Christ, so that the soul too may fatten on God.”
- Tertullian The Crown. c. 211 A.D. - 3, 2 (367). Notes: “We take anxious care lest something of our Cup or Bread fall on the ground.”
- St. Hippolytus of Rome The Apostolic Tradition. c. 215 A.D. - 21 (394i). This is a detailed explanation of how to baptize new Christians and afterward how they are to receive the Eucharist. Points out that “they who believe are nourished like little children” on “the very flesh of Christ.”
- St. Clement of Alexandria The Instructor of Children. c. 202 A.D. - 2, 2, 19, 4 (410). Explains that the Eucharist is spiritual and actual; also notes that both are present in the Eucharist.
- Origen Homilies on Exodus. c. 244 A.D. - Hom. 13, 3 (490). Notes those who worry about one particle falling to the ground and that they should worry about this.
- St. Ephraim Homilies. c. 340 - 373 A.D. - 4, 4 (707). Explains the Last Supper and the reality of the Eucharist. Notes “if anyone despise it or treat it with ignominy . . . he treats with ignominy the Son, who called it and actually made it to be His body.”
- St. Ephraim Homilies. c. 340 - 373 A.D. - 4, 6 (708). The disciples at the Last Supper “knew that they had eaten of Christ’s body.” An excellent explanation of the reality of the Eucharist.
- St. Cyril of Jerusalem Catechetical Lectures. c. 350 A.D. - 22, Mystagogic 4, 3 (845). Points out that we are “sharers of the divine nature” through His Body “in the figure of bread.”
- St. Cyril of Jerusalem Catechetical Lectures. c. 350 A.D. - 22, Mystagogic 4, 6 (846). Warns you to not mistake the Eucharist for bread and wine, “for they are . . . the Body and Blood of Christ.”
God bless,
Jay
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
Something to keep in mind is that the Roman Catholic Church teaches more than "the real presence" in the Eucharist.
When speaking of who should receive communion, Vatican II mentions that belief in the real presence is not sufficient to admit someone to Eucharistic Communion.
It is also my understanding that the Church teaches of a "real absence" (this terminology is not used in any literature I have read) - namely, that after the consecration, no bread and wine remains, only Christ's body and blood, soul and divinity appearing as bread and wine. This appears to be what distinguishes Catholic teachings from that which Lutherans and High Anglicans hold.
Protestants such as Luther who believe in consubstantiation still take the words "this is my body" quite literally but still maintain that bread and wine remains although co-located and infused with the presence of Christ.
I am unsure if Catholic apologists have a Scriptural argument which supports transubstantiation over consubstantiation, or if they use a philosophical argument, or if they appeal to general church authority.
If anyone wishes to share more info, I would much appreciate it.
Posted by: Richard Wan at June 16, 2004 09:25 PMI would like to understand transubstansiation.
I will not deny that the Jesus clearly says that we must eat of His body and His Blood.Now I am not being trite but is HE advocating canabalism
or does He mean something else? I don't believe
He is advocating canabalism. So what else can
this mean ? I truly want to understand this.
Also can you explain where in scripture Jesus
instructs us to sacrifice Him over and over again? In the on line Catholic encyclopedia under the mass it says that it is an un-bloody
sacrifice. He did instruct us to eat the bread
and the wine in rememberance of Him but did He
instruct us to sacrifice Him over and over again
at every Mass ? If so show me where that instruction is? Didn't He say that it is Finished on the Cross? Wasn't His Sacrifice enough. Doesn't scripture say in the NT in several places that Jesus was Sacrificed ONCE
for ALL. So why do we need an un-bloody sacrifice? Scripture says that Salvation is a
FREE GIFT that can not be earned. Why does the
priest ask GOD during the Mass to ACCEPT the
sacrifice at his hands? Didn't God accept the
sacrifice of Jesus on Calvary. Doesn't that cover ALL of our sins? Why must Jesus be sacrificed over and over at every Mass. It just
doesn't make sense. Can someone explain it to me
using the Bible and NOT the writings of the early church fathers. Thank you.
Grace & Peace,
Clem
Posted by: Clem at August 16, 2004 08:05 AMClem,
I'll write a post that covers this in detail to give you some insight into the Catholic mindset. We do not see this as sacrificing Jesus over and over again, but rather a participation in the one and only sacrifice of Christ on the Crucifix. The priest at mass is asking God to accept the sacrifice in reparation for our sins, not merely to accept Christs' sacrifice, which God obviously does.
I'll go indepth in the post - by the way, "Cannibalism" is a pretty good way to understand it! ;-)
God bless,
Jay
In terms of the Eucharist as food, cannibalism is not a better way to understand the eating of the flesh than the simple act of eating, period. We are not eating flesh as an isolated element but only in its connection with the Person of Christ, "for the flesh avails nothing but it is the spirit that gives life". We eat Christ because we now have the capacity to assimilate the Life of God into our our souls much as we assimilate food into our bodies.
We are eating Christ not so much as the Man who walked the earth 2000 yrs ago but as the Lamb of God, our true passover Lamb. Just as the Jews were asked to perform the real sacrifice of a lamb every year in remembrance of God's saving act in Egypt we too are asked to remember the saving Sacrifice of Christ. But for us the participation in a past saving act is much deeper since the Passover was a timebound event whereas the Lamb of God is outside of time and space. Revelation tells us of the Lamb seated on the throne...the Lamb is Slain yet triumphant. So whereas the Jews remembered an event, the effects of which, are a distant memory---we remember an event which though 2000 yrs old is nevertheless affecting every faithful to their core. If you believe that you are covered with the Blood of the Lamb it is not Blood from a big pool that has been sitting there for 2000 yrs at the base of Calvary but rather it is the Blood which still flows from the side of Christ(remember not to isolate the Physical description from the Spiritual connection.Because Christ loses no blood now but rather His Life/blood becomes a spring of living water within us welling up to eternal life. God Bless and visit Him in the Eucharist often.
