Peace,
All we can do is provide the evidence. Many are simply ignorant as they have not been taught the Truth. That’s what CAF provides.
Those truly searching for the Truth in Christ will read, understand and find it. Others, stubborn like the Pharisees will not. We are to pray for them, that the Holy Spirit touch their hearts and soul.
More Evidence
Early Fathers of the Church on the Eucharist continued…so there we have St. Ignatius of Antioch speaking in 110ad, Justin Martyr speaking in the early to mid-second century and Clement of Alexandria speaking in 202 AD below, speaking so clearly of the Eucharist, giving Grace for sanctification of the soul (which is very important to Assurance of our Salvation).
“For the blood of the grape–that is, the Word–desired to be mixed with water, as His blood is mingled with salvation. And the blood of the Lord is twofold. For there is the blood of His flesh, by which we are redeemed from corruption; and the spiritual, that by which we are anointed.
And to drink the blood of Jesus, is to become partaker of the Lord’s immortality; the Spirit being the energetic principle of the Word, as blood is of flesh. Accordingly, as wine is blended with water, so is the Spirit with man. And the one, the mixture of wine and water, nourishes to faith; while the other, the Spirit, conducts to immortality. **And the mixture of both–of the water and of the Word–is called Eucharist, renowned and glorious grace; and they who by faith partake of it are sanctified both in body and soul.” **Clement of Alexandria, The Instructor, 2 (ante A.D. 202).
And Cyril of Jerusalem speaking of the blood of Christ … having “learned these things” …partaking in the spiritual and making thy soul shine (kind of important again to our salvation)
"Having learn these things, and been fully assured that the seeming bread is not bread, though sensible to taste, but the Body of Christ; and that the seeming wine is not wine, though the taste will have it so, but the Blood of Christ; and that of this David sung of old, saying, And bread strengtheneth man’s heart, to make his face to shine with oil, ‘strengthen thou thine heart,’ by partaking thereof as spiritual, and “make the face of thy soul to shine.”" Cyril of Jerusalem, Catechetical Lectures, XXII:8
(c. A.D. 350)
So there’s a little TRADITION being passed on from Christ, to the Apostles and to their descendants.
- St Ignatius of Antioch
- Justin Martyr
- Clement of Alexandria
- Cyril of Jerusalem
And the bible…not yet in existence in 350 ad, has to be understood in light of the Church and the Tradition from which it came. There is nothing “symbolic” here on the meal Christ instituted as read in John 6: “Touto estin to soma mou.” (this is really my body and blood).
He gave us this Eucharistic meal for added grace, for assurance of our salvation. Why miss out by following a new gospel, invented by man 1,500 years later or more. Who do you want to follow? St. Ignatius, Justin Martyr, Clement and Cyril OR someone else not following the teachings Christ passed on to his Church? It should be a pretty easy choice.
:extrahappy:
(footnote: quotes above from
scripturecatholic.com)
