Can you help me understand "Real Presence"?

[Monica4316]

These are actually Jesus’ words about the Eucharist (this is a Church approved private revelation to Sr Josefa Menendez, from the book Way of Divine Love).

"It is love for souls that keeps Me a Prisoner in the Blessed Sacrament. I stay there that all may come and find the comfort they need in the tenderest of Hearts, the best of Fathers, the most faithful friends, who will never abandon them.

The Holy Eucharist is the invention of Love…Yet how few souls correspond to that love which spends and consumes itself for them!

I live in the midst of sinners that I may be their life, their physician, and the remedy of the diseases bred by corrupt nature. And in return they forsake, insult and despise Me!..

Poor pitiable sinners, do not turn away from Me…Day and night I am on the watch for you in the tabernacle. I will not reproach you…I will not cast your sins in your face…But I will wash them in My Blood and in My wounds. No need to be afraid…come to Me…If you but knew how dearly I love you."

And you, dear souls, why this coldness and indifference on your part?..Do I not know that family cares…household concerns…and the requirements of your position in life…make continual calls upon you? But cannot you spare a few minutes in which to come and prove your affection and your gratitude? Do not allow yourselves to be involved in useless and incessant cares, but spare a few moments to visit and receive this Prisoner of love!..

Were you weak or ill in body surely you would find time to see a doctor who would cure you? …Come, then, to One who is able to give both strength and health to your soul, and bestow the alms of love on this Divine Prisoner who watches for you, calls for you, and longs to see you at His side. When about to institute the Blessed Sacrament, these were My feelings , do not forget that My Heart loves you…and, do you love Me?.. "

Here are His words in another private revelation from the book “He and I” by Gabrielle Bossis: (Imprimatur)

“In the Host My heart is beating as it did on earth, as it does in heaven. There are not many hearts of Christ. There is only one. Believe without the shadow of a doubt in My Presence here before you and comfort Me by bringing your heart close to Mine. Look how alone I am and this empty church. I knew it would be like this. And yet I instituted the Eucharist. I would feed even a single soul. Speak with the Host as with your most gentle and intimate friend. The Host is listening to you, and you may be sure that you are most dearly loved…”

The doctrine of Transubstantiation can be complex, but one way to see the Eucharist, is simply to see the Host as Christ and just speak to Jesus in the Eucharist with trust and faith.

 

[Monica4316]

These moving words are from the book “Way of Divine Love” by Sr Josefa Menendez. These are words that Our Lord Jesus Christ spoke to her regarding the Eucharist.

"The very next day, Wednesday, 7th March, Josefa heard the dolorous plaint of His Heart. “Kiss the ground in all humility,” He said as was His wont. She fell down in adoration at His feet, and when she had risen, He spoke: "Write to-day concerning the pain endured by My Heart, when being constrained by the fire that consumed It, I devised the marvel of love, the Holy Eucharist. And while I looked at those many souls that would feed on this heavenly Bread, I could not but see also the indifference by which so many others…consecrated souls…priests…would wound Me in this Sacrament. There were those who would grow cold…gradually yield to routine…and worse than routine…to weariness and lassitude, and little by little to tepidity…Still, I wait all night and watch in the tabernacle for that soul…fervently hoping that she will come and receive Me…that she will converse with Me with all the trust of a bride…telling Me of her sorrows, her temptations, her sufferings…asking My advice and begging for the graces she needs for herself or others…Perhaps she has dependent on her or in her family souls that are in danger and far from Me?..‘Come,’ I say to her, ‘let us discuss everything with perfect freedom…Be concerned about sinners…Offer yourself to make reparation…Promise Me that at least to-day you will not leave Me alone…then see if My Heart is not asking something more of you to comfort It…’ THis is what I hoped to obtain from that soul and from many another…Yet when she receives Me in Holy Communion she barely says a word to Me…she is distracted, tired or put out…her whole mind is absorbed by her occupations…her family cares…her acquaintances…or maybe anxiety for her health…she does not know what to say to Me…she is indifferent, bored…wishes it were time to go…Is it thus that you receive Me, O soul whom I have chosen and for whom I have watched with all the impatience of love throughout the livelong night?

Yes, I yearned for her coming that I might rest in her and share her anxieties…I had prepared fresh graces for her, but she does not want them…she has nothing to ask of Me, neither advice nor strength…she just compains to herself without so much as addressing Me…It seems then that she has come simply out of routine, to go through a customary formality, or perhaps because no grave sin prevented it. But it is not love nor a true desire for close union with Me that has impelled her coming. Alas, that soul does not possess the delicate love I had hoped to find in her…

…The Blessed Sacrament is the invention of Love. It is life and fortitude of souls, a remedy for every fault, and viaticum for the last passage from time to eternity. In it sinners recover life for their souls; tepid souls true warmth; fervent souls, tranquility and the satisfaction of every longing…saintly souls, wings to fly towards perfection…pure souls sweet honey and rarest sustenance. Consecrated souls find in it a dwelling, their love and their life. In it they will seek and find the perfect exemplar of those sacred and hallowed bonds that unite them inseparably to their heavenly Bridegroom".

 

[Monica4316]

Sorry for so many posts, lol, but I’m just sharing whatever I found helpful

Another interesting point is that in the Mass, - it’s like we are spiritually at Calvary… Jesus’ Sacrifice on the Cross is re-presented before us. In Scripture, when Jesus says “do this in remembrance of Me”, the Greek word for remembrance there, actually means not just to mentally remember, but rather to “re- present”… to actually make something present.

that’s why we call it the Sacrifice of the Mass, it’s not a new sacrifice, it’s the Sacrifice of the Cross before us, since it was an event not bound by time. Some people think that we believe we are re-sacrificing Jesus, but that is not true. It’s always the same Sacrifice. But since we’re spiritually at Calvary, that explains a lot about the holiness of the Mass, and the importance of reverence

I hope this helps: youtube.com/watch?v=zjxL3sgfMqQ

God bless!

 

[Monica4316]

Thanks for your responses! This might just have to be something I accept “on faith” as a great and beautiful mystery. It really is a bit hard to explain, isn’t it? The table analogy helped a bit, especially after I read about substance theory.

I also read those Wiki articles that YoungTradCath recommended…I think they were a bit over my head! After I read the first, I had to read about the differences between transubstantiation (something becoming something else), sacramental union (where two different things are united by sacrament), consubstantiation (where two things are present alongside one another) and even transignification…at which point my eyes began to cross.

Part of my difficulty arises from old Protestant thoughts (oh my gosh, the Catholics are eating Jesus) and my daily, close association with human bodies (I am an ER nurse) which makes just about everything to do with flesh and blood kind of…icky and distasteful. Also as a result of my career, I tend to rely heavily on science and proof. That said, in the course of my work as a nurse, I’ve seen many miraculous and mysterious things…events that defy science or anything that could be “proven”.

I finally turned to the Bible and a Catholic friend. Paul had quite a lot to say about the presence of Christ in the Eucharist. My Catholic friend gave me such a sweet and simple answer; it nearly brought me to tears. She said (I paraphrase):

"Think about the word communion. Communion is when you share and exchange with someone else; you commune. It’s intimate and special and involves the presence of another. So Jesus, the night before he died, sought to commune with his people…and lay the framework of continued communion for Christians to come. He never wanted them to feel alone. What better way than to show them how to draw him close, even when he might not be physically present. He gave his disciples bread and wine and said, “Take this and eat, for this is my Body” and “Take this and drink, for this is my Blood”. He also asked them to “do this is memory of Me”. This is something serious and sacred, it is Holy. So every time we meet for Mass, we recall Christ’s command and sacrifice. The Priest uses Christ’s words to consecrate the bread and wine and, like for His disciples, although we see and taste bread and wine, we understand that it is His Body and Blood. We humbly commune with God, his real and Holy presence is with us in the Eucharist. It sounds miraculous, but Jesus was known for his miracles. Every time we celebrate this Sacrament and partake of His real Body and Blood, he literally becomes a part of us.

What do you think? This made sense to me. I couldn’t figure out why Jesus would want his people to “eat him” (excuse me if that sounds irreverent) but when she put it this way, as a miracle, I find it easier to accept and understand. It was a miracle then and it is one now. By accepting that He is really present, you have Him to “commune” with. You are part of Him, and He of you. It is truly drawing near to Christ.

Does my understanding “work”? I would hate to have it wrong!

Thanks again for the time to answer my questions. Your advice is greatly appreciated!

I see where you are coming from I’m a convert also.

I was thinking about the whole idea that we receive the Eucharist by eating and drinking… and like you said, why? Try to think of it less like “Christ’s Body only” and more like “this is the whole Christ, Body, Blood, Soul, and Divinity”. It’s Him entirely, you can talk to Him. When you’ll receive Communion, - He will unite Himself with you. He wants this because of His love for us. That’s why we eat the Host, - and we are united with Him in a very special way, more than only spiritually. We also receive many graces through this. Theologians say that Christ is in the Host while the “accidents” endure… so after Communion, for around 15 minutes or so. Then, He remains with us but spiritually and is no longer in the Host. Of course we don’t know for certain but this is the most accepted interpretation it seems.

The difference between transubstantiation and consubstantiation, is that in the first one (the Catholic teaching), there is no more bread and wine… and some Protestant groups that believe in consubstantiation, believe that the bread and wine remain, alongside Christ. We don’t believe this because we believe the substance is changed, not merely added to.

Christ, the problem solver! I love that! Makes “sense”. Our church does offer Eucharistic Adoration. I’ve thought about it, but wondered if I would “count” as an adorer since I am not yet technically Catholic. Will anyone think it’s weird that the “new girl” wants to go? I know that’s not what I should worry about, but, being new…I want to make sure I don’t do/say the wrong thing.

There’s absolutely no problem with going in fact I’d really encourage it!! I went to Adoration before I was Catholic and it helped a lot… it really helped also to prepare for the time when I can receive Communion Adoration is one of the best preparations. The first time I went, I could barely stay for 10 minutes, but then afterwards, I missed it… after I had gone a few times, I got used to it and it’s something really beautiful.

Before you can receive Communion, you can say this prayer it’s not the Eucharist, but possibly the next best thing if said with faith. ewtn.com/devotionals/prayers/blsac4.htm

and if you go to Adoration, here’s a prayer book that was written by a Saint specifically for Adoration (though you can say any prayers you want when you are there). stalphonsusbalt.org/stavisits.htm

God bless!

 

[thomas_jd]

Hello! I am currently in RCIA (as a previously baptized Episcopal that never really “lived” it) and have really been enjoying everything I am learning about the Catholic faith. Actually, over the last few weeks, I’ve been reading everything I can get my hands on and really examining history, doctrine, liturgy, etc, in order to deepen my understanding. I also attend Mass every Sunday and am also attending my first Vigil Mass tonight to honor the Immaculate Conception of Mary. I am looking forward to full Communion with the Church…everything about it feels so right to me; I enjoy the solemn and reverential atmosphere of worship, the deep history, the academics, the Sacraments…everything! Excuse my gushing…but I really am “excited” (for lack of a better word).

However, I am having a hard time wrapping my mind around the Real Presence of Christ in the Eucharist during Holy Communion. I’ve read a lot about it and understand that it is truly a Mystery of faith. I understand and can accept that (the mystery part). But can anyone help me understand the Real Presence? Give an analogy? Sort of “dumb it down” for me? I ask not to question the reality of the Real Presence but only to gain a better/deeper/clearer understanding of this important Sacrament.

Thank you!

Real Presence = Body, Soul, Blood, Divinity ( God)

 

[puzzleannie]

But can anyone help me understand the Real Presence? Give an analogy? Sort of “dumb it down” for me? I ask not to question the reality of the Real Presence but only to gain a better/deeper/clearer understanding of this important Sacrament.

Thank you!

for an analogy, think of the human person “John or Sylvia” if you ask what is it made if the answer is a list of chemicals bathed in water. Or the answer is a description of their physical appearance, perhaps character traits, psychological profile etc. But none of those separately or together define that person who is present with you, they are just accidents, the person is not only contained within that shell or personality, but the person present “John or Sylvia” is the entire person, body and soul so just describing any or all of those accidents still does not revela who the person IS.

all analogies are lame, but for a better suggestion, and the one that most of my RCIA candidates have found the most helpful over time is simply ask Jesus to show himself present to you in the Holy Eucharist when next you are in Church, and ask the Holy Spirit to implant an “explanation” or understanding in your soul.