Giving one's life for the Eucharist

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I had a question about the Eucharist, I firmly believe it is the body, blood, soul, and divinity of our Lord, but I had a thought the other day that I wasn’t sure about. If there is a situation where the Eucharist is in danger, should we risk our life to try to save it? I know I would die for my faith in the eucharist, but I just wanted to know if someone should actually die for the eucharist.

for example, I go to a Catholic high school, and we were having a fire drill and I walked past the chapel, and thought, “What if this was real. Should someone go out of their way to get to the chapel take the eucharist out of the tabernacle and try to get it out of the building, even if it meant putting your life at risk?”

I know it is his body and blood, but is my understanding correct that when it ceases to have the appearance of bread it no longer is his body. So in the situation I described, if the chapel did catch fire, would the Eucharist just simply no longer be the body and blood.

I would hope this situation would never happen to anyone, but I just wanted to know what the proper teaching or way of think on this is.
 
CatholicTimmy said:
“What if this was real. Should someone go out of their way to get to the chapel take the eucharist out of the tabernacle and try to get it out of the building, even if it meant putting your life at risk?”
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It is not necessary to risk one’s life to protect the Eucharist, but it would be a heroic action to do so.
I know it is his body and blood, but is my understanding correct that when it ceases to have the appearance of bread it no longer is his body. So in the situation I described, if the chapel did catch fire, would the Eucharist just simply no longer be the body and blood.

I would hope this situation would never happen to anyone, but I just
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wanted to know what the proper teaching or way of think on this is.
It would only cease to be the Eucharist if it was destroyed, burned up, in the fire.
 
Because the greatest good demands that we protect the Holy Eucharist,
I offer the story of St. Tarcisius. Many parishes in the USA bear his name.
In my childhood the story of St. Tarcisius was taught to First Communicants.

ewtn.com/library/mary/tarcis.htm

ST. TARCISIUS​

"Tarcisius was a twelve-year-old acolyte during one of the fierce Roman persecutions of the third century, probably during that of Valerian. Each day, from a secret meeting place in the catacombs where Christians gathered for Mass, a deacon would be sent to the prisons to carry the Eucharist to those Christians condemned to die. At one point, there was no deacon to send and so St. Tarcisius, an acolyte, was sent carrying the “Holy Mysteries” to those in prison.
On the way, he was stopped by boys his own age who were not Christians but knew him as a playmate and lover of games. He was asked to join their games, but this time he refused and the crowd of boys noticed that he was carrying something. Somehow, he was also recognized as a Christian, and the small gang of boys, anxious to view the Christian “Mysteries,” became a mob and turned upon Tarcisius with fury. He went down under the blows, and it is believed that a fellow Christian drove off the mob and rescued the young acolyte.

The mangled body of Tarcisius was carried back to the catacombs, but the boy died on the way from his injuries. He was buried in the cemetery of St. Callistus, and his relics are claimed by the church of San Silvestro in Capite. … ."
 
I have always remembered the story of Tarcisius with fondness. But my brother has a sigh of relief because my mom wished to give him the middle of Tarcisius, but she mistakenly told the nurse Aloysius instead :).
 
Your desire to save the Eucharist is admirable. But I don’t think God would want you to risk your life in order to save the Eucharist.

As a person who is on fire for the Lord, you can do much more to help Jesus by leading others to him by your example. Though the Catholic church teaches that Jesus is present in the Holy Eucharist, know that he is also present in the body of Christ (you and me). If you were to give up your life in order to save the Eucharist, that would mean one less soldier for Christ,one less member of the body that Jesus can work through.

You appear to be spiritually inclined and have a passion for the Lord that many don’t have today. I encourage you to use your love for the Eucharist to reach out to his lost sheep. When you receive Holy Communion, Jesus resides in you and it is this Jesus that you need to share and take out into the world.

Jesus Rocks
 
Keep in mind, Jesus is everywhere. One burned tabernacle with the body of Christ won’t destroy Christ. That is impossible.

Although it will be a noble thing to do, save yourself and keep spreading the message. God is god and fire will never hurt him.
 
I must strongly insist that the Catholic Church has a long and rich
tradition of safeguarding the Holy Eucharist. We recognize It as the
Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity of Jesus Christ Our Lord, HIMSELF.

There can be no valid comparison to a perceived or an imagined need to
minister to “others” some fine day. The Lord our God is most REALLY
present in the Holy Eucharist. This fact should stand without doubt and
without any argument by any Catholic.

In response to the stated concern of the OP, it is the case that every
place that gives sanctuary to the Real Presence, the Holy Eucharist,
is in fact under the assigned care of a specified sacristan and it is his
or her duty to insure the actual safety of the Holy Eucharist in emergencies.

On that note, the OP can be somewhat reassured.
 
catharina said:
I must strongly insist that the Catholic Church has a long and rich
tradition of safeguarding the Holy Eucharist. We recognize It as the
Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity of Jesus Christ Our Lord, HIMSELF.

There can be no valid comparison to a perceived or an imagined need to
minister to “others” some fine day. The Lord our God is most REALLY
present in the Holy Eucharist. This fact should stand without doubt and
without any argument by any Catholic.

In response to the stated concern of the OP, it is the case that every
place that gives sanctuary to the Real Presence, the Holy Eucharist,
is in fact under the assigned care of a specified sacristan and it is his
or her duty to insure the actual safety of the Holy Eucharist in emergencies.

On that note, the OP can be somewhat reassured.
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You take a very strong stand regarding the presence of the Holy Eucharist. I am not disputing that for Catholics. What I am disputing is that this person risk his precious life to save Jesus when in truth, there are many who are waiting in line to desecrate the Holy Eucharist. Does this mean that every well meaning, on fire person must give their life in order to protect Jesus? I think Jesus would prefer that people outside of the church know about him through their outreach to others. How would that be possible if everyone was to take a hit for Jesus? I’m looking at the bigger picture here. Sometimes, Catholics tend to be very offended and miss the point.

In the last days (which we are in now), God said that many would be offended easily.

Jesus Rocks
 
Cryptic1 said:
You take a very strong stand regarding the presence of the Holy Eucharist. I am not disputing that for Catholics. What I am disputing is that this person risk his precious life to save Jesus when in truth, there are many who are waiting in line to desecrate the Holy Eucharist. Does this mean that every well meaning, on fire person must give their life in order to protect Jesus? I think Jesus would prefer that people outside of the church know about him through their outreach to others. How would that be possible if everyone was to take a hit for Jesus? I’m looking at the bigger picture here. Sometimes, Catholics tend to be very offended and miss the point.

In the last days (which we are in now), God said that many would be offended easily.

Jesus Rocks
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This person (bolded above) IS Catholic.
In the early Church, yes every person was ready to die for Christ.
I didn’t realize that ideal is lost among some Christians.

I can’t account for what you believe.
I do know what Catholics believe.

Also I don’t know the meaning of “Jesus Rocks.”

???
 
catharina said:
I must strongly insist that the Catholic Church has a long and rich
tradition of safeguarding the Holy Eucharist. We recognize It as the
Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity of Jesus Christ Our Lord, HIMSELF.

There can be no valid comparison to a perceived or an imagined need to
minister to “others” some fine day. The Lord our God is most REALLY
present in the Holy Eucharist. This fact should stand without doubt and
without any argument by any Catholic.

In response to the stated concern of the OP, it is the case that every
place that gives sanctuary to the Real Presence, the Holy Eucharist,
is in fact under the assigned care of a specified sacristan and it is his
or her duty to insure the actual safety of the Holy Eucharist in emergencies.

On that note, the OP can be somewhat reassured.
Click to expand...
👍

Through the many centuries in the Church there have been many Miracles of various kinds attributed to the Eucharist in the Tabernacle either lost, stolen or caught in fires in Churches and survived their existence by miraculous “supernatural” means.

The following below are a few instances: piercedhearts.org/treasures/eucharistic_miracles/siena.htm

acfp2000.com/Miracles/eucharistic.html
 
I do not believe that you should put your life at risk to retrieve the Blessed Sacrament from the tabernacle.

However, if it is safe to do so I think it would be commendable to remove It from the tabernacle to a safer place. Where I work if the fire alarm sounds the staff of the finance department are required to put any moneys in the safe and to lock the safe before evacuating the building. It we are to take such care over money I think it appropriate to take similar care of the Blessed Sacrament.
 
Matthew_Holford said:
I do not believe that you should put your life at risk to retrieve the Blessed Sacrament from the tabernacle.

However, if it is safe to do so I think it would be commendable to remove It from the tabernacle to a safer place. Where I work if the fire alarm sounds the staff of the finance department are required to put any moneys in the safe and to lock the safe before evacuating the building. It we are to take such care over money I think it appropriate to take similar care of the Blessed Sacrament.
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And this makes sense. But if one were to put themselves in such danger as to give their life in an attempt to rescue the Blessed Sacrament, then perhaps the Blessed Sacrament would be more safe in the tabernacle than to be destroyed along with the person attempting to save it. But certainly, if it is safe to do so, it is “commendable” as you have said, "to remove (the Blessed Sacrament) from the tabernacle to a safer place.
 
I remember that when Holy Name Cathedral in Chicago caught on fire, one of the priests went to the tabernacle and retrieved the ciborium. This was like two or three years ago.
 
catharina said:
This person (bolded above) IS Catholic.
In the early Church, yes every person was ready to die for Christ.
I didn’t realize that ideal is lost among some Christians.

I can’t account for what you believe.
I do know what Catholics believe.

Also I don’t know the meaning of “Jesus Rocks.”

???
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Guess it depends on how “early” is “early”, no? 😉
 
So does every Catholic believe the host is the actual flesh and blood of Jesus at mass and even not at mass??
I have such a hard time beleiving this. Jesus is seated at the right hand of the Father, and the Holy Spirit is in us.

So that is Jesus locked up in the sunburst thing, in every Catholic Church?

Please help me with this.
 
Luvtosew said:
Please help me with this.
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It’s a Mystery. He is seated at the right hand of the Father and is also present in the Most Holy Eucharist. The Most Holy Eucharist is his body, blood, soul and divinity at all times and in all places. However He is not in the Most Holy Eucharist as in a place as he is substantially present, not locally present.

In the Most Holy Eucharist, heaven comes down to earth with Him. Don’t think of them as being separated.

And yes every Catholic must believe this. It is a dogma of the faith. To deny it is heresy. And also the “golden sunburst thing” is called a Monstrance. Our Lord isn’t “locked in” there. He is there to be adored by the faithful as Our Lord and Our God.
 
So he is there in the Monstrance, every one at all times?
It is a mystery. What do they do with the hosts which are left over after mass?
 
Luvtosew said:
So he is there in the Monstrance, every one at all times?
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He is present in every validly consecrated host at all times yes. But He is not divided. He is equally present to the fullest degree in each host, even in the tiniest particle He is fully and substantially present Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity.
It is a mystery.
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Yes and a beautiful one at that.
What do they do with the hosts which are left over after mass?
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That depends. The species of the wine is always consumed at Mass and is not reserved. The species of bread will either be consumed by the priest or reserved in the tabernacle.
 
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