How do we know we "believe" in the Real Presence?

[flick427]

I am looking for some thoughts on this because I know at times that some matters of faith can be extremly difficult even for “the best of us”, here is my scenario:
-I accept the church’s teachings because I believe they are the truth…(due at least to reason and logic)
-I go to Mass every Sunday
-I recieve Holy Communion
The Church teaches the Jesus is truely present (Body, Blood, Soul, and Divinity) in the Eucharist.
-I *accept *this primarily in my mind because the church teaches it and I accept Her teachings as a Catholic who wishes to please God and follow what he has revealed to us through the Church.
-I doubt and question though whether or not I accept it in my heart…perhaps a lack of faith or inability to fully understand/grasp the concept
How then, does a person know that they truely believe in the Real Presense?
Is it a sin to go to Communion if you just accept it and are not sure if you truely believe it?
Is it acceptable when going to Communion (or a good practice) to just say to Jesus and Mary “I know that the Church teaches Jesus is present physically and truely in this Holy Sacrament, but do not know if I truely believe yet I accept it. Help me to fully understand and appreciate this amazing gift”.
Any thoughts on this? I bring this up because I just talked to a protestant friend who asked me about this and I wasn’t sure how to explain my own beliefs on it logically…I told him I feel like it is something I just accept somehow, but can’t explain it or don’t know anyone that can because it is a matter of someone’s heart…however, it would be interesting to hear other opinions on this.

 

[The_Augustinian]

I think that an intellectual assent is sufficient to receive the Sacrament, but there are not as many graces as there would be if you truly believed in your heart.

Pray, “Lord, I believe. Help my unbelief.” Certainly the mystery of the Eucharist is hard to grasp, but if you regularly pray for the grace to love God more fully, then He will help you in your understanding of the Eucharist.

In Christ,

The Augustinian

 

[mkw]

I am a recent convert, the two doctrines that were the EASIEST for me to grasp was the Real Presense in the Eucharist and the doctrine of Mary. (i know i know,the two HARDEST for converts, what can I say, i’m backward)

Our Holy Mother was a cinch to get my heart around, I have a reason for this, but prob would be a whole new thread. As for the Real Presense, I just read John 6 and then Genesis 2. I thought to myself, If God could take simple dirt, mold out a man, and then breath life into him, it’s not all that hard to understand how He could hide behind a piece of bread. This may not be the way the Church reasons it, but this sure helped me understand the mystery.

Like everyone else though, I plan on asking God when I get to heaven I will ask Him. At least thats the plan

 

[masondoggy]

WOW, Flick! It’s funny you brought this up after the experience I had yesterday!

I was at Mass yesterday and during the consecration, I totally lost focus and my mind started wondering. It started thinking in my mind the exact same thing you posted. I was asking myself,
do I really, truly believe that this is Jesus, what if it isn’t? What if we’re all wrong about this? How can this be Jesus when all we see is bread and wine? How can this be?

I knew at that moment that Satan was messing with my mind, and I was so frustrated that these thoughts were coming in my mind at such a sacred moment. But at that point I was truly doubting the whole thing, which I’ve never really done in my life.
Then I started thinking about John 6. I thought to myself that this is how we know, intellectually, that this is true. This is our proof. If we’re wrong about John 6, then we’re wrong about Christianity because that would make Jesus a liar. So, I have to accept all of it. But I still feeling so much doubt.
This is the reasoning going on in my head. As communion started, I started praying, as I always do at that time, for my own conversion and then started praying for my regular list of others that need conversion. Before I could get very far on my list, they started the hymn, “I am the Bread of life”, the hymn based on John 6! I was shocked! But I knew at that time that God was reassuring me, he immediately was answering my prayer for my own conversion. That hymn has always been one of my favorites and I hadn’t heard it in ages. At that moment, I felt God’s Grace and there was no mistaking it! There is now not a bit of doubt in my heart.

 

[Maggie]

flick427:

I am looking for some thoughts on this because I know at times that some matters of faith can be extremly difficult even for “the best of us”, here is my scenario:
-I accept the church’s teachings because I believe they are the truth…(due at least to reason and logic)
-I go to Mass every Sunday
-I recieve Holy Communion
The Church teaches the Jesus is truely present (Body, Blood, Soul, and Divinity) in the Eucharist.
-I *accept *this primarily in my mind because the church teaches it and I accept Her teachings as a Catholic who wishes to please God and follow what he has revealed to us through the Church.
-I doubt and question though whether or not I accept it in my heart…perhaps a lack of faith or inability to fully understand/grasp the concept
How then, does a person know that they truely believe in the Real Presense?
Is it a sin to go to Communion if you just accept it and are not sure if you truely believe it?
Is it acceptable when going to Communion (or a good practice) to just say to Jesus and Mary “I know that the Church teaches Jesus is present physically and truely in this Holy Sacrament, but do not know if I truely believe yet I accept it. Help me to fully understand and appreciate this amazing gift”.
Any thoughts on this? I bring this up because I just talked to a protestant friend who asked me about this and I wasn’t sure how to explain my own beliefs on it logically…I told him I feel like it is something I just accept somehow, but can’t explain it or don’t know anyone that can because it is a matter of someone’s heart…however, it would be interesting to hear other opinions on this.

Sorry, I know people don’t like when the whole post is copied, but I think it’s important. I kind of just went through this myself, and what really helped me is to really focus on the Eucharistic prayer. Pay attention to the priest’s actions and motions and the difference in what happens and what the words are during those parts of the Mass. I can’t explain it, but it made a difference. Watch the priest and recognize that what happens before Christ is present is different than after Christ is present. Instead of bowing your head really watch. The sacrifice we offer is not the bread and wine but the re-presentation of that sacrifice that Christ has given us of Himself. It is an article of faith but it matters. Before, when it is merely bread and wine, watch what the priest does, he will bow to the altar, with reverence but a different kind of reverence. After the consecration, the awe and reverence and the genuflection is because he is in the presence of our Lord and Savior, present to us in the accidents of the bread and wine (forgive my theology if it’s a bit off) and then when he raises it up it IS Christ Jesus whom he reverences, through Him with Him, in Him with the glory of God the Father and the unity of the Holy Spirit… THAT is Christ real and present. It helped so much to be able see and recognize the distinction of when it became Christ. For me it made it real. Before that it was an intellectual and faith based recognition, but it helped to know that there was a moment when it wasn’t and then a moment when it was. I don’t know if that helps you, but maybe to know that other people have to go through that realization helps in some way.

 

[JoJo_MIse]

Dear Flick,

Mystery is the key word. There are many mysteries in the Faith. Twenty alone in the Rosary! Just after the Consecration, we hear; “Let us proclaim the Mystery of Faith!” The proclamation is pointing the Great Mystery that just occurred at Mass. The Lord becomes present body and soul on the Altar. If it is then a mystery, then there is no way we can totally comprehend it. You must ask Jesus, Himself to help you, even if you need a Sign. The Blessed Trinity is another of the great Mysteries. Since it is the Holy Mother Church that propogates the faith in Truth, then we must believe and embrace it with all our being. ST. John Chrysostom(I hope I spelt it right) said; “where there is no love ,put love
and you will find love.” Never let one moment of dooubt linger in your mind . Say; “Get thee behind me, Satan”. For it is he that wishes you not to enjoy the True Presence of Our Lord. Speak with Jesus at Holy Communion and embrace Him within you. You have nothing to lose and every thing to gain! As you become intimate with Him, doubt will never enter your mind again, unless there is an illicit Mass.
I am a cradle Catholic, and since my first Holy Communion, I never had a doubt of Whom I was receiving! I say this to show you that this doubt can absolutely go away. I will pray for your intention.

 

[Didi]

I have been through this same struggle myself. I used to also struggle with Eucharistic Adoration – I thought “I can talk with Jesus anytime I want to, why go to a chapel or tabernacle to do so?”

A few things that really helped me:

• listening to Scott Hahn’s conversion tape (available through www.catholicity.com for a donation)
• reading “The Lamb’s Supper” by Hahn
• reading the devotion of the saints to the Blessed Sacrament
• reading anything on Eucharistic Miracles
• beginning a regular hour of Eucharistic adoration each week

This last one was the most important in the converstion of my own heart and soul. I came to a point where I began to understand this mystery intellectually, theolocially, spiritually and emotionally (through the grace of God!). Although, as others have stated, we will never truly understand this Great Mystery and this Great Gift of Jesus Truly Present.

I can’t tell you how many times, at Eucharistic adoration, I have picked up “just the right book” or had quiet times of meditation where my jumbled thoughts finally came together and made sense, or spent almost the entire hour in the quiet Presence of Our Lord just looking at Him in the Monstrance. He will give you the faith to believe if you only ask for it, and then be patient as to when and how you receive it!

God bless you on your journey!