I had a conversation a while back with a family member who was raised Catholic but left the Church in her 20’s about the Eucharist. She told me that when Jesus consecrated the bread and wine into His Body and Blood that that is exactly what He did but, said she, that miracle was not handed on. Has anyone ever come across this particular mental gymnastics? If so how did you reply? Or if you haven’t, how should I reply if it ever comes up again?
Annie
I have heard of the argument that the early church needed this in order to help it grow in the beginning. But that it wasn’t needed as it developed into maturity, so it wasn’t continued.
The argument against such is to show them that the early church and later church continued this practise and that it was handed down.
from Ignatius of Antioch,Apostolic Father,(c. 107 A.D.)
“Now note well those who hold heretical opinions about the grace of Jesus Christ which came to us; note how contrary they are to the mind of God…. They abstain from the Eucharist and from prayer, because they refuse to acknowledge that the Eucharist is the flesh of our Savior Jesus Christ, which suffered for our sins and which the Father by his goodness raised up.”
Justin Martyr
“On the day called the Feast of the Sun, all who live in towns or in the country assemble in one place, and the memoirs of the Apostles or the writings of the Prophets are read as time permits. Then, when the reader has ended, the President instructs and encourages the people to practice the truths contained in the Scripture lections. Thereafter, we all stand up and offer prayers together … Our prayers being ended, we salute one another with a kiss. Then bread, and a cup of wine mixed with water, are brought to him who presides over the brethren. He, taking them, offers praise and glory to the Father of all through the Name of the Son and the Holy Spirit, and giving thanks at great length for that we have been counted worthy to receive these gifts from God; and when he finishes the prayers and thanksgivings all the people present cry aloud, Amen … After the President [the presiding priest] has given thanks and all the people have said Amen, those among us who are called deacons give to all present … the bread and wine mixed with water over which thanks has been given, and carry it also to those who are absent. And this food is called Eucharist by us, of which it is not right for any one to partake save only he who believes that the things taught by us are true, and is washed with the washing that is for the forgiveness of sins and regeneration, and so lives as Christ commanded us.” (A.D. 130, Martyred in A.D. 165)
Ref. in O.T, N.T., Fathers
scripturecatholic.com/the_eucharist.html
Church fathers
catholic.com/tracts/the-real-presence
The real presence taught by the fathers
therealpresence.org/eucharst/father/a5.html
