Understanding the Eucharist

[Verbum_Caro]

Ok, great!

Like I said I learn something new almost everytime the topic of the Real Presence comes up. It is an inexhaustible mystery!

Too bad Rob is gone, because he was generating the conversation.

God Bless,
VC

Oh yeah, those two books I mentioned above are REALLY worth checking out. I know you will enjoy them.

 

[Verbum_Caro]

mosher:

Objection 3 & 4 are amazing

Yeah, it is amazing. I always think its great how you can find almost any question in Aquinas. He thought of everything, it seems.

By the by, i just picked up a book called Holy Teaching, a translation and compilation of the Summa, and it has extensive footnotes which I have found very helpful – even inspiring. Check that out too if you get a chance.

Pax Christi,
VC

 

[ElizabethJoy]

I just read No Wonder They Call it The Real Presence and The Healing Power of the Eucharist and they were both very good.

They are easy to read and provide a lot of insight from many different people. The first is a collection of stories about how peoples’ lives were changed by weekly holy hours and the second contains explanations about various aspects of the Eucharist.

I don’t think that I will never understand it, but my faith regarding the Blessed Eucharist has increased and changed. I have a stronger hunger to receive Christ and a much stronger urge to go and sit with Him in the church.

 

[mosher]

But the question of the relation of the two is still unanswered. Per the replys to objections 3 & 4 we have to say that the substance in some way takes on being (which still blows my mind). But then how is it that as the accidents of the species breaks down then Christ ceases to be present substantially.

 

[RobNY]

Sorry I had to go, I have a sister who also requires that she use the computer.

Aquinas’s words were good, and so was the article. It’s still something fascinating to think about, and I hope someone can explain what mosher was talking about.

ElizabethJoy-- thank you for your recommendations!

I’ll look into your recommendations, and Verbum Caro’s.

-Rob

 

[Verbum_Caro]

Mosher and RobNy,

Here is a great thread forums.catholic-questions.org/showthread.php?p=834351#post834351 in which we discuss the accidents. Specifically there is a question about what happens when the species “corrupts”, becomes moldy, is digested etc – and what that means for accidents that exist without a substance (miracle!). Pay close attention to the last post on this thread by BatTeddy and also note that one of my posts has a link to Aquinas again on the question of HOW can accidents without a substance become moldy.

Let’s keep thinking, praying, and adoring. I hope we can continue this conversation!

VC

 

[Faithfilled]

mosher:

It is necessary to say that the Christ-substance takes on the Bread-accidents (and wine-accidents) because it is only when the species-accidents (species = bread or wine) is no longer present in whole or in part then the Christ-substance ceases to be present in the now former Eucharist.

I have been an extraordinary minister of Holy Communion for many years and I’ve grown tremendously in my faith during that time. But my mind isn’t the greatest and there is much of what has been posted here that I have trouble comprehending (which rereading and rereading might at least partially be dispel).

I have a sensitive stomach and wine can make me feel queasy. After all who present themselves have received the Precious Blood, there is always some remaining which must be consumed. Occasionally there is so much that after Mass I have to asked Father to consume whatever amount is left. But even when there is a small amount my stomach rebels a bit. Because of that It seems to me that at the consecration the accidents of the consecrated bread and wine must be as you explained it:

“Christ-substance takes on the Bread-accidents (and wine-accidents)”

Thoughts on this?