Why are these things important?

[raaucoin]

Hi. I’m sure these queastion have been askedsomewhere and I have a lot of queastions…lil. so forgive me if I’m asking too much in one thread.

1.) Why is it important that the Eucharist be literal not symbolic? As long as we wears doing this in remembrance why does it matter? Ive been reading the tracts on Catholic.com and id never read the verse in John from that perspective. Are symbols not valid? My wedding ring represents my marriage but I’m no less married when it is removed?

Please explain?

Friend, I am no good at giving “theological” explanations about why anything we as Catholics believe is important. There will be some here who can better tackle that. All I can do is offer my own experience.

I was born and raised Catholic. Loved God and the Church never questioned until late teen early adult. Then I set out to “find truth”. And visited many Christians of other denominations. Got a lot out of that experience.And while I felt I had found some good stuff, there was always a hole that couldn’t be filled.

You see, I couldn’t understand how a God who loves us so much, wants so much from us in terms of obedience- would leave us “down here” on our own to get IT the best way we could and then hold us sooo accountable if we screwed up. It can be very difficult living according to the will of God.- Peter and the Apostles had Jesus himself present with them- Body and Blood, Soul and Divinity. Surely they had an (unfair) advantage over we who live 2000+yrs. later. Unless it’s possible that Jesus really is available to us also-Body and Blood, Soul and Divinity. This makes since to me. Jesus instructs us “to be perfect” as our Father is perfect. This too has many theological implications. But for me, I believe what He says “with” God nothing is impossible. In the moments we unite with Him in the Blessed Sacrament, His Body and Blood Soul and Divinity, we are perfect. That is free from sin.{Sacrament of Reconcilliation(confession) and Mass removing venial sin is another matter for discussion}.–And in that very intimate uniting with Him, we are given nourishment, strength, and sustainance to go out and live our lives made stronger for the task of resisting all that is opposed to the Lord and His will. We don’t only have the power of God supporting us, but God Himself.

I know this may not answer your actual question, but for me it is important that I know the Eucharist is not just symbollic because a symbol is only as useful as my understanding of it and it serves to remind me of something. The Eucharist as the literal Body and Blood, soul and Divinity of Jesus is powerful in and of itself . I can’t fully comprehend the “how” of it, but it is.And I am only able to be my best self when I receive Holy Communion on a regular basis.

Oh and about your wedding ring! You are no less married without it, but when your spouse isn’t at your side- your spouse isn’t at your side! You may take comfort and strength knowing he/she is a part of your life when they are away, but that is much different than when he/she returns and you embrace.

 

[fred_conty]

Why is it important that the bread become the actual body, and the wine become the actual blood of Jesus?

Other christians have accepted Jesus into their hearts “as my personal Lord and Saviour”. But that is not what Jesus said, nor is it in the Bible.

Catholic christians receive the body and blood of Jesus into their hearts “as my personal Lord and Saviour”. For that is what Jesus wanted and said, and is in the Bible.
Why personal Lord and Saviour? For he said, “this is my blood which will be shed for many”. He is Saviour by sheding his blood and being received by those whom he shed it for.

He wanted us to have the real salvation, not a symbol.

A symbol of his salvation would be a a wooden cross, to remind us of his salvation.
The reality of his salvation is Him who hung on that cross as our saviour.

A symbol in and of itself has no power to change us into it.
The real Jesus does have the power to change us into Him so that we grow in Jesus.

The PERSON of Jesus himself is who we receive, and is the same PERSON who healed the blind, and rose Lazurus.

In the Mass it is Jesus offering himself as the sacrificial lamb, the real Jesus, for us in the current times, and for the whole world. To unite ourselves with that, there is no greater act on earth. The Son of God on our altar. And we receive this Lamb of God
who offered Himself for us, whose blood was “shed for many”.

What a wonderful God we have.

 

[domestichippie]

Why is it important that the bread become the actual body, and the wine become the actual blood of Jesus?

Other christians have accepted Jesus into their hearts “as my personal Lord and Saviour”. But that is not what Jesus said, nor is it in the Bible.

Catholic christians receive the body and blood of Jesus into their hearts “as my personal Lord and Saviour”. For that is what Jesus wanted and said, and is in the Bible.
Why personal Lord and Saviour? For he said, “this is my blood which will be shed for many”. He is Saviour by sheding his blood and being received by those whom he shed it for.

He wanted us to have the real salvation, not a symbol.

A symbol of his salvation would be a a wooden cross, to remind us of his salvation.
The reality of his salvation is Him who hung on that cross as our saviour.

A symbol in and of itself has no power to change us into it.
The real Jesus does have the power to change us into Him so that we grow in Jesus.

The PERSON of Jesus himself is who we receive, and is the same PERSON who healed the blind, and rose Lazurus.

In the Mass it is Jesus offering himself as the sacrificial lamb, the real Jesus, for us in the current times, and for the whole world. To unite ourselves with that, there is no greater act on earth. The Son of God on our altar. And we receive this Lamb of God
who offered Himself for us, whose blood was “shed for many”.

What a wonderful God we have.

When you say it like that it makes it sound like the symbolic version is idolatry. It brings to mind Hebrews 13:8 Jesus Christ the same yesterday to day and forever.

immediately brings to mind