Why do Catholics believe in the Eucharist?

[luthier93]

I’ve talked to numerous Catholics, and though not one myself, I respect the Catholic Church.
However, though I know the origins of the Eucharist (Jesus’ proclamations at the Last Supper), I’m puzzled as to why it and the other sacraments are held to be so important, even to the point of bringing salvation. Especially, the fact of it being the actual blood and body of Jesus is puzzling…why?
Thanks for any explanations!

 

[1ke]

More puzzling, why many non-Catholics do not believe in the Eucharist.

 

[ConstantineTG]

Just FYI, but we Orthodox also believe in the Eucharist. So its not just them

If these Churches that trace their origin back to the Apostles believe in the Eucharist, maybe it is that important

 

[JordanRogers]

vatican.va/archive/ccc_css/archive/catechism/p2s2c1a3.htm

 

[josh987654321]

I’ve talked to numerous Catholics, and though not one myself, I respect the Catholic Church.
However, though I know the origins of the Eucharist (Jesus’ proclamations at the Last Supper), I’m puzzled as to why it and the other sacraments are held to be so important, even to the point of bringing salvation. Especially, the fact of it being the actual blood and body of Jesus is puzzling…why?
Thanks for any explanations!

**Mathew 28:20

I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen**.

He is with us in the Eucharist. Where ever there is that blessed sacrament, he is with us.

**John 14:18

18 I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you.**

He has stayed with us through that most blessed sacrament, he comes to us through the Holy Eucharist and the Holy Spirit.

**John 6:34-35

34 Then said they unto him, Lord, evermore give us this bread.

35 And Jesus said unto them, I am the bread of life: he that cometh to me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on me shall never thirst**.

**John 6:54-55

54 Whoever eats My flesh and drinks My blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day. 55 For My flesh is food indeed, and My blood is drink indeed**.

**John 6:56-58

56 He that eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, dwelleth in me, and I in him.

57 As the living Father hath sent me, and I live by the Father: so he that eateth me, even he shall live by me.

58 This is that bread which came down from heaven: not as your fathers did eat manna, and are dead: he that eateth of this bread shall live for ever**.

Throughout the history of the Catholic Church, Jesus has proven beyond any doubt that He is truly present in the Holy Eucharist. Why did He have to prove this to us? It is because at certain times in history, there were heresies that denied the Real Presence in the Sacrament of the Holy Eucharist. On other occasions, some priests doubted the Real Presence of Jesus in the Holy Eucharist. And yet, on other occasions, the Holy Eucharist was abused by believers and non-believers alike.

What follows are some of the Eucharistic Miracles that took place throughout the history of the Catholic Church. All of these have received the full approval of the Catholic Church. Please click on the the below link.

Eucharistic Miracles - catholicdoors.com/misc/eucharisticmiracles.htm

**John 6:52

52 The Jews therefore quarreled among themselves, saying, “How can this Man give us His flesh to eat?**”

They knew exactly what he was saying, because this was his reply.

**John 6:53-57

53 Then Jesus said to them, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink His blood, you have no life in you. 54 Whoever eats My flesh and drinks My blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day. 55 For My flesh is food indeed,[h] and My blood is drink indeed. 56 He who eats My flesh and drinks My blood abides in Me, and I in him. 57 As the living Father sent Me, and I live because of the Father, so he who feeds on Me will live because of Me**.

He did not correct them or call them back saying that they misunderstood him. It was no metaphor. If it were a metaphor he simply would have called the disciples that turned away back because they misunderstood him.

**Many Disciples Turn Away John 6:60-71

60 Therefore many of His disciples, when they heard this, said, “This is a hard saying; who can understand it?”

61 When Jesus knew in Himself that His disciples complained about this, He said to them, “Does this offend you? 62 What then if you should see the Son of Man ascend where He was before? 63 It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh profits nothing. The words that I speak to you are spirit, and they are life. 64 But there are some of you who do not believe.” For Jesus knew from the beginning who they were who did not believe, and who would betray Him. 65 And He said, “Therefore I have said to you that no one can come to Me unless it has been granted to him by My Father.”

66 From that time many of His disciples went back and walked with Him no more. 67 Then Jesus said to the twelve, “Do you also want to go away?”

68 But Simon Peter answered Him, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. 69 Also we have come to believe and know that You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.”

70 Jesus answered them, “Did I not choose you, the twelve, and one of you is a devil?” 71 He spoke of Judas Iscariot, the son of Simon, for it was he who would betray Him, being one of the twelve**.

God Bless.

Thank you for reading
Josh

 

[mexolic]

More puzzling, why many non-Catholics do not believe in the Eucharist.

The Eucharist is biblically based. Yet Protestants are the ones that reject it, including some doubtful Catholics. I know for certain that Jesus is truly present in the Eucharist.

 

[andrewstx]

luthier describes him/herself as being Messianic. To me that just means Protestant fundamentalist with a few phrases in Hebrew and sometimes following the Jewish holidays.

Fundamentalists believe that all religion to be valid must be spiritual only and any physical actions are bad and unneeded. That is why lutier questions the sacraments with their physical elements.

For fundamentalists the only the only thing that matters is a mental prayer called at times the “sinner’s prayer”. The mental prayer is what matters and baptism and the other sacraments are just “works”.

 

[bben15]

Hello.

The Eucharist is not just a sacrament, it is a miracle. I suggest you read up on the Miracle of Lanciano. It will truly amaze you. It is my favorite Eucharistic miracle.

Our Lord, when he was on Earth, commanded us to eat of his flesh and drink his blood. He said himself that if we don’t, we can’t be assured of salvation.

This is why the Eucharist is the most important sacrament (or mystery if you’re of the Eastern branch).

God Bless.

 

[MJCamp]

luthier describes him/herself as being Messianic. To me that just means Protestant fundamentalist with a few phrases in Hebrew and sometimes following the Jewish holidays.

Fundamentalists believe that all religion to be valid must be spiritual only and any physical actions are bad and unneeded. That is why lutier questions the sacraments with their physical elements.

For fundamentalists the only the only thing that matters is a mental prayer called at times the “sinner’s prayer”. The mental prayer is what matters and baptism and the other sacraments are just “works”.

Luthier is wrong on this one

 

[Rete]

I’ve talked to numerous Catholics, and though not one myself, I respect the Catholic Church.
However, though I know the origins of the Eucharist (Jesus’ proclamations at the Last Supper), I’m puzzled as to why it and the other sacraments are held to be so important, even to the point of bringing salvation. Especially, the fact of it being the actual blood and body of Jesus is puzzling…why?
Thanks for any explanations!

Because Christ said that in order to enter Heaven, we must eat his flesh and drink his blood. Then he later implemented that system at the Last Supper.

The proper question should be addressed to Christ. He instituted it. It’s His words.

 

[andrewstx]

Luthier is wrong on this one

Of course.

 

[Vico]

I’ve talked to numerous Catholics, and though not one myself, I respect the Catholic Church.
However, though I know the origins of the Eucharist (Jesus’ proclamations at the Last Supper), I’m puzzled as to why it and the other sacraments are held to be so important, even to the point of bringing salvation. Especially, the fact of it being the actual blood and body of Jesus is puzzling…why?
Thanks for any explanations!

The Sacrament of Baptism is essential, and after that, when we fail to keep our charity towards God, the Sacrament of Penance. So what are the others for? They are called the sacraments of the living because they increase grace and give us a grace particular to that sacrament that we may resist sin and do good. That is, they “keep us in our holiness”.

 

[tp3192000]

I’ve talked to numerous Catholics, and though not one myself, I respect the Catholic Church.
However, though I know the origins of the Eucharist (Jesus’ proclamations at the Last Supper), I’m puzzled as to why it and the other sacraments are held to be so important, even to the point of bringing salvation. Especially, the fact of it being the actual blood and body of Jesus is puzzling…why?
Thanks for any explanations!

Jesus is alive and well at the right hand of the Father. He left us a special gift of Himself that he gives to us presently in the form of the Eucharist. It is His actual Holy Body and Blood that is transformed through the sacrifice of the Mass from the bread and wine. Many followers turned away when Jesus told them that they must eat his flesh and blood to be saved. It must have been rather hard to hear that message, but they did not know he was referring to the Eucharist.
The Sacrifice of the Mass has been continually offered since Jesus rose from the dead almost two thousand years ago. A sacrament that was offered by His Apostles after His death and and carried on today by our holy priests is available to all who are of the Catholic faith and who by their lives and actions are worthy to receive Him.

 

[MJCamp]

I’ve talked to numerous Catholics, and though not one myself, I respect the Catholic Church.
However, though I know the origins of the Eucharist (Jesus’ proclamations at the Last Supper), I’m puzzled as to why it and the other sacraments are held to be so important, even to the point of bringing salvation. Especially, the fact of it being the actual blood and body of Jesus is puzzling…why?
Thanks for any explanations!

Receive the Eucharist whole heartedly and keep your soul clean with Reconciliation and you will recognize the power of this great Sacrament

 

[teachccd]

The very Word that spoke when things leaped into existence also said, “This is my body”. I think that the burden of proof remains on those who say that it isn’t. Obviously, the previous posters showed the biblical references to the Eucharist but I have to ask, “What would seem to die out after 20 centuries of time: the Real Presence of Christ in the Eucharist or a symbolic remembrance?” It would seem that the Real Presence would have seemed absurd and would have died out had it not been true from then until Jesus comes again.

Catholics believe in the Eucharist because Jesus left His gift to the Apostles and the early Church worshipped this way and continue to do so to this day. Not only does a symbolic communion go against Scripture, it goes against the liturgical worship since the Acts of the Apostles. The better question is: Why do Christians not believe the Eucharist? Seems that something went wrong somewhere…

 

[catholictiger]

I would say first and foremost is that we believe it based on faith that Christ at the last supper instituted the mass and meant what he said when he said. This is my Body given up for you, this is my blood shed for you.

I’m sure many people will make many arguments based on certain things but it starts at the level of faith. Reason should back it up yes but it starts with faith.

 

[rafarose]

I’ve talked to numerous Catholics, and though not one myself, I respect the Catholic Church.
However, though I know the origins of the Eucharist (Jesus’ proclamations at the Last Supper), I’m puzzled as to why it and the other sacraments are held to be so important, even to the point of bringing salvation. Especially, the fact of it being the actual blood and body of Jesus is puzzling…why?
Thanks for any explanations!

Because Jesus himself said, "This is my body given for you; do this in remembrance of me." - Luke 22:19

We take this verse literally, that the Eucharist during mass is transformed into Christ’s body.
During mass we repeat and remember the sacrifice our Jesus made, and in return during mass, the bread is transformed into his body.

This is from EWTN:

Our Lord said, “This is My body,” the entire substance of the bread was changed into His body; and when He said, “This is My blood,” the entire substance of the wine was changed into His blood.

(a) Christ could not have used clearer, more explicit words than “This is My body.” He did not say, “This is a sign of My body,” or “This represents My body,” but, “This is My body.” Catholics take Christ at His word because He is the omnipotent God. On His word they know that the Holy Eucharist is the body and blood of Christ.
We know that Christ is whole and entire under both appearances because, “Christ having risen from the dead, dies now no more” (Romans 6:9). Because Christ cannot die, His blood must remain united always to His body, and His soul to both. The divinity of Christ, moreover, always remains united to His body and blood and soul because He is God made man.

(b) The whole Christ is present under each part of the sacred appearances and remains present as long as the sacred appearances remain.

 

[R_C]

I’ve talked to numerous Catholics, and though not one myself, I respect the Catholic Church.
However, though I know the origins of the Eucharist (Jesus’ proclamations at the Last Supper), I’m puzzled as to why it and the other sacraments are held to be so important, even to the point of bringing salvation. Especially, the fact of it being the actual blood and body of Jesus is puzzling…why?
Thanks for any explanations!

Well, see, that’s how the apostles of Jesus Christ and their first disciples understood it and transmitted the teaching…that is what the Church has consistently taught since the very beginning, that is what the Church Fathers have written during the days in which there was no such thing as a “bible” but only the orthodox apostolic tradition. So the question here is: when in time did some Christians come up with the novelty that the Eucharist is not the true body and blood of our Lord and that the Sacraments are not the ordinary means of salvation? Perhaps you will be surprised to know that ever since the days of Peter and Paul and the other Apostles we had communities that came up with their own interpretation of the Christian doctrine, distorting it to their own detriment.

Let us see what the true Christians taught, they who learned the faith from the mouth and letters of the Apostles of Christ.

 

[R_C]

On Real Presence of the Lord in the Eucharist

Ignatius of Antioch, disciple of John, third bishop of Antioch after Peter and Evodius (35 - 98 AD):

I desire the bread of God, which is the flesh of Jesus Christ, who was of the seed of David; and for drink I desire his blood, which is love incorruptible.

Take note of those who hold heterodox opinions on the grace of Jesus Christ which has come to us, and see how contrary their opinions are to the mind of God. . . . They abstain from the Eucharist and from prayer because they do not confess that the Eucharist is the flesh of our Savior Jesus Christ, flesh which suffered for our sins and which that Father, in his goodness, raised up again. They who deny the gift of God are perishing in their disputes.

Justin Martyr (100-165 AD), regarded as the foremost interpreter of the theory of the Logos in the 2nd century:

We call this food Eucharist, and no one else is permitted to partake of it, except one who believes our teaching to be true and who has been washed in the washing which is for the remission of sins and for regeneration * and is thereby living as Christ enjoined. For not as common bread nor common drink do we receive these; but since Jesus Christ our Savior was made incarnate by the word of God and had both flesh and blood for our salvation, so too, as we have been taught, the food which has been made into the Eucharist by the Eucharistic prayer set down by him, and by the change of which our blood and flesh is nurtured, is both the flesh and the blood of that incarnated Jesus*

Iraeneus (2nd Century), hearer of Polycarp who was disciple of the apostle John:

If the Lord were from other than the Father, how could he rightly take bread, which is of the same creation as our own, and confess it to be his body and affirm that the mixture in the cup is his blood?

He has declared the cup, a part of creation, to be his own blood, from which he causes our blood to flow; and the bread, a part of creation, he has established as his own body, from which he gives increase unto our bodies. When, therefore, the mixed cup [wine and water] and the baked bread receives the Word of God … becomes the Eucharist, the body of Christ

Tertullian (160-225 AD), first Christian author to produce an extensive corpus of Latin Christian literature, the oldest extant Latin writer to use the term Trinity, called the father of Latin Christianity and the founder of Western theology:

the flesh feeds [in the Eucharist] on the body and blood of Christ, that the soul likewise may be filled with God

Cyprian of Carthage (200-258 AD):

He [Paul] threatens, moreover, the stubborn and forward, and denounces them, saying, ‘Whosoever eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord unworthily, is guilty of the body and blood of the Lord’ [1 Cor. 11:27]. All these warnings being scorned and contemned—[lapsed Christians will often take Communion] before their sin is expiated, before confession has been made of their crime, before their conscience has been purged by sacrifice and by the hand of the priest, before the offense of an angry and threatening Lord has been appeased, [and so] violence is done to his body and blood; and they sin now against their Lord more with their hand and mouth than when they denied their Lord

Cyril of Jerusalem (313-386 AD):

The bread and the wine of the Eucharist before the holy invocation of the adorable Trinity were simple bread and wine, but the invocation having been made, the bread becomes the body of Christ and the wine the blood of Christ.

Do not, therefore, regard the bread and wine as simply that; for they are, according to the Master’s declaration, the body and blood of Christ. Even though the senses suggest to you the other, let faith make you firm. Do not judge in this matter by taste, but be fully assured by the faith, not doubting that you have been deemed worthy of the body and blood of Christ.

John Chrysostom (347-407 AD):

Let us therefore in all respects put our faith in God and contradict Him in nothing, even if what is said seems to be contrary to our reasonings and to what we see. Let His word be of superior authority to reason and sight. This too be our practice in respect of the Mysteries [Sacrament of Eucharist or Communion], not looking upon what is laid before us, but taking heed also of His words. For words cannot deceive; but our senses are easily cheated. His word has never failed; our senses err most of the time.
When the word says, ‘This is my Body,’ be convinced of it and believe it, and look at it with the eyes of the mind. For Christ did not give us something tangible, but even in His tangible things all is intellectual. So too with Baptism: the gift is bestowed through what is a tangible thing, water, but what is accomplished is intellectually perceived: the birth and the renewal. If you were incorporeal He would have given you those incorporeal gifts naked; but since the soul is intertwined with the body, He hands over to you in tangible things, that which is perceived intellectually. How many now say, ‘I wish I could see His shape [Gr. ton tupon], His appearance, His garments, His scandals.’ Only look! You see Him! You touch Him. You eat Him. He had given to those who desire Him, not only to see Him and fix their teeth in His flesh, and to embrace Him and satisfy all their love.

 

[luthier93]

Just FYI, but we Orthodox also believe in the Eucharist. So its not just them

If these Churches that trace their origin back to the Apostles believe in the Eucharist, maybe it is that important

Ah yes, I have several Orthodox friends and I know they also believe in the Eucharist…I’m wondering why. Not how it works, but why…does anyone have a defense for it?