Why do we receive the sacraments (and a few more Qs on Mass)

[Kronk]

Hello! So I should preface that I’m no stranger to the sacraments, I am for the most part attempting to receive communion every day as a newly baptised convert. I’m happy, I receive on the tongue, I go back in my seat and do a quiet mental prayer to Christ. I believe, weakly (because it’s new and I haven’t really been researching it as much as I should) but I believe in his real presence there. And I know why we receive it, so we remember Jesus, so we become one with him, but I have a feeling that’s not all there is.

Now I thought more, and I came to the realisation that it’s the same with the other sacraments too. It’s good, in the moment I know and my doubts are snuffed out, but I only understand the surface level, (eg. Baptism cleanses us of original sin and makes us a child of God) but I don’t understand further, and I feel like I should.

There are more… I wouldn’t say doubts because if someone approached me randomly and asked do you believe in (insert thing) I would say yes. But I don’t understand, and although I think those who have faith even when they don’t understand are good, I also need to work on understanding so my faith works better.

So, The things I have the most trouble understanding are the Trinity and the consecration of the host. Or more, how I am to envision them.

I suppose the most sound explanation I have for the Trinity is the sides of the triangle explanation, that there are 3 sides, all different, one is not the other but they all are a triangle. But that doesn’t always work and I still have trouble understanding how God is 3 persons with what seems to be different traits, personalities, etc. yet not actually 3 different beings. It becomes hard for me to understand it. What I would have imagined the first time hearing it would have been “oh it’s one God and he just controls 3 other bodies” but of course that’s completely untrue

The second, the consecration, is more just how the Holy Spirit gets there to the consecrated host and changes it to the body and blood of Christ. I sometimes like to imagine a dove flying over the bread and wine but of course that’s just artistic imagination, and I don’t exactly understand how it all happens.

Any help you guys can give, or books, videos or other material on these and the real presence would be wonderful to take a look at when I can.

Hope you all are having good days!

 

[CRV]

The best advice I can give you is to buy yourself a copy of the catechism. Or it available for you to read online at the Vatican Website CATECHISM OF THE CATHOLIC CHURCH

On the Trinity -

1. CA Explaining the Trinity Tim Staples • 6/20/2014
2. Catholic Doctrine on the Holy Trinity FATHER JOHN A. HARDON, S.J

On Transubstantiation -

1. The Real Presence of Christ in the Eucharist - scroll down to Transubstantiation
2. Transubstantiation FR. WILLIAM SAUNDERS
3. Catechsim of the Catholic Church (CCC) # 1376 & 1377 on Transubstantiation
4. Heart of the Mass: Transubstantiation by Fr. Kenneth Baker, SJ

 

[Cor_ad_Cor]

I would suggest that where you find yourself isn’t all that uncommon for recent converts. My advice is simply to keep learning - read, engage where you can (not sure what your parish offers), discuss, etc. This will help you frame things up in your own mind to develop better understanding and appreciation of your faith all around.

Also, unlike other things you may study in life, there’s a serious matter with the faith you’ll need to eventually get comfortable with:

I don’t exactly understand how it all happens.

No one does; that’s why we refer to them as mysteries - we accept them by faith because God gave us enough to understand the basics but not the entirety. We’ll never in this life do better than a best guess on some things. See I Corinthians 13:12

 

[Dlee]

I’m a reader and a thinker - so I read every book I can get my hands on. My greatest understanding of the Eucharist came from reading Scott Hahn’s the Lamb’s Supper. Hahn has been my go-to author on many Catholic understandings (Mary.) I know I still have not fully grasped all that takes place with the Eucharist - it all doesn’t happen overnight (at least not for me!) Blessings.