Christ's Real Presence

 Christ’s Real Presence

“The simplest way to express what Christ asks us to believe about the Real Presence is that the Eucharist is really He.  The Real Presence is the real Jesus. 

We are to believe that the Eucharist began in the womb of the Virgin Mary; that the flesh which the Son of God received from His Mother at the Incarnation is the same flesh into which He changed bread at the Last Supper; that the blood He received from His Mother is the same blood into which He changed wine at the Last Supper.  Had she not given Him His flesh and blood there could not be a Eucharist.  We are to believe that the Eucharist is Jesus Christ - simply - without qualification.  It is God become man in the fullness of His divine nature, in the fullness of His human nature, in the fullness of His body and soul, in the fullness of everything that makes Jesus Jesus.  He is in the Eucharist with His human mind and will united with Divinity, with His hands and feet, His face and features, with His eyes and lips and ears and nostrils, with His affections and emotions and, with emphasis, with His living, pulsating, physical Sacred Heart.  That is what our Catholic Faith demands of us that we believe.  If we believe this, we are Catholic.  If we do not, we are not, no matter what people may think we are.”  (Father John A Hardon SJ)

Eucharistic Miracle showing the Pulsating Host

The Real Jesus

The Real Jesus!

“The simplest way to express what Christ asks us to believe about the Real Presence is that the Eucharist is really He. The Real Presence is the real Jesus. We are to believe that the Eucharist began in the womb of the Virgin Mary; that the flesh which the Son of God received from His Mother at the Incarnation is the same flesh into which He changed bread at the Last Supper; that the blood He received from His Mother is the same blood into which He changed wine at the Last Supper. Had she not given Him His flesh and blood there could not be a Eucharist.

We are to believe that the Eucharist is Jesus Christ - simply, without qualification. It is God become man in the fullness of His divine nature, in the fullness of His human nature, in the fullness of His body and soul, in the fullness of everything that makes Jesus Jesus. He is in the Eucharist with His human mind and will united with the Divinity, with His hands and feet, His face and features, with His eyes and lips and ears and nostrils, with His affections and emotions and, with emphasis, with His living, pulsating, physical Sacred Heart. That is what our Catholic Faith demands of us that we believe. If we believe this, we are Catholic. If we do not, we are not, no matter what people may think we are”
     (Father John A Hardon SJ)

But Who Do You Say That I Am?

 “But Who do You Say that I Am?”

     “Lord, why do you ask the same question?  And, why do you ask precisely those who should know the answer best?  Do not men respond to you, calling you “Father”, “Christ”, “Son of the Living God”, “Savior of the world”, “Master of all truth”, “Sacred Heart”, “God with us”, “Blessed Sacrament”, “the Eucharist”?  Don’t the choirs of cathedrals and monasteries, as well as the mouths of your priests and virgins, respond to you with praises and confessions in their Masses and Offices?

     Why, in spite of those responses do you continue asking?

     All right, don’t tell me, my heart has already guessed and feels it.  It is our behavior towards you that is the cause of your insistence.  It is the monumental discrepancy, I would say, between the responses of our lips and of our actions.  Shame on us, for you cannot believe or trust in our word.  If we call you “Father”, why don’t we love you as your children?  If we say “Son of the living God”, why don’t we adore you above all things, and why do we treat you as if you were dead?  If we proclaim you as “Savior” and “Master of the world”, why do we look for our wellbeing and truth in other ways aside from you?  If you are the “Sacred Heart”, why don’t we render our sinful hearts to you?  If you are “God with us” and the “Eucharist”, why do we abandon the tabernacle and leave God with cobwebs and mice?”  (unknown)

Working to improve our relationship with God is a life long effort.  A good place to extend that effort is in our Adoration Chapel.  Actually you don’t have to do anything … just show up … spend some time in His Real Presence and God will do the work.

Join the ranks of regular Adorers by choosing a convenient hour at: Adoration Hours