The Holy Eucharist

Catholic doctrine of the Real Presence is the belief that Jesus Christ is literally, not symbolically, present in the Holy Eucharist: body, blood, soul and divinity.

Why do we Catholics believe this? Because Jesus said so. Simple as that. Jesus does not deceive. It takes faith to accept this teaching of Jesus.

“I am the bread of life. Your fathers ate the manna in the wilderness, and they died. This is the bread which comes down from heaven, that a man may eat of it and not die. I am the living bread which came down from heaven; if any one eats of this bread, he will live for ever; and the bread which I shall give for the life of the world is my flesh.” You may be asking yourself, how can this be? So Jesus is telling you and all who hear; “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of man and drink his blood, you have no life in you; he who eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day. For my flesh is food indeed, and my blood is drink indeed. He who eats my flesh and drinks my blood abides in me, and I in him” (John 6:48-56).

Many of his disciples, when they heard this said, “This is a hard saying; who can listen to it?” (John 6: 60). After this many of his disciples drew back and no longer went about with him (John 6:66).

“But there are some of you that do not believe.” For Jesus knew from the first those that did not believe (John 6:64). Jesus said to the 12, “Do you also wish to go away?” Simon Peter answered him, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life; and we have believed, and have come to know, that you are the Holy One of God.” Please don’t be one who has heard, yet does not believe and walks away; have faith in what Jesus says.

At the Last Supper, “while they were eating, Jesus took bread, said the blessing, broke it, and giving it to his disciples said, “Take and eat; this is my body.” Then he took a cup, gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, “Drink from it, all of you, for this is my blood of the covenant, which will be shed on behalf of many for the forgiveness of sins” (Matthew 26:26-28).

This doctrine of the Real Presence was believed by the earliest Christians 2,000 years ago. Jesus speaks only truth.

This miracle of God’s physical presence to us at every Mass is the truest testament to Christ’s love for us and His desire for each of us to have a personal relationship with Him. For Catholics, this is the most treasured gift given to the Church by Christ himself at the Last Supper.