As Catholics, one of our most treasured beliefs is the belief in the Real Presence of Jesus Christ in the Holy Eucharist. We believe that the bread and wine used in Mass become the body and blood of Jesus Christ through the process of transubstantiation. This means that while the bread and wine appear to be unchanged, their substance is transformed into the body, blood, soul, and divinity of Jesus Christ.

The belief in the Real Presence of Jesus in the Eucharist is not a new one. In fact, it can be traced back to the earliest days of Christianity. In the Gospel of John, Jesus tells his disciples, “I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me shall not hunger, and whoever believes in me shall never thirst.” (John 6:35) He goes on to say, “Amen, amen, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of man and drink his blood, you will not have life in you.” (John 6:54) While some of His disciples found this teaching difficult to accept and turned away from Him, the apostles, particularly Peter, affirmed their faith in Jesus and His teachings.

The Blessed Presence is a profound mystery that we accept on faith. We believe that Jesus is truly present in the Eucharist, not just symbolically, but in a real and substantial way. When we receive the Eucharist, we are receiving Jesus Himself, and He comes to dwell within us. This is why we treat the Eucharist with such reverence and respect. It is not just a piece of bread or a sip of wine, but the most precious gift that Jesus has given us – His very self.

In the Eucharist, we find not only the physical presence of Jesus but also His spiritual presence. When we receive the Eucharist, we are united with Jesus in a deep and intimate way. We become one with Him, and He becomes one with us. This union with Jesus is what gives us the strength and grace to live the Christian life. It is through the Eucharist that we are nourished and sustained on our journey of faith.

As Catholics, we believe that the Eucharist is the source and summit of our Christian life. It is the centre of our worship and the heart of our faith. Through the Eucharist, we are united with Jesus and with one another as members of His body, the Church. We are called to bring the grace and love of the Eucharist into the world and to share it with all those we meet.

The belief in the Real Presence of Jesus is rooted in several biblical passages. In the Gospel of John, Jesus says, “I am the living bread, who descended from heaven. If anyone eats from this bread, he shall live in eternity. And the bread that I will give is my flesh, for the life of the world.” (John 6:51,52) This passage, along with the ones previously mentioned, is known as the Bread of Life Discourse. When Jesus says that He will give His flesh as bread for the life of the world, He is foreshadowing His sacrifice on the Cross, where He gave His body and blood for the salvation of all.

At the Last Supper, Jesus took bread and wine and said, “This is my body, which is given for you. Do this as a commemoration of me.” (Luke 22:19) He also said, “This chalice is the new covenant in my blood, which will be shed for you.” (Luke 22:20) By instituting the Eucharist at the Last Supper, Jesus gave us a tangible way to remember and participate in His sacrifice.

St. Paul also affirms the Real Presence in his first letter to the Corinthians. He says, “The cup of benediction that we bless, is it not a communion in the Blood of Christ? And the bread that we break, is it not a participation in the Body of the Lord?” (1 Corinthians 10:16) He goes on to say, “And so, whoever eats this bread, or drinks from the cup of the Lord, unworthily, shall be liable of the body and blood of the Lord.” (1 Corinthians 11:27) These passages emphasise the importance of receiving the Eucharist with utmost reverence and respect, recognising that we are truly receiving the body and blood of Christ. When we receive the Eucharist, we are filled with the grace and love of Christ.

Again, the belief in the Blessed Presence in the Holy Eucharist is grounded in biblical passages that emphasise the real and substantial Presence of Christ. As Catholics, we recognise the significance of these passages and their role in shaping our belief in the Eucharist as the source and summit of our Christian life.

In conclusion, the Real Presence is a central belief of the Catholic faith. It is a belief that has been handed down to us from the earliest days of Christianity and is grounded in the teachings of Jesus Himself. The Eucharist is not just a symbol or a reminder of Jesus, but the real and substantial presence of Jesus Himself. Through the Eucharist, we are united with Jesus and with one another as members of His body, the Church. We are called to cherish and protect this precious gift and to share it with the world.

God bless you +

Fr. Charles