Eucharistic Links
The Eucharist
Real Presence
Who can receive the Eucharist?
The Mass
The Sacrifice of the Mass
Link to radio programs on the Eucharist and Sacraments
Bible Proves Real Presence
The Real Presence
Scott Hahn: The Fouth Cup
The Holy Eucharist is the Whole Christ
Trent: 13th Council's Declaration of the Eucharist
Devotion to the Holy Eucharist
Eucharist Theology Today
Modern Misconceptions about the Eucharist
Formng Eucharist Faith and Love in Children
Signs and Symbols and the Christian Faith
St. Paschal Baylon Defender of the Eucharist
St. Tarcisius: Eucharistic Martyr
The Eucharist and Vocations
Scott Hahn: The Holy Meal
Eucharist and its Effect on the Soul
Let us love the most Blessed Sacrament
The Epitath of Abercius: Early Christian Eucharistic beliefs
Ignatius' Letter to the Philadelphians
The Evangelical and Fundamentalist attack on the Holy Eucharist is one of those situations where they are attacking, in a way, their own understanding of biblical interpretation. Since they believe in a literal, as well as inerrant understanding of Scripture, chapter 6 in John’s Gospel should have them heading to the nearest Catholic Church in droves. Instead what we find is that, suddenly, they turn to a metaphorical rather then literal understanding of what Jesus tells us in John’s Gospel. Jesus says:
"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 (John 6:51-52).
Many of our Protestant brothers and sisters respond in exactly the same way many of Jesus own followers did. Many fell away from Jesus’ teachings at that point because they felt “this saying is too hard”. Jesus’ words were taken literally by those listening to Him. And because those words were so foreign and abhorrent to their way of thinking many stopped believing in Him. Now… if Jesus came to earth for our salvation would he knowingly let his followers walk away because of the misunderstanding of a metaphorical statement? Does Jesus say “Hey… wait a minute you guys… I only meant that metaphorically.” No, absolutely not! Jesus says:
"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 6:53-56).
What our Lord does is turn around and re-emphasize what he has just said… not only once but twelve times!!! This is clearly the foreshadowing of the sacrament of the Holy Eucharist that the Lord instituted at the Last Supper and is still carried on today, through the power of the Holy Spirit as given to the Apostles and to their successors in the Catholic Church.
Stop by and visit Jesus in the Monks Of Adoration Chapel
