Come, Follow Me
Sponsored
Catholic365 is sponsored by
Road to Purity
The Catholic belief in the Real Presence of Jesus is one of the most beautiful teachings of the Church.
The Catechism of the Catholic Church, quoting the Council of Trent, explains, “In the most blessed sacrament of the Eucharist ‘the body and blood, together with the soul and divinity, of our Lord Jesus Christ and, therefore, the whole Christ is truly, really, and substantially contained’" (CCC 1374).
Many wonderful books of theology, history, and apologetics have been written to explain and defend this unique teaching of the Catholic Church, often unpacking the foreshadowing of the Eucharist throughout the Old Testament, surveying the Early Church proclamation of the Real Presence, and telling the stories of the many Eucharistic miracles that have been recorded throughout Church history.
Certainly, this is a beautiful mystery of faith. Being a mystery does not mean we can’t know anything about it; rather, it means we can’t know everything about it. And as a mystery, the honest believer has likely wondered at some point how he can know the Eucharist really is Jesus.
How do we know the bread and wine at Mass truly become the Body and Blood of Jesus Christ? How can we be sure that what looks like bread and tastes like wine has really changed into the flesh and blood of our Savior?
Because when God speaks, something beautiful happens!
In the Bread of Life Discourse, recorded in the Gospel of John, Jesus utters these staggering words, “Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise him on the last day. For my flesh is true food, and my blood is true drink” (John 6:54-55).
We know the Eucharist is Jesus because Jesus says so. Jesus is the Way, the Truth, and the Life (John 14:6), and Truth Himself has said, “This is my body” and “This is my blood.”
The ultimate reason we believe in Christ’s Real Presence in the Eucharist is because we trust the words of our Savior.
In his hymn, Adoro te Devote, written for the Solemnity of Corpus Christi, St. Thomas Aquinas, one of the most brilliant theologians and philosophers of the Church, articulates this reason for belief so well:
“Sight, touch, and taste in Thee are each deceived;
The ear alone most safely is believed:
I believe all the Son of God has spoken,
Than Truth’s own word there is no truer token.”
We have seen before the amazing, creative power of God’s word. With his voice, he created the grand cosmos from nothing. With a whisper, he calmed the raging and storming sea of Galilee. And by simply calling out, he drew Lazarus out of the tomb and back to life. God’s word is effective.
Time and time again, Scripture shows us the power of God’s word. The Lord says, “So shall my word be that goes forth from my mouth; it shall not return to me empty, but it shall accomplish that which I intend, and prosper in the thing for which I sent it” (Isaiah 55:11).
So, how do we know the Eucharist really is Jesus? Because when God speaks, something beautiful happens.
Experience the creative power of God’s word with my new children’s book, published by OSV Kids, When God Speaks.
Hunter Leonard is a passionate Catholic with an intense love for learning about and sharing the Faith. He holds an M.A. in Theology from the Augustine Institute and a B.A. in Creative Writing from California State University at Northridge. Hunter's essays, articles, and poems have been featured at Busted Halo, St. Austin Review, Crisis Magazine, and Voyage Comics. He is a staff columnist at Catholic Stand and works at Flocknote to help parishes and dioceses build a more connected Church.
Hunter is also the author of the brand new children's book, When God Speaks, published by OSV Kids. You can find all of Hunter's books and articles at www.sacredvision.org.
