Simple question. What is the most important thing about your Catholic faith? Answers may vary, but really there is only one…at least there should be. The Eucharist is the source and summit of our Catholic faith. It is the main thing that separates the Catholic Church from all the denominations that have split off from her. The problem is many don’t understand this. The reasons for that are varied. I blame it on poor catechesis. But no matter the reason, one fact is clear. The now infamous February 2019 Pew Research Study revealed that 70% of Catholics do not believe in the real presence. Shame on us for allowing this to happen. Shame on us for closing the doors of our Church’s in 2020, thus symbolically proving to the 70% that they may have been correct.
Now you can feel free to unload on me in the comments, and that’s perfectly fine. That’s what makes this country so great…….or at least it used to. Spirited debate is fine. But as you’re done commenting, I’m going to come back to you with the Spanish flu when priests and Bishops took to the streets to bring a visible Catholic church to the people. Kind of like the early Christians did, they stared fear down and said no thanks….we will serve our Mother Church and her people.
This brings me to a new book that I have been taking great comfort in. Mystery of the Altar: Daily Meditations on the Eucharist was written and compiled by Kenneth J. Howell and Joseph Crownwood. I dare say under the current state of the Church, you will want to get this book. Within it’s pages are 365 daily readings from great saints, writers, and minds of the Catholic faith. Every century is covered, giving a unique look into how the Church stood strong in its teachings and trust in the Eucharist. Take this book and come to a deeper appreciation of Christ’s Real Presence in the Eucharist.
You see, the past can help us re-chart the Catholic Church’s course. We are a ship lost at sea. The voices of the past give us a faithful witness to what the future can be if we are brave enough to do so. Unfortunately, we took a misstep, and as the months go by, and we reflect on 2020, and more data is revealed about the pandemic, we may discover just how wrong our choices were. When the faithful needed the sacraments the most, we instead chose to have the faithful watch their TV’s. Now I will say there were some pockets of brightness in this rather dark and stormy night of 2020. Now we must pick up the pieces and move forward.
Man is sanctified and redeemed by the gift given to us in the sacrament of the Eucharist. Period…..there is no room for debate on that. We must come to a deeper understanding of the Eucharist to grow deeper in love with this sacrament. As our parishes return to some level of normalcy, let’s not take our faith for granted ever again. If 2020 proved anything, it was that the sacraments can be yanked from us at a moment’s notice simply because we choose to listen to the voices of man rather than resting our hope in God.
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I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
7 thoughts on “Mystery of the Altar”
A perfect post for Corpus Christi Sunday, thanks!
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At the first Consecration of the Bread and of the Wine at the Last Supper, Jesus gave His Body and His Blood to Believers in His Word and Words, who were chosen by His Father, for this experience, (for all Jesus did, the Father showed Him and gave Him to do).
Very probably, understanding how such could be, may well have been in their minds, along with wonder and amazement.
So it would follow, that Christ’s Church would exercise the authority given, to limit the reception of Jesus’ Body and Blood, to those who believe in the consecration of the Bread and of the Wine. Their faith being that the Bread is actually changed into Christ’s Body, and the Wine is actually changed into Christ’s Blood. Understanding how it happens is not necessary to Faith, that it does happen.
An interesting thought is that it appears that the Miracle of the changing of the Bread and Wine into the Body and Blood of Jesus Christ, is the only miracle that we have been told of in the Gospels, which then and daily now, has no outward sign, other than the prayers, that anything has happened.
Faith, the gift given by God’s Holy Spirit, gives us that which we need, to believe, that the miracle has truly come to pass. All thanks be to God.
If more Bible reading was encouraged with the instruction that it is good to believe that which is written there, instead of the rampant skepticism around, faith in the Consecration would come to many.
If a parish Pastor told the flock given into his care, to read Matthew 26: 26-29, and to believe Jesus’ Words there, and if belief was slow, to ask God our Father to send His Holy Spirit with Faith to believe, what beautiful Love for Jesus and His Words would come to pass.
26While they were eating, Jesus took some bread, and after a blessing, He broke it and gave it to the disciples, and said, “Take, eat; this is My body.” 27And when He had taken a cup and given thanks, He gave it to them, saying, “Drink from it, all of you; 28for this is My blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for forgiveness of sins. 29“But I say to you, I will not drink of this fruit of the vine from now on until that day when I drink it new with you in My Father’s kingdom.”
Matthew 26: 26-29.
God bless, C-Marie
Bravo, Bravo! Agreed! If all Catholic Priests preached their one true Faith, there would be no question about the One True Presence. There would also be a Pro-Life president in the White House. I am blessed to belong to a Florida Parish where the “truth” is spoken. Many from other surrounding parishes are coming because of it! Catholics are hungry for the Truth and so little is spoken about God’s teachings from the Commandments and Catechism. So many want the feel-good faith that can be had anywhere. They want their own agenda and lifestyles to be the “truth”. Woe to all the wishy-washy priests and bishops who are leading their flock astray. The road to hell is paved by their skulls! Pray for these men and our One True Faith; One True Presence ~ Jesus Christ, Who comes to us daily if we come to receive Him. If Priests were doing their jobs the Catholic Churches would be overflowing with people.
I probably should’ve put this in the same comment, but forgot to mention my thoughts on Eucharistic coherence. I don’t believe the teachings on the Eucharist are consistent in anyway. So in that regard, we probably agree. Is it actually Jesus or not? If it were actually Jesus, I think we would want to share it with everyone willing to accept him. It shouldn’t matter if that person is Protestant, or in a state or mortal sin, or in disagreement with church teachings. If someone seeks the Lord, we should provide it. And we should be confident that giving that person God Himself would be the best way to help that person find God. Jesus went to dine with prostitutes and tax collectors, and he didn’t even kick Judas out of the Last Supper. We don’t need to protect Jesus, we need to share Him. I can think of nothing worse than withholding God himself from someone who is seeking the Lord. I truly hope that those working to ban people from communion don’t believe that the Eucharist is the Lord. I would hate to have to answer to God regarding why I kept him from those who were seeking him. Playing these games with the Eucharist is horrible if it’s actually God. This is an area where the church has once again strayed from Jesus’ example.
I think I would actually come at this from a completely opposite angle. I was disappointed in how weak our relationships with God were that many felt they had to go to church to maintain a relationship with God. It was a stunning level of insecurity in our relationships with God. Our bodies and our lives are gifts from God, and he expects us to be good stewards of those gifts – we need to do our best to take care of them. He also expects us to love and care for one another. During a pandemic, God does not expect us to risk our lives and the lives of those around us in order to maintain a relationship with Him. He loves us unconditionally and expects us to appreciate and respect the gift of life that we’ve been given. Sometimes we need to stay physically apart to do that. I also don’t think comparing this pandemic to the 1918 Spanish flu is a fair comparison. In 1918, we were just beginning to understand how viruses and bacteria are transferred. By 2020, we had a very solid understanding of the various ways in which viruses could be transferred. The right thing to do in a given situation can change with more knowledge. I was very disappointed in the division that the pandemic brought to light. The pandemic didn’t create the division, but did shine a light on the division. It also shined a light on the fact that many, many Catholics seem to care more about themselves and their perceived fragile relationship with God than they do about following Jesus’ greatest two commandments – love God, and love one another. The church needs a massive set of reforms to recenter itself around Jesus’ teachings and His mission.
We go to church to worship God with others and to receive nutritive benefits from our clergy. When we gather together at church we are in community with our neighbors – it is not about me, it is about my neighbors and God. To love is to desire the good of others. Again, others, not me.
Kyle, you seem to be all about yourself, that’s OK, but let other adults make decisions for themselves. Most of the clergy failed in their obedience to God and to their flock and instead followed the political propaganda of controlling others through fear.
I would recommend reading about St. Molokai and the lepers. This is how we are called to be true followers of Christ. Thanks be to God.