Thoughts on the Real Presence - from Avery Cardinal Dulles
There is a vast difference between Christ’s presence in the Eucharist and in the assembly or its members.
The presence of Christ in this sacrament is unique and mysterious. Spiritual guides warn us not to inquire too curiously, because our minds can easily become confused in speaking about such an exalted mystery. It is better simply to accept the words of Christ, of Scripture, of the tradition, and of the Church’s Magisterium, which tell us what we need to know: Christ is really but invisibly present in this sacrament. His presence is such that the bread and wine after the consecration are truly, really, and substantially His body and blood…
The Church has no other spiritual riches than Christ and what He communicates to her.
At the very outset it must be said that the Church accepts the real presence as a matter of faith, because it contained in the word of God, as attested by Scripture and tradition. Jesus said clearly, “This is my body … this is my blood”, and in controversy with the Jews He insisted that He was not just using metaphors. “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”. (Jn 6:55-56) Many of the disciples found this a hard saying and parted from His company, but Jesus did not moderate His statements to win them back.
In 1551 the Council of Trent gave a full exposition of the Catholic doctrine of the Eucharist in which the real presence receives special emphasis.
In describing Christ’s presence in this sacrament the Council of Trent used three adverbs. He is contained in it, said the Council, “truly, really, and substantially”. (DS 1651) These three adverbs are the keys that open the door to Catholic teaching and exclude contrary views, which are to be rejected.
In saying first of all that Christ is truly contained under the Eucharistic species, the Council repudiated the view that the sacrament is a mere sign or figure pointing away from itself to a body that is absent, perhaps somewhere in the heavens.
In the end we have to acknowledge that the mystery is ineffable and should be greeted with wonder and amazement.
Secondly, the presence is real. That is to say, it is ontological and objective. Ontological, because it takes place in the order of being; objective, because it does not depend on the thoughts or feelings of the minister or the communicants. The body and blood of Christ are present in the sacrament by reason of the promise of Christ and the power of the Holy Spirit, which are attached to the proper performance of the rite by a duly ordained minister. In so teaching the Church rejects the view that faith is the instrument that brings about Christ’s presence in the sacrament. According to Catholic teaching, faith does not make Christ present, but gratefully acknowledges that presence and allows Holy Communion to bear fruit in holiness. To receive the sacrament without faith is unprofitable, even sinful, but the lack of faith does not render the presence unreal.
That body is present substantially in the Eucharist but not in the Christian community.
Thirdly, Trent tells us that Christ’s presence in the sacrament is substantial. …Substance, meaning what a thing is in itself, may be contrasted with function, which has reference to action. Christ is present by His dynamic power and action in all the sacraments, but in the Eucharist His presence is, in addition, substantial. For this reason, the Eucharist may be adored. It is the greatest of all sacraments. After the consecration the bread and wine have become, in a mysterious way, Christ Himself. Vatican II quotes Saint Thomas to the effect that this sacrament contains the entire spiritual wealth of the Church, for the Church has no other spiritual riches than Christ and what He communicates to her. -Avery Cardinal Dulles
May 4th, 2008 at 2:56 pm
This reminds me of a visiting priest at our parish who suggested we bow to one another after receiving Holy Communion as we were now all tabernacles.
UGH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
May 4th, 2008 at 6:39 pm
Excellent post, Terry. It really lays it all out, especially the opening sentences, “There is a vast difference between Christ’s presence in the Eucharist and in the assembly or its members.
The presence of Christ in this sacrament is unique and mysterious.”
I agree with Angela that it is a poor idea to have people bow to each other, because it quickly becomes all about us, aren’t WE special. However, I once heard a story about one of the saints (it may have been John Vianney) who sent a couple of altar servers with candles to accompany a person who had received Communion and headed straight out the door; in order to give proper respect to the Guest which that person had received. So in a sense, we are tabernacles, but all too often unworthy ones; the respect is due Our Lord and not us.
May 4th, 2008 at 9:09 pm
Note - the entire post is from Cardinal Dulles.
May 4th, 2008 at 11:09 pm
Terry - I did note where it came from. All the way through I was thinking, “damn, that Terry is one smart dude” and then come to find out it was Cardinal Dulles.
Which, of course, doesn’t mean you aren’t one smart dude.
May 5th, 2008 at 10:10 am
It’s funny; John 6:53 grossed out so many disciples so that they left, but it’s what has kept me in the Church; like Peter in 6:68, there’s nowhere else to go.
As a mother, I recognize that to sustain my child from my own body and blood, is about the closest I can come to experiencing the Love Christ has for me in feeding me from His Body and Blood. But of course any good I can do, any love I can commit, is only a poor imitation of what God can do. So it’s overwhelming to realize that the Love He has for me is infinitely greater when He feeds me from Himself. (I’ve seen some “lactating Jesus” stuff on someone else’s blog-I think Aquilina’s-but I think it’s exactly backward to think of it that way.)