2006-07-07 02:01:39 · 7 answers · asked by ? 3 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
My dad told me years ago it's symbolic cannibalism, and after explaining that it represents the body of Christ, and wine, the blood, I got the creeps. So for me it is good for getting the creeps. But then, even Wal-Mart gives me the creeps...
2006-07-07 07:17:52 · answer #1 · answered by ^ _ ^ 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I assume you're speaking about the wafer that we Catholics usually refer to as a "communion host".
Just as Jesus was able to speak the universe into existence from nothing, or change water into wine, he can transform ordinary bread into his glorified resurrection body, and ordinary wine into his blood.
He said as much. Isn't it clear?
When the son of God says, "THIS IS MY BODY. and THIS IS MY BLOOD." It IS!
For a number of very good reasons, Jesus gave that same power to his bishops, the apostles, as well as their successors and assigns.
At every Mass, by the power of the Holy Spirit, an ordained priest or bishop again asks God to transform bread into his body, and wine into his blood.
This provides the congregation with the real presence of Jesus, alive and glorious, body, blood, soul, and divinity, who is the singular and eternal sacrifice of Calvary, and who is the only sacrifice which is holy and acceptable to God.
In that capacity, Jesus personally forgives sin, sanctifies us, petitions his Father on our behalf, and acts as our heavenly high priest and advocate.
God then shares the perfect sacrifice with us, exactly as Jesus did with the apostles at the last supper.
It's wonderful. It's totally biblical. And it works!
Symbolic? No!
Just Bread and Wine? No!
The bread and wine become, for us, the real and substantial body and blood of Jesus Christ, who is the singular and eternal sacrifice of Calvary, and the redeemer of mankind.
We have nothing less than God's word on it.
Sorry you unbelievers don't get it!
2006-07-07 13:09:21 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Eating. It is not the wafer itself that is important. It is the faith of the one who eats it. Christ commanded his disciples to repeat the last supper (breaking bread, drinking wine) to remember him. That is what the wafer symbolizes: Christ's broken body given for us.
2006-07-07 09:07:32 · answer #3 · answered by scrapiron.geo 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It is part of the Catholic ceremony which represents the ingestion of the body of Christ. Wine is his blood. It is cannibalism in effigy.
2006-07-07 09:06:29 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
The body of Christ
2006-07-07 09:05:27 · answer #5 · answered by nytrauma911 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It is a symbol of the suffering that Christ endured for our sins.
2006-07-07 09:05:49 · answer #6 · answered by bobm709 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It's the body of Christ. It's so that we can be one with Christ.
2006-07-07 09:04:32 · answer #7 · answered by Swordsman 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋