Do you believe the Eurcharist is truly the Body and Blood of Christ?

Question

In the gospel its stated that many disciples cannot accept the fact that Jesus is giving his body and blood to his disciple and left. Sadly our separate brethren cannot accept this fact (among many doctrines) and they too break from the mother church.

To benefit the most of the Eurcharist, one has to receive the eucharist (in the form of wafer) with a grateful heart. Like the manna given to the Isralites during Moses' time, the Eurcharist is the supreme (spiritutal) food given by Christ himself to nourish our soul so that we may (cooperate with his grace) to combat the temptations and reach the soul of heaven safely. But confessions are necessary to make the most beneficial of receiving the Eurcharist.

It is not just a piece of bread where Catholics queue and receive each sunday mass.

Hi. I just came back to read the 22 answers thus far and my catholic brethren have added more than i do. I appreciate that protestants brethren has been soft on me instead of reputing with condemn.

One point i wish to share which i found meaningful. No Priest, No Body and Blood of Christ. it is through the prayer of the priests that the wafers are transformed into body and blood of christ. I myself had taken eucharist 400++ days right after my baptism from daily mass (except once i couldn't make it on time due to my oversight :( ) and it did miraculously help me to overcome one of my sin which i can't overcome in past 10 years.

i respect my protestant brethren for your zeal and love for our good lord but alot of things we can't simply ignore as of spiritroaming has coded the gospel. there are more condemn against the catholic church of its weird doctrines but if u willing to take time to see for yourself you will see something different

One interesting note :) it will be a long story but i will cut it short. i been to protestant church, catholic church and i found methodists to be more suitable for me. its halfway between, neither too loud or too traditional. somehow i decided to take RCIA for a year so that when i become a baptised methodist i use the knowledge i have on RC during my evengelisation. Little did i know, i ended up being convinced and become a RC. peace to all.

And Yes, i did find something mssing at methodist church despite i do find peace there. its really the eucharist that is the missing link. can u imagine christ lives in u literally when u eat his body and blood (which he wants us to do?) that is awesome, we are actually possessing christ while we are on earth. imagine u are having something given from heaven (as isralites receive the manna) and that something is none other than christ himself physically.

Answer 1

I turely belive in that

Answer 2

There one church which hold to transubstantiation - and that is the church of Rome. This was not aways a dominate view within the church - but over time it did become the official position. The Eastern Orthodox Church itself did not make an official position and has been content with calling it "a mystery."

Transubstantiation is the view that the bread and wine physically change into another substance (the flesh and blood of Jesus), although it appearance and taste as if it's still bread and wine. The RC church believes that this is warranted cannibalism - although they see as a crude description, it is quite accurate. The Bible clearly forbids cannibalism (Leviticus 17:14).

There are some Protestants which consider the Lord's Supper merely a memorial service. They say that Jesus is merely represented by the bread and wine. Just as God is called a Rock, and door and the like in other parts of scripture.

However this position detracts from statement where Christ firmly states that you are eating His body. So what is the solution? Those of the Reformed Protestant faith have a more harmonious position.

What is firmly taught in the Bible is Christ's special presence. This is show in the verse which states where two or three are gathered in His name, there Christ is in their midst (Matthew 18:20). This is not saying that Christ bodily divides Himself up into millions of pieces and goes into every church. But that Jesus is *spiritually* present in every true church. Thus the logical conclusion is that Jesus IS really present in the bread and wine, but that presence is spiritual, not physical.

Side Note: There is no automatic benefit in the partaking of the Lord's Supper. Some gain no benfit and should examine themselves (1 Corinthians 15:18 cf. 2 Corinthians 13:5).

Answer 3

There are more ways to eat His body and drink His blood than the Eucharist. A Christian suffers for the name of Jesus. Just mentioning the name of Jesus will bring a snarl on quite a few unbeliever's faces. Check out the R&S site.

You can literally be stomped by an unbeliever that you are trying to win for Christ. They will lie about you. Make you out to be evil. Accuse you of things that you never even thought about. Jesus said, "take up your cross and follow me." The Lord's Supper, Holy Communion and The Eucharist involves a lot more than bread and wine/grape juice. Jesus promised we would be persecuted for His name's sake. Understanding His body and His blood are the central point of understanding Jesus.

Answer 4

What's the point if it's just a symbol? Why not just sit there and remember? Christ put a lot of emphasis on the Eucharist for it to just be symbolic. He doesn't typically push mundane issues.

The communion bread and wine remains 100% bread and wine and 100% body and blood. No transubstantiation, it's just a mystery. This is in accordance with the understanding of the Early Church of Christ.

Spirit roaming brings up some good points.

I used to believe in the symbolic Eucharist, but when I thought abut it, it really made no sense for Christ to say the things He did about partaking of His body and blood if it was just symbolic.

Below, New Catholic seems to bring up some good points.

To me, considering the Eucharist to not be Christ's body and blood is a denial of the incarnation and resurrection of Christ God. I would also equate it with the early Gnostic heresies that arose in the Early Church - as it is an attempt to over rationalize the Church's original understanding of doctrine and the sacraments.

Answer 5

confident they do. The Eucharist is the middle of the religious existence of Catholics. it somewhat is source of all graces - God Himself in Flesh and Blood, along with his Soul and Divinity. it somewhat is likewise why precious metals are used for chalices and ciboriums because of the fact the excellent would desire to be reserved for God. Tabernacles do reserve Jesus Christ in the Flesh and the Hosts are stored under lock and key so as that individuals can not desecrate the Blessed Sacrament, the physique of Christ.

Answer 6

To address the "lab testing" argument: Lab analysis reports are rarely stated in unequivocal terms. They will state that the substance tested is "consistent with" bread, for example, because the proteins and elements that constitute bread are present. But these constitutents that have arranged themselves in the manner generally considered to be "bread" are found, at the most basic level, in nearly all matter. Including us.

It's rather arrogant to assume that in the present age our scientific equipment is the last word in sophistication, and we know everything there is to know about a substance based on the tests we perform with these tools and methods. History tends to tell us otherwise; each age has refined upon the tools of the previous one.

In other words, lab analysis before and after consecration would prove only one thing: That within the scope of our still-limited abilities to examine it, it is believed to be bread.

Seems that science itself is more aware of its own limitations than those who would hold it up as the absolute authority.

To your original question: Yes, I do believe. Because He who is eternal, and created all matter, can change it. And it has happened every day, sacramentally, since He instituted it. In this way He is always with us, as He promised.

Answer 7

Yes, I truly believe the Eucharist is the actual glorified Body and Blood of Christ.

Answer 8

Ignatius of Antioch was a bishop in the first century church and a student of John the APOSTLE. Do you think St. John the apostle would have led him astray? Here are quotes from Ignatius regarding what he was taught and believed wholeheartedly....

"I have no taste for corruptible food nor for the pleasures of this life. I desire the bread of God, which is the flesh of Jesus Christ, who was of the seed of David; and for drink I desire his blood, which is love incorruptible" (Letter to the Romans 7:3 [A.D. 110]).

"Take note of those who hold heterodox opinions on the grace of Jesus Christ which has come to us, and see how contrary their opinions are to the mind of God. . . . They abstain from the Eucharist and from prayer because they do not confess that the Eucharist is the flesh of our Savior Jesus Christ, flesh which suffered for our sins and which that Father, in his goodness, raised up again. They who deny the gift of God are perishing in their disputes" (Letter to the Smyrnaeans 6:2–7:1 [A.D. 110]).

Answer 9

Did Jesus say "This IS my body"?

or "This is a REPRESENTATION of my body"?

Jesus said, "This IS my body" who are we to change what he said?

I am Catholic and believe in the true presence in the Eucharist. I do not know why we are so quick to throw away the very tools he gave us to stay in the grace of God.

It is a tough teaching and takes some study to understand, but we don't believe we can pick and choose what we follow.

Peace be with you all!

Answer 10

"He who eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life". John 6:54

The Eucharist is Truly the Body and Blood of Christ.

Check this website for more on the Eucharist - proof that the Eucharist is indeed the Body and Blood of Christ. http://avemaria.bravepages.com/articles/nov/host.html

Answer 11

YES, as all Christians did until a few hundred years ago. Not believing in the true presence is a modern tradition of men, which Jesus strongly warned against.