The Eucharist in the Early Church
Part II: The Real Presence
This is the second in a seven-part series on the Eucharist in the Early Church.
The Real Presence of Jesus Christ in the Eucharist is one of the most fundamental beliefs that makes us Catholic. Its origin goes all the way back to the Last Supper and is attested to by many early witnesses. Yet for many today, the doctrine seems strange, abstract, or old-fashioned. “Isn’t it just a symbol?” some ask.
Christ’s teaching on the Eucharist scandalized the crowds and confused the disciples. In John 6:53, he proclaims, “Unless you eat my flesh and drink my blood, you have no life in you.” Yet he did not change his teaching, and neither has the Church throughout the centuries. She proclaims that the “whole Christ is truly, really, and substantially contained” under the appearances of bread and wine (Catechism 1374). Jesus leaves us his sacramental presence as a memorial of his loving sacrifice on Calvary in order to fulfill his promise to be with his Church until the end (Mt. 28:20).
Don’t just take my words for it though, for as Theodore of Antioch (4th c.) states, “When he gave the apostles the bread he did not say, ‘This is the symbol of my body,’ but, ‘This is my body.’” The Eucharist is not a mere symbol of Jesus, but is Jesus Himself under the appearances of bread and wine. St. Cyril of Alexandria (4th c.) testifies, “Since, then, Christ himself clearly described the bread to us in the words ‘This is my body,’ who will dare henceforward to dispute it? And since he has emphatically said, ‘This is my blood,’ who will waver in the slightest and say it is not his blood?” St. Cyril understands it’s difficult to square what we see with what we believe. Though it looks and tastes like bread and wine, we believe Jesus is present.
A few outcomes result from this belief. Firstly, only one who has been baptized and believes in the Real Presence should receive Communion according to St. Justin Martyr (2nd c.). St. Ignatius of Antioch, a disciple of St. John the Apostle, critiques those “abstain from the Eucharist and from prayer, because they do not confess the Eucharist to be the flesh of our Savior Jesus Christ.” Note that belief and practice go hand-in-hand; one cannot be outside the Church in belief or practice and still participate in the Communion of the Church at Mass. Secondly, great care must be taken with the Eucharist, for as St. Hippolytus (3rd c.) states, “it is the body of Christ to be consumed by those who believe and not to be treated lightly.” Looking up and saying an audible ‘Amen’ with hands outstretched demonstrates you know Who you are receiving. Care for the Eucharist expresses our faith and deepens our faith in the process. I’ll speak next week about the transformation that explains why the Lord, and not merely bread and wine, are present when we receive Holy Communion. For now, let us continue to deepen our faith in the Lord who comes to us each Mass and who remains always in the tabernacle!