The Real Presence
(from Fr Giovanni)
Over the next four Sundays at Mass, we will be reading the sixth chapter of the Gospel according to St John. This chapter begins with the feeding of the 5,000 and concludes with Jesus’ discourse on the Bread of Life. Since Apostolic times, the Church has interpreted this discourse as a discourse on the Eucharist.
The Eucharist is the sacrament of the Real Presence of Christ. By definition a sacrament is a sign that brings about what it signifies. In the case of the Eucharist, the sign is the consecrated bread; the reality brought about is the presence of Christ. We believe that, as a result of the words of consecration, the eucharistic bread ceases to be bread and becomes the body of Christ. The Council of Trent tells us that the presence of Christ in the Eucharist is true, substantial and real.
As Fr Raniero Cantalamessa, the preacher to the Papal Household, once explained, when we say Jesus’ presence in the Eucharist is true, we mean that it is not a matter of imagination or just a symbol.
When we say it is substantial, we mean that while the consecrated bread is indeed the body of Christ, nothing changes at the level of our senses: unconsecrated and consecrated bread taste the same and look the same. And yet there is a true and real difference between the two.
When we say it is real, we mean that the presence of Jesus is independent of us believing — Jesus would still be present in the consecrated bread even if there is no one who believes it. At the same time, when we say real, we don’t mean physical, but sacramental. When the priest takes the hosts from the Tabernacle, he doesn’t move Jesus, who is seated at the right hand of the Father until he comes again. When, by accident, a host falls on the ground, Jesus doesn’t get bruised.
Sacraments are given to us for our use and sanctification. Jesus knew he wouldn’t remain physically on this earth until the end of time. At the Last Supper, he instituted the Eucharist to leave us something physical to remind us of his presence in spirit among us. The consecrated host in the Tabernacle is a sign that brings about that reality: Christ is with us always, yes until the end of time.