The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1845-02-09
The Doctrine OF the Real Presence In the
Eucharist Explained and enforced.
LEcruRr DELIVERED BY BISHOP HuoHEs, IN Sr. PAT
nIcHs CATHEDRAL, THURSDAY EvENING, FEBaUARY
6rH 1916

LEcruar DELIVERED BISHOP HuGHEs, IN Sr. PAT
nIcHs CATHEDRAL, THURSDAY EVENING" FRBauAsY
6rH, 1916
After few sentences OF an Introductory nature,
which were not generally audible, Bishop Hughes
continued: We have already examined the OBJ
Jecucns constituting the grounds of natural difficult
ty that are supposed to exist in opposition to the
belief Of the dogma OF the holy Eucharist As
to historical testimony, il important that it
should be examined. We have seen very clearly
that neither by lie reasoning rover. If the human
mind, nor by the testimony OF the senses, can we
fad any thing constituting what would be an nsu-
perabie obstacle 10 bellefin this revealed Christian
doctrine Then, during last evening, had occa-
sion 10 ajdnce historical testimony from every age,
all concur,ug to establish what was the faith OF
the Christian world, up TO the apostles themselves.
We cof,e now tC the !usston Of the holy Serip.
lures; for, although our separated Christian bre
thren sometimes appeal TO the testimony Of early
ages, yet when they find 1t contrary to their OPT
Mons, they put it aside, constituting guide for
them. and even while they are obliged 10 admit
the fact that such was the belief Of those early pc
RODS, they dispute the right to believe so. We
will enter, then, into the Scriptural examination OF
the question upon which our minds are fixed ano
upon which are. established thu. !. CONCLUSIONS to
which We have Already arrived The first colclu
sion IL, that this dogma has occupied the minds OF
pcDpic every aye, III every country, II
every community, as well Of those Sc araied from
the unity of the Catholic Church, as Of those ad-
herring TO that communion, from the days OF
the apostles down TO that period when the abuse
OF reason led to error In all hat lapse of time
= in all those various countries and commu.
Mons, we have historical ptoof--theit forms al
prayer and religious. services, doctrlnes--every
thing that can constitute testimony, to wha'
was the primitive belief, that the body of Jesus
Christ was regarded as present in the Eucharist
IT, therefore, any error crept in at all, ii must have
been during the lives of the Apostles themselves
But if, on the other hand, we find that the hsto.
rlcal testimony Of the Christian Church-all the
universal evidence concurrng-we must take onf
or the other OF the two alternatives either thai
this was the true faith which the Savior taught, o,
else all these early Christians lost in error
One OF these two alternatives is, from the facts. uu-
avoidabe. But if we find the doctrine of the Apos
ties this subect-the language of our divine
Saviour IN referring TO 1t under circumstances OF
peculiar mportance--correspend with the practice
and faith OF hstollowers in every &c, thsn IL will
follow as consequence that il is not the teaching
of man but of God. On the first evening spoke
this subject, said that the scriptural testimony
naturally divides itself into three DEPARTMENTS
first, the Introduction of the doc rine by the di.
vine Saviour preparation OF the minds of biz
Apostles for its future institution; another is the in.
sliuion itself; and the third ia The reference TO j.
by one NOT present on that solemn occasion, but
whom God manifested his goodness on an extra
ordinary occasion, and who was appointed to bt
an apostle to the nations. II we turn to the first
then, would call your particular attention to the
circumstances OF that introduction. Remember
that we cannot, that we do not at all derive
our faith from our reading or our nterpre tation
OF the scriptures We indeed read them, and
see our doctrine there. But it is not on tn,
basis OF our feelings or that our faith
founded Il is founded the teaching of the Church
God and commanded to believe and to hear tn,
church. Without faith i il impossible TO please God
has invested his church with the attribute OF veracity
the Knowledge OF this is ncugh for the Catholic Whel
he hears her voice. he knows he listening that of til.
Son Of God so hat no. on the strength Of any scrip
christianity for the church had already believed prac
ised and fought these doctrines before the scriptures
about TO read committed to writing; and III,
other thren gcss bat portions historica! re-
collections Of what Jesus ssid and did John who wrote
AZ the end Of The first century does not record the wod
cords in the 9th chapter of his gospel the conversation
Jesus had with his Disciples which the other evangelist
omitted and to which am now about to call your alter
tion you read the 9Th chapter of John, you will
serve that the circumstances under which Jesus spok,
we're Calculated TO make that occasion most solemn
and important nature He was surrounded, the tex
says, with great multitude Of fva thousand. Thes.
people, impressed with his divine doctrine and admirable
character, fingered with him almost forgetful Of pro
vding food for their immediate wants ard having pity
the multitude he performed the miracle OF what all
ed the multiplication of the five loaves and two ,hss-
But why say multip for il does appear tn,
text, in the testimony Of the other Evangess in
terence to it. that there anything calculated strike
the senses in the performance Of that miracle We ar,
told that there five loave and two fishes distributed
the ground and that Jesus told his dis cples serve
them as much "a they would and they became mex
haustibe but there evidence Of increase of lie
body. Yet we find that each had much he would
and thst there still remsned twelve baskets of
ofthe five loave> and two fishes. After this he
take advantage OF the occasion to introduce another bread
saying" am the living bread that down from hea
ven If any man eat OF this bread he shall live for ever
and the bread shall give is flesh for the life OF TIL
world Then began TO arise difficulties in the minds Of
those who witnessed the miracle Of Jesus and they said
show this man give his ssh TO ea7, They under
stood him he spake they understood his words literally
Now here led into error not in the middle ages
Of ou ssvr bme 1I IN ss pre-
them their they did not understand him correctly
Does he tell them as It would BE- natural for Of hi
divine character to deas would be natural for an,
good man to do Won mistake my meaning; did no,
to you should have literally my boiy-but mere
ly figure or representation of my body !, No soch
thing on the contrary he makes use Of an
stronger" excep; you eat the flesh Of the son Of man.
and drink his blood ye have no life in you whosoever
eateth my flesh and drinketh my blood hath eternal life
and will raise him up at the last day For my flesh Is
meat indeed and my blood is drink indeed He that
in him As the Living Father hath sent me, and i
live by the Father so he that eateth me shall live
by me. This is that bread which came down from
heaven, not as your fathers did eat mama and are
dead he that eateth Of this bread shall live for.
ever" You are aware OF The circumstances in which
these words were uttered-that the Jews murmur
ed and sad-"This is a hard saying; who can hear
1' Aud az the text says-"Nany Of his disciples went
away and walked no more with him." Now would ask
any believer in the divinity OF Jesus Christ account for
this singular fact thst whilst these showed thai
they believed liter lily in the word Of Christ that his
n9sn ana Dloou DO gwen, now could saviour
allow tlem hold such view IL IL were not what be
meant TO convey For they said 1t was hard saying
and yet he allows them to be torn away from tte words
Of eternal life while brie sentence would have at
tached them to him ask this simple question OF
separated brethren, Why insteod Of explaining soft
enng down the apparent harshncss Of the doctrine hi
msds 1t stronger and 10 that solemn form Of expires
sion peculiar to the Scriptures, said-"Amcn amen;
say unto ycu, except yc eat the flesh Of the Sen Of
Iar, and drink his blood ye have lie in you;n and
this 10 presence Of his Apostles who eso felt the Difficult
~ OF the saying But, on the other hsnd, they had
strong for belief in the words he spoke and in all
simplicity and faith received them. Not one word he
said TO the manner Of sxscu,ienyet all confiing
they satisfied that when he said so, il was so
And he turned TO them and said-"Will yc also 20
away I" But Peter sold " Lord to whom shall we 70 >
thou hast the words OF eternal life" Again, | ask
how does it happen that the Son Of Col, whom
odore end worship rs sucb, should pc nit men TO be
tempted to at that doctrine II 1t is is writ
ten ask this question OF all ministers and teachers OF
all denominations separated from ask them it, when
children in the Sunday school class reading these
words received the impression they calculated
make and believed that Chrss body and blood really
and drunk, would he allow this impression to
main without explanation No. he would not and this