The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1911-09-02

the life-giving doctrine to the multi
tudes on the lake of Galilee, the same
Christ Who died for our salvation on
Calvary, and Who will come on the
last day in power and majesty to
judge all mankind. There are various
and conflicting opinions among nom
Catholics about the Eucharist, or, as
they generally term it, the Lords
Supper. This mass of opinion may be
divided into two distinct classes: the
one saying, Christ is not present in
the Eucharist, the other maintaining
His presence, but making it depend on
the faith of the recipient. Contrary
to both classes, the Church teaches
that Christ becomes present by the
power of His own words spoken by
the priest at the conservation of the
Mass, and that He is received by all
in Holy Communion, Independent of
personal disposition, with this essen
tial difference, however, that the just
receive Him unto life eternal and the
wicked Chose in the state of mortal
SIM unto their own condemnation.
There is no article of the Catholic
faith which rests on stronger Bible
evidence than the doctrine of the Real
Presence of Christ in the Eucharist
The Old Testament is full of it's
promises and intimations, but the
New Testament is sufficient to Danish
every doubt concerning it. The four
Evangelists speak of the Eucharist ex-
plicitly, and st. Paul bears witness to
the strong belief of the early Chris
tians in this great dogma. st. John
wi. 2S-70) records the loving promise
of Christ, made a year before His
death, that He would give to all who
believe in Him His own body as a
heavenly food, a life-giving bread. The
other three Evangelists, st. Matthew
(xxvi), st. Mark XIV, and st. Luke
(xxii), give us the fulfillment of this
august promise. The words of insti-
tuition are simple and transparent.
The solemnity of the hour allows no
figure of speech. If ever Our Lord
had to be plain in His words it was in
this momentous occasion when He
gave the greatest gift to mankind We
have no right to correct his words;
we must accept them in their plain,
literal sense; for they are used with a
pointed reference; they are applied
to the object visibly present. Our
Lord made use of His sovereign power
as God and changed bread and wine
into His flesh and blood
Do not say with the Jews of old:
How can He do it? How is it possible
All things are possible to Him whom
we believe to be the Son of God. 1t
lis the same Almighty God Who
created the heavens and the earth out
of nothing, Who holds the earth sus-
pended in the midst of space, Who
transforms the tiny blade of grass into
nutritious grain, who daily changes
the bread we eat into our flesh and
blood. By the same almighty power
He causes the change in the Blessed
Eucharist. 1t is mystery; we cannot
comprehend it. There is no religion
without mystery. 1t is enough for us
to know that Christ has taught it,;
for he cannot deceive nor be deceived.
Such was also the unmistakable
teaching of st. Paul e. Cor. XII. 23-30)
and of all the Apostles, Fathers, and
Doctors of the Church. IL you refuse
to believe in the Real Presence, you
cannot claim to believe all He has
taught. Somebody has cheated you
out of the most important part Of
Christianity. Strive to regain it and
with it the greatest mystery of love
the Real Presence of Christ in the
Blessed Eucharist.