An ‘In Pew’ survey in 2019 said that of all Catholics who go to mass regularly, only 63% believe that the bread and wine really and truly become the body and blood of Christ. That means that 33% of practicing Catholics don’t believe in the real presence, which is very disturbing. It also said that 43% aren’t even aware that the Church’s teaching is that during each mass, at the consecration, when the priest says ‘This is my Body which will be given up for you’… and ‘This is the chalice of my Blood…’ the bread and wine really and truly become the Body and Blood of Christ. The Church’s teaching is that in each mass, when the priest says the words of consecration, the bread and wine are transformed into the Body and Blood of Christ and it comes from what Christ said himself. But from the beginning many people didn’t believe it and wouldn’t accept it.
In St. John’s Gospel after working the miracle of multiplying the loaves and feeding 5000 people, Jesus began to say something which many people found impossible to accept. He said,
‘I am the living bread which has come down from heaven. Whoever eats of this bread will live forever. The bread I shall give is my flesh, for the life of the world.’ (Jn 6:51)
‘If you do not eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood you cannot have life within you. (Jn 6:53). For my flesh is real food and my blood is real drink’ (Jn 6:55).
After Jesus gave this teaching it says, ‘After this, many disciples withdrew and no longer followed him’ (Jn 6:66). It is interesting that Jesus didn’t try to explain what he meant. He just let them walk away. The only thing he did was to turn to the Apostles and say, ‘What about you? Are you going to leave too.’ (John 6:67)
A 'Mass Rock' where mass was celebrated in secret during times of persecution
In Matthew’s account of the last supper Jesus says, ‘This is my body which will be given up for you. Do this in memory of me.’.. ‘This cup is the new covenant in my blood which will be given for you.’ (Matthew 26:26-27)
In Mark’s Gospel: ‘Take it; this is my body which will be given for you… This is my blood of the covenant which will be shed for many.’ (Mark 14:22-24)
In Luke’s Gospel, ‘This is my body which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me… This cup is the new covenant sealed in my blood, which is poured our for you.’ (Luke 22:19-20).
The Eucharist isn’t just a symbol, but really and truly the Body and Blood of Christ.
A priest friend of mine, who was also an exorcist, had to meet a lady one time who was practicing witchcraft. He met her in a hotel lobby. As soon as she approached him, she stopped and said, ‘There is something in your pocket I don’t like.’ He was carrying the Eucharist and she wouldn’t go near him until he left it in his car. Another lady who was also practicing witchcraft was able to identify one host which was consecrated, out of a pile of unconsecrated hosts. It is also interesting that people who practice satanic worship, will try to steal a consecrated host from a Catholic church. They know it is real, even though many Catholics don’t believe it.
Carlo Acutis
To date there have been over 140 confirmed Eucharistic miracles. A young Italian man named Carlo Acutis put together a whole website just about this. MIRACOLI EUCARISTICI - Mostra Internazionale Ideata e Realizzata da Carlo Acutis e Nicola Gori
Many continue to be skeptical, but this is the Lord’s teaching.
I want to tell you about one eucharistic miracle which happened to a lady called Marthe Robin.
Marthe Robin (1902-81)
Marthe Robin was born into a peasant farming family, the youngest of six, on 13 March 1902 in Châteauneuf-de-Galaure (Drôme, in SE France). Interestingly her parents were non-practicing Catholics, but from an early age she had a great desire to pray. She only had elementary school education and after that worked on the farm.
In 1903 Marthe and her older sister Clemence, both contracted typhoid fever, from which her sister died. Marthe came close to death but recovered, however this left her very weak for the rest of her life.
Marthe Robin who often experienced the passion on Fridays
In 1918 she became very ill again and went into a coma for four days. She eventually recovered from this, but in 1928 after developing encephalitis, she became completely paralyzed from the waist down. It also left her partly blind and unable to tolerate light, so she ended up living bedridden in a dark room. The encephalitis also made it almost impossible for her to swallow.
From the age of twenty on, she began to experience visitations from the Virgin Mary and also from Jesus.
From 1925 onwards she began to have mystical experiences, giving her a great desire for the Eucharist. From 1930 onwards, no longer being able to swallow, she ate no food except the Eucharist until the end of her life 51 years later. During this time she also began to experience the passion of Christ every Friday. It is believed that over 100,000 people visited her during her lifetime.
For 51 years she lived on nothing but the Eucharist. This was witnessed by many priests and bishops and believed to be genuine. When people questioned her about this, she pointed to St. John’s Gospel where Jesus said,
‘I am the living bread which has come down from heaven. Whoever eats of this bread will live forever. The bread I shall give is my flesh, for the life of the world.’ (Jn 6:51)
‘If you do not eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood you cannot have life within you. (Jn 6:53). For my flesh is real food and my blood is real drink’ (Jn 6:55).
I think it’s good to read up on some of these miracles as they are very inspiring and the Lord has given them to us to help us believe. Also, ask God to help you believe if you struggle with this teaching.
‘This is my Body which will be given up for you.’
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