John from Chanhassen, Minnesota, called in with a really great question that might have crossed your mind: How do we know that Jesus’ consecration at the Last Supper wasn’t just a one-time thing, and how does it connect to every Mass since then? 🤔
Patrick really dug into this one, turning to the Gospels—Matthew, Mark, and Luke—to show us that when Jesus said, “Do this in remembrance of me,” He wasn’t just telling the Apostles to act it out. He was commanding them to actually make the Eucharist happen just as He did, transforming the bread and wine into His Body and Blood. This isn’t just some symbolic gesture; it’s the real deal. St. Paul even backs this up in 1 Corinthians 11, where he warns about the serious consequences of receiving the Eucharist unworthily. If it were just a symbol, why would St. Paul say that you could bring judgment on yourself by not recognizing the Lord in the Eucharist? That’s pretty heavy stuff, right? 🤯
Patrick also pointed out that this belief isn’t something the Church made up later—it’s been there from the start, backed by the early Church Fathers. But then came the Protestant Reformation, and that’s where things started to diverge. Martin Luther, for example, introduced this idea of consubstantiation—basically, that Christ’s presence is alongside the bread and wine, not actually replacing them. It was a bit off from Catholic teaching, but still closer than what others like John Calvin believed. And that’s how we ended up with all these different interpretations today.
To wrap things up, Patrick recommended a fantastic book called The Hidden Manna by Father James O’Connor. If you’re curious about what the Bible and the Church Fathers really say about the Eucharist, and how the Reformers lost their way on this, it’s definitely worth checking out.
TL;DR: The Eucharist isn’t just a symbol. Jesus is truly present, and this belief has been consistent since the time of the Apostles.
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