Published in the bulletin of Holy Ghost Catholic Church in Knoxville, TN, on the 3rd Sunday of Easter.

My dear Parishioners,

Peace! There are fourteen (14) In Brief passages in the Catechism of the Catholic Church regarding the Sacrament of the Most Holy Eucharist. The following is a reflection on article 1410.

Four considerations help us to further appreciate the mystery of the Eucharist.

First, we consider Christ, the great eternal priest of the New Covenant. Considering Christ’s priesthood requires us to also consider the Letter to the Hebrews. As high priest, Christ is both merciful and faithful. He has in Himself become a propitiation for our sins, once for all (cf. Hebrews 2:17). Jesus Christ is the apostle and high priest of our confession of faith (cf. Hebrews 3:1). Because our high priest Jesus Christ has passed into the heavens we are to hold fast to our confession of faith (cf. Hebrews 4:14). None should deny Christ’s high priesthood (cf. Hebrews 5:10; 6:20; 7:17, 21, 26; 8:1). Considering the New Covenant both implies and presupposes the covenants of old (think of Noah, Abraham, Moses, David…).

Second, we consider that Christ, through the ministry of priests, offers the eucharistic sacrifice. Again, the Letter to the Hebrews helps. As Christ Himself was and is a man among men, so too His priests (cf. Hebrews 5:1). Christ offered Himself, once for all on the Cross on Good Friday. Now, the one only sacrifice which was anticipated at the Last Supper is continuously made present through the mystery of the eucharistic sacrifice. Only the manner of offering is changed. It was when the Lord commanded the Apostles (and their successors the bishops and their collaborators the priests) to ‘do this in memory of Me’ that the New Testament priesthood was established (cf. Luke 22:19; 1 Corinthians 11:24).

A third consideration highlights that Christ Himself is present under the consecrated species of bread and wine. Two (2) infamous errors which have appeared over the centuries concern Christ’s eucharistic presence, namely inmpanation and transsignification. These heresies, respectively, teach that Christ is in the bread and wine (and that the substance of the bread and wine thereby still remain after the consecration) and that only what is signified by the bread and wine changes (not the substance of the bread and wine). Catholics believe that while the accidents (appearances: sight, smell, taste, weight…) of the bread and wine remain the same before, during and after the consecration, the substance (being, existential reality) changes into Christ Himself.

A fourth eucharistic consideration is that Christ Himself is offered in the eucharistic sacrifice. Not only is the Lord present in the Sacrament of the Altar, but His one only offering is made present throughout the ages until He returns in glory to judge the living and the dead (cf. Acts 10:42; 2 Timothy 4:1; Hebrews 10:10; 1 Peter 4:5). All the acts of Jesus Christ, true God and true man, have eternal ramifications, due to His divine nature. This includes His self-offering both on the Cross and in the Eucharist.

God bless you!

Father John Arthur Orr