9 Quick Proofs of the True Presence – Guide for further reading
Central to the Catholic faith is the belief in the Eucharistic celebration and Holy Communion. However, recent surveys have shown that a significant number of American Catholics do not believe in the Real Presence of Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament. To address this issue, the bishops of the American Church have initiated a two-year Eucharistic Revival. In preparation for this revival, the blog post presents nine proofs supporting the belief in the True Presence of Jesus in the Eucharist.
The first proof refers to Jesus’ own words in the “Bread of Life discourse” from the Gospel of John. Jesus emphatically states the need to eat His flesh and drink His blood to attain eternal life, emphasizing the literal nature of His words.
The second proof relates to Jesus’ reaction when many of His followers left Him after hearing the Bread of Life discourse. He challenges His closest disciples, asking if they, too, will abandon Him. This implies that acceptance of this teaching is crucial for remaining as His disciples.
The third proof involves typology, which is the study of Old Testament figures that foreshadow their fulfillment in the New Testament. The author highlights the manna from heaven as a type that prefigures the Blessed Sacrament. If the Blessed Sacrament is not truly present, it would make the manna from heaven more significant than its fulfillment, which goes against the principle that the anti-type is always greater than the type.
The fourth proof examines the Lord’s Prayer, specifically the phrase “give us this day our daily bread.” The author explains that the Greek word “epiousios,” which means “daily,” can be translated as “super-natural” or “above nature.” This suggests that Jesus taught His disciples to pray for the reception of the super-natural bread, referring to the Blessed Sacrament.
The fifth proof focuses on the words of institution spoken by Jesus during the Last Supper, where He institutes the Eucharist by declaring the bread to be His body and the wine to be His blood. These words, coupled with the Bread of Life discourse, reinforce the literal understanding of His flesh and blood in the Eucharist.
The sixth proof comes from Paul’s Letter to the Corinthians, where he warns against receiving Holy Communion unworthily, emphasizing the need for proper disposition and discernment. This warning would only make sense if the Eucharist is more than a mere piece of bread.
Moving beyond biblical proofs, the seventh proof explores the writings of St. Ignatius of Antioch, a revered early Christian figure who learned from the apostles themselves. Ignatius affirms the True Presence of Jesus in the Eucharist, which reflects the beliefs of the early Church.
The eighth proof delves into a surprising perspective—Satanists. Despite their worship of Satan, they perform a twisted ritual known as the “black mass,” where they mock the Catholic Mass. Importantly, they desecrate only a consecrated host obtained from a Catholic liturgy, implying their recognition of the True Presence in the Eucharist.
Finally, the ninth and final proof refers to Eucharistic miracles, where consecrated hosts have undergone physical changes, often appearing as flesh and blood. These miracles serve as tangible evidence of the Real Presence and have been scientifically studied and documented.
These proofs collectively support the belief in the True Presence of Jesus in the Eucharist and aim to address the lack of belief among Catholics through the Eucharistic Revival initiated by the bishops.
