Posted on 09/13/2014 10:17:11 AM PDT by Salvation
Featured Term (selected at random:
WHOLE CHRIST
Christ in the fullness of his human and divine natures present in the Holy Eucharist. This means that the same Christ numerically is now present in heaven and in the Blessed Sacrament. There is nothing objectively lacking in the Eucharist of what constitutes Christ. He is there entirely. The only deficiency is the subjective one on the part of the believer, who cannot perceive him with the senses or even reason to his presence, but can only assent on faith that what seems to be bread and wine is really Jesus Christ. Moreover, Christ is present in his entirety in every portion of either species after it is divided. He is also present in his entirety in every spot of either species before it is divided. This does not mean that Christ is present a hundred or a thousand times in a Host (or the chalice) before it is divided, nor that he somehow divides his presence on the thousands of altars of the Catholic world. It is one and the same Christ, wholly present wherever and equally present everywhere.
All items in this dictionary are from Fr. John Hardon's Modern Catholic Dictionary, © Eternal Life. Used with permission.
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“The only deficiency is the subjective one on the part of the believer, who cannot perceive him with the senses or even reason to his presence, but can only assent on faith that what seems to be bread and wine is really Jesus Christ.”
So, does this deny the experience of those who believe they sense Christ’s presence in a mystical way? Is the Church denying all mysticism here?
No, I don’t think so. Isn’t it saying that some people receiving the Eucharist as reciting the line, “Lord, help my unbelief.” as they approach the priest?
Isn’t it saying that some people receiving the Eucharist as reciting the line, “Lord, help my unbelief.” as they approach the priest?”
I’m sure you’re right.
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