Posted on 06/16/2018 10:21:26 AM PDT by Salvation
Body of Christ
Question: When Holy Communion is distributed why is “The Body of Christ” said? Why not say, “The Body and Blood of Christ”? Or better yet, “This is Jesus”?— Name withheld, Alabama
Answer: We use the word “body” for several reasons. First of all, Jesus himself used the word “body” (soma in Greek) when giving the Eucharist for the first time: “Take and eat, this is my body (soma).” Hence we, in conformity to Christ, use this way of speaking of the Eucharist.
Secondly, both the English word “body” and the Greek word “soma” can refer strictly to the physical dimension of a person, or more broadly to the whole person. In English, I can say, “My arm is part of my body,” referring to my physical dimension. However, I might also say, “I am somebody,” which refers not only to my physicality but to my whole self. We can also do this in the plural, as when we speak of the “body of believers,” or the “body-politic.” Here we do not refer to a physical body, but rather to the sum total.
Thus, we do not exclude any dimension of Christ by referring to his “body,” as if we were only speaking of his flesh, since “body” here refers to the whole Christ. It pertains to a living human body (and Jesus is quite alive) to have not only flesh, but also blood and soul together. We receive also his divine nature with his body, since it is untied to him hypostatically.
While we do speak of what is in the chalice more specifically as The Blood of Christ, this is only to distinguish its species (i.e. what we perceive) from the host. However, Jesus is alive and glorified, and his body, blood, soul and divinity are together. Hence, even in the smallest drop of Precious Blood, the whole Christ is received.
Ping to OSV column of Monsignor Pope!
As Monsignor Pope says, the origin of the phrase “Body of Christ” is biblical, and goes back to the beginning. There are other early commentaries worth reading, especially St. Augustine and St. Thomas Aquinas.
But this brief summary basically says it all.
The Real Presence of Jesus Christ in the Sacrament of the Eucharist: Basic Questions and Answers
http://www.usccb.org/prayer-and-worship/the-mass/order-of-mass/liturgy-of-the-eucharist/the-real-presence-of-jesus-christ-in-the-sacrament-of-the-eucharist-basic-questions-and-answers.cfm
The Real Presence of Jesus Christ in the Sacrament of the Eucharist: Basic Questions and Answers
Produced by the Committee on Doctrine of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops and approved by the full body of bishops at their June 2001 General Meeting. The text is authorized for publication by the undersigned.
Monsignor William P. Fay
General Secretary, USCCB
Introduction
The Lord Jesus, on the night before he suffered on the cross, shared one last meal with his disciples. During this meal our Savior instituted the sacrament of his Body and Blood. He did this in order to perpetuate the sacrifice of the Cross throughout the ages and to entrust to the Church his Spouse a memorial of his death and resurrection. As the Gospel of Matthew tells us:
While they were eating, Jesus took bread, said the blessing, broke it, and giving it to his disciples said, “Take and eat; this is my body.” Then he took a cup, gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, “Drink from it, all of you, for this is my blood of the covenant, which will be shed on behalf of many for the forgiveness of sins.” (Mt 26:26-28; cf. Mk 14:22-24, Lk 22:17-20, 1 Cor 11:23-25)
Conclusion
By his Real Presence in the Eucharist Christ fulfils his promise to be with us “always, until the end of the age” (Mt 28:20). As St. Thomas Aquinas wrote, “It is the law of friendship that friends should live together. . . . Christ has not left us without his bodily presence in this our pilgrimage, but he joins us to himself in this sacrament in the reality of his body and blood” ( Summa Theologiae, III q. 75, a. 1). With this gift of Christ’s presence in our midst, the Church is truly blessed. As Jesus told his disciples, referring to his presence among them, “Amen, I say to you, many prophets and righteous people longed to see what you see but did not see it, and to hear what you hear but did not hear it” (Mt 13:17). In the Eucharist the Church both receives the gift of Jesus Christ and gives grateful thanks to God for such a blessing. This thanksgiving is the only proper response, for through this gift of himself in the celebration of the Eucharist under the appearances of bread and wine Christ gives us the gift of eternal life.
Amen, amen, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you do not have life within you. Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise him on the last day. For my flesh is true food, and my blood is true drink. . . . Just as the living Father sent me and I have life because of the Father, so also the one who feeds on me will have life because of me. (Jn 6:53-57)
For the whole article:
There is a book titled “Eucharistic Miracles” by Joan Carroll Cruz 1987 which gives many examples where the host was stolen, dropped or spoiled, and the host turned red. In a several cases the host was then scientifically examined and was stated that it was from heart muscle (highly stressed).
In 1257 in Regensburg, Germany, the priest saying Mass had some doubts about the “Real Presence” and one of the hands of the Crucifix suddenly detached itself and removed the chalice from the hands of the priest. After he fervently repented of his doubt only then was the chalice restored.
Some of the “miracles” have happened recently in Poland. A google search can provide newspaper articles.
Interesting reading.
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