St. Augustine also believed in the Real Presence.
For example: Sermons 234, 2 (ca. AD 400):
The Lord Jesus wanted those whose eyes were held lest they should recognize Him, to recognize Him in the breaking of the bread. The faithful know what I am saying. They know Christ in the breaking of the bread. For not all bread, but only that which receives the blessing of Christ, becomes Christ’s body.
Explanations of the Psalms (ca. 400) 33,1,10:
Here, St. Augustine comments on Psalm 119:109 in the Vulgate. The modern translations will more accurately say I hold my “life,” or my “soul” in my hands, or, “my life is at risk.” The Vulgate says, “And he was carried in his own hands.” This is the text St. Augustine would have known.
He comments:
“And he was carried in his own hands.” But, brethren, how is it possible for a man to do this? Who can understand it? Who is it that is carried in his own hands? A man can be carried in the hands of another; but no one can be carried in his own hands. How this should be understood literally of David, we cannot discover; but we can discover how it is meant of Christ. For Christ was carried in His own hands, when, referring to His own Body, He said: “This is My Body.” For He carried that Body in His hands.
Here’s another emphatic St Augustine quotes:
“I promised you [new Christians], who have now been baptized, a sermon in which I would explain the sacrament of the Lord’s Table. . . . That bread which you see on the altar, having been sanctified by the word of God, is the body of Christ. That chalice, or rather, what is in that chalice, having been sanctified by the word of God, is the blood of Christ” (Sermons 227 [A.D. 411]).
Catholics don’t need the stupidity and nonsense of all that born again bunk, we have the Holy Eucharist. Even pre-eminent Lutheran theologians like Rev. Richard Neuhaus, Francis Beckwith president of the Evangelical Theological Society, an association of 4,300 Protestant theologians, Josh Hochschild, Wheaton College’s brilliant theology and philosophy professor, Ulf Ekman, pastor of Sweden’s largest Protestant Church with 3500 congregants, all ditched their former beliefs as being in error and converted to Catholicism.
So now we have the sophomoric drive-bys throwing their two cents into a matter that has long since been settled.
Maybe if I format it like you did, you will be able to see it better.
Jesus (just before his death).
27 And taking the chalice, he gave thanks, and gave to them, saying: Drink ye all of this.
28 For this is my blood of the new testament, which shall be shed for many unto remission of sins.
29 And I say to you, I will not drink from henceforth of this fruit of the vine, until that day when I shall drink it with you new in the kingdom of my Father.
I didn’t write it, and I hardly consider the red-letter words to be sophomoric. We have a choice when we read God’s written word. We can believe what we read, or read what we believe. Jesus said it. I enjoy reading the meaning that others discern from his word, but if it comes down to picking between church fathers and jesus, I will err on the side of jesus every time.
John 3 is where jesus started all that ‘born again bunk’. Again, I will go with the red letters. Easy choice.
Sure, Augustine believed, with Presbyterians and Lutherans, that Christ is spiritually present with us in the Lord's Supper. He didn't believe in Transubstantiation, or that grace is conferred through physically eating anything.
From your sermon 227:
“What you can see passes away, but the invisible reality signified does not pass away, but remains. Look, it’s received, it’s eaten, it’s consumed. Is the body of Christ consumed, is the Church of Christ consumed, are the members of Christ consumed? Perish the thought! Here they are being purified, there they will be crowned with the victor’s laurels. So what is signified will remain eternally, although the thing that signifies it seems to pass away. So receive the sacrament in such a way that you think about yourselves, that you retain unity in your hearts, that you always fix your hearts up above. Don’t let your hope be placed on earth, but in heaven. Let your faith be firm in God, let it be acceptable to God. Because what you don’t see now, but believe, you are going to see there, where you will have joy without end.” (Augustine, Ser. 227)
You've been through this rodeo many times with me already, right? You must know by now you can't bluff your way through this?
Many words do not necessarily impress me. Especially when they are lies that deceive people and lead them to eternal damnation.
God's Word is true but the (so called) "sacred traditions" of the "Holy Roman Catholic Church" have been sending people to hell for a very long time!
The power of God's Word is lost on people who are so deceived - their hearts are rock hard. Fortunately, there is still hope because God can overcome this darkness.
Most every one of these threads is the same. The lines are drawn. Each side repeats its message. Only God knows if anyone is changed.
But God does not change.
Like your traditions.