Worldwide Communion of Catholic Apostolic Churches (WCCAC) :: View topic - The Real Presence of Jesus Christ in the Eucharist

BpAndre

For many, the Christian belief in the Real Presence is baffling. But Christ’s teaching in this area is without compromise. Christ did not say, nor did he infer that He was speaking symbolically, yet many Protestant sects claim just that, refusing to accept the literal statement as a supernatural Truth.

"‘Truly, truly, I say to you, he who believes has eternal life. I am the bread of life. Your fathers ate the manna in the wilderness, and they died. This is bread which comes down from heaven, that a man may eat of it and not die. I am the living bread which came down from heaven; if any one eats of this bread, he will live for ever; and the bread which I shall give for the life of the world is my flesh.’ The Jews then disputed among themselves, saying, ‘How can this man give us his flesh to eat?’ So Jesus said to them, ‘Truly truly, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of man and drink his blood, you have no life in you; he who eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day. For my flesh is food indeed, and my blood is drink indeed’" (John 6:47-55). Why would many of the followers of Jesus go away, if He was only speaking metaphorically? It is clear that they understood all to well, that He was speaking literally, and not figuratively. Certainly if Jesus was speaking metaphorically, and the people misunderstood him, He would have re-phrased His teaching and explain it in a way that they would understand, as He had done in many instances before, as we read in the Gospels. But He did not back away from this teaching.

Christ reiterated this central focus more than once, repeating it again and again. It was a hard teaching for many of His followers to accept. Many ceased to follow Him because of it, and how it offended their sensibilities, and that was contrary to the Law of Moses, and was not presented in a way to signify that Jesus was only speaking figuratively. Jesus’ followers understood Him to mean that they must eat His flesh, and drink His blood in a way that is genuine and real. If there was any confusion, or thought that He only meant this in a way that was only a symbol and nothing more, that would have disappeared when He reiterated Himself: “For my flesh is food indeed, and my blood is drink indeed.” [emphasis added]

The Body of Christ, in all her varied splendors, Catholic Apostolic National Church, Eastern Orthodox, Roman Catholic, Oriental Orthodox, and others, have unwaveringly and steadfastly proclaimed and believed this Mystery of Faith, from the time of the Apostles down to the present day. This is the unified belief and proclamation of over 98% of all people who claim the name Christian.

"For I received from the Lord what I also delivered to you, that the Lord Jesus on the night when he was betrayed took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it, and said, ‘This is my body which is for you. Do this in remembrance of me.’ In the same way also the cup, after supper, saying, ‘This cup is the new covenant of my blood. Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me.’ For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes." (1 Cor. 11:23-26)

"Whoever, therefore, eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty of profaning the body and blood of the Lord." (1 Cor. 11:27) No mere symbol could elicit this type of response. No mere symbol could mean so much. Believing the Eucharist to be only a symbol, betrays the understanding of Christ replacing the physical symbols of the Old Covenant, with the supernatural Spiritual Realities of the New Covenant.

To those who say that Christ could not/would not appear to His people as created things, or be present for them, as in the Eucharist, we point to such examples in Scripture as: Exodus 3:2-6, Exodus 13:21-22, Matthew 3:16, Genesis 18:1-2 and Matthew 13:55. Furthermore, in the writings of the Fathers of the Early Church, they speak unanimously and with one voice, as to their unshakeable belief in the Real Presence of Christ in the Eucharist.

[cited from the official catechism of the Catholic Apostolic National Church]
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Bishop Andre' Jhohn-William Queen, SCR
Vicar General
Catholic Apostolic National Church
Phone: 773.942.4660