Dom Donald's Blog: 50th International Eucharistic Congress

Night Office Second Reading

13 April 2012 Year 11

OCTAVE OF EASTER Friday,

Second Reading

From the Jerusalem Catecheses
(Cat 22, Mystagogica 4, 1. 3-6: PG 33, 1098-1106)

In this reading the author expresses clearly his belief in the real presence of our Lord in the Eucharist. He is the first theologian to attribute this presence to an actual change in the substance of the elements of bread and wine.

On the night he was betrayed our Lord Jesus Christ took bread and when he had given thanks, he broke it and gave it to his disciples and said: "Take, eat: this is my body." He took the cup, gave thanks and said:

"Take, drink: this is my blood." Since Christ himself has declared the bread to be his body, who can have any further doubt? Since he himself has said quite categorically, This is my blood, who would dare to question it and say that it is not his blood.?

Therefore it is with complete assurance that we receive the bread and wine as the body and blood of Christ His body is given to us under the symbol of bread. and his blood is given to us under the symbol of wine, in order to make us by receiving them one body and one blood with him. Having his body and blood in our members, we become bearers of Christ and sharers, as Saint Peter says, in the divine nature.

Once when speaking to the Jews Christ said: Unless you eat my flesh and drink my blood you shall have no life in you. This so horrified them that they left him Not understanding his words in a spiritual way, they thought the Savior wished them to practice cannibalism.

Under the old covenant there was showbread, but it came to an end with the old dispensation to which it belonged. Under the new covenant there is bread from heaven and the cup of salvation These sanctify both soul and body, the bread being adapted to the sanctification of the body, the Word to the sanctification of the soul.

Do not, then, regard the eucharistic elements as ordinary bread and wine: they are in fact the body and blood of the Lord, as he himself has declared. Whatever your senses may tell you, be strong in faith.

You have been taught and you are firmly convinced that what looks and tastes like bread and wine is not bread and wine but the body and the blood of Christ You know also how Oavid referred to this long ago when he sang: Bread strengthens the heart and makes the face glow with the oil of gladness. Strengthen your heart, then, by receiving this bread as spiritual bread. and bring joy to the face of your souL

May purity of conscience remove the veil from the face of your soul so that by contemplating the glory of the Lord, as in a mirror, you may be transformed from glory to glory in Christ Jesus our Lord. To him be glory for ever and ever. Amen.

Responsory

Luke 22:19; Exodus 12:27

Jesus took bread. gave thanks, and broke it Then he gave it to his disciples and said:

This is my body which is given for you. - Do this in memory of me, alleluia.

When your children ask: What does this ritual mean? Say to them: This is the sacrifice of the Lord's Passover. - Do this in memory of me, alleluia.