Dear Friends:
 This past week we celebrated the feast of the Body and Blood of Jesus Christ, a feast formerly called Corpus Christi. The celebration gave us the opportunity to do two things. First, and most importantly, it gave us the opportunity to think about what the church teaches on the Eucharist and to ask, at the same time, whether or not our personal belief is in line with the teaching of the church.   Secondly, it gave us the opportunity to consider how we operate as Catholics because of that belief.

 It is important for all of us to know that what we believe and what the church teaches comes directly from the Scriptures. The story of the Eucharist is told in the narrative of the last Supper proclaimed on Sunday in the Gospel of Mark. The theology of the Eucharist comes from the long discourse in chapter six of the Gospel of John. Both together give us a clear understanding of why Catholics believe in the real presence of Jesus in the Eucharist.

Specifically, we believe that through the words of institution, the words of consecration in the Eucharistic prayer prayed by the priest at Mass, that what was bread on the altar becomes really, truly and substantially the very Body of Christ. We also believe through the same words of institution, that what was wine in the chalice at the time of consecration becomes really, truly and substantially the very Blood of Christ. We believe it because, as you will soon understand, Jesus taught it in words so clear and compelling, that we cannot deny His meaning.

 Before we get to the theology we have to recognize that we have a problem. Years ago, every Catholic man woman and child in the church believed in the Real Presence, but many people thinking themselves unworthy did not receive. It was such a problem that the Holy Father back then issued a normative law called the `Easter Duty' that every Catholic of age had to receive the Sacraments of Reconciliation and Eucharist at least once during the Easter Season. Today things are quite different. Our churches are often filled with people and in our liturgies almost everyone receives. Yet polls often tell us that many Catholics either do not believe in the Real Presence of Jesus in the Eucharist or have such a foggy notion of what our church teaches that they could not have a coherent discussion with any outsider that would underscore our belief.

 Know today that what we believe about Eucharist is central to our faith. If there is a major theological difference between what Catholics believe and what most traditional non-catholic churches teach, it is the Real Presence of Jesus in the Eucharist. Often, in conversation with non-Catholics, they will tell me that they do believe as we do and that they receive communion in their churches the same as Catholics. I remind them that what most of their churches teach is that communion is symbolic of the body and blood of Christ and that is why they do not regularly have a communion service. I also remind them that if they believed as we believe, there would be a Tabernacle in every one of their churches. If they believed as we believe, they would have either Mass or a communion service each and every day and that they, like us, would have periods of adoration and Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament.

 I cannot tell you why non-Catholics do not believe that the bread and wine become the Body and Blood of Christ, but I can tell you that our belief in Transubstantiation, the technical term for our theology of Eucharist, comes from chapter six of the Gospel of John. Let me set the scene. The day before, Jesus, recognizing that the great crowds following Him needed food, performed the miracle of the loaves and fishes. That night He crossed the lake and went to Capernaum. The next day people found him. Jesus, in His own words told them "You are not looking for me because you have seen signs but because you have eaten your fill of the loaves." They then asked Him "what signs are you going to do for us?" Then they reminded Himm that Moses gave them Manna in the desert to eat. Jesus then tells them that the Father will give them bread from heaven, bread that will give life to the world. He then begins the discourse on Eucharist.

 "I myself am the bread of life. No one who comes to me will ever be hungry." The discourse goes on and then Jesus gets to the point. "The bread I will give is my flesh for the life of the world." The people understand and quarrel among themselves. "How can He give us His flesh to eat?" The next section of this Gospel underscores in no uncertain terms from the mouth of Jesus Himself what we do believe. Jesus says "Let me solemnly assure you, if you do not eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink His blood, you have no life in you. He who feeds on my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life and I will raise him up on the last day. For my flesh is real food and my blood is real drink. The one who feeds on my flesh and drinks my blood remains in me, and I in him." The discourse goes on and when it is over the crowds say, "This sort of talk is hard to endure! How can anyone take it seriously?" They turn and walk away. Jesus, obviously saddened, turns to the twelve and says, "Do you want to leave me too?" Peter, answering for all believers replies, "Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. We have come to believe; we are convinced that you are God's holy one."

 The point I make now is not what was said. It stands on its own. I remind you of what was not said. Jesus had every opportunity to correct the crowd and to call them back if He did not mean what He said literally. He could have called to them and said "You didn't understand me. I was only speaking poetically. I was only speaking symbolically. He did not correct them. He did let them go because He meant what He said.

 We should know clearly what we believe as Catholics. The real question is whether or not we operate based on our belief The issue is simple. If we believe that Jesus calls us to Eucharist by name, not Msgr. Tony, not Fr. Charlie, not an obligation imposed by the church, then I believe that Catholics would never miss Mass except in the case of illness. Obviously that is not the case today. We have 3,700 families in our parish but we never have the crowds on Saturday or Sunday that we have a Christmas and Easter. Why? Because an understanding of the wonder of this gift has not penetrated as it should.

If our people believed that Jesus calls them here by name then sporting events, vacation, a morning of rest, and every other casual excuse would never take the place of Mass on the weekend.  A parishioner came to me after I preached my first homily on the Eucharist and said "Fr. Tony, I was speaking to a friend about this and she said that Fr. Tony just has to understand that we have other obligations on Saturday and Sunday." It was such a casual toss-out that it stunned me. I assure you that not a single person has to explain to me why they are not here on Saturday or Sunday. However, everyone should know and understand that at some time in the future Jesus will ask the question "Why did you so casually dismiss my invitation?" I will tell you all what I have told parents many times before. It is absurd to send children to a Catholic school or put them into a Religious Education program and not bring them to Mass on the weekend. To keep children away for any reason whatever destroys every effort on our part to develop in them a fundamental love for Jesus Christ and for His church.

 If you are a believing Catholic then understand that Jesus calls you to Eucharist by name.  It is the most personal and most important invitation you will ever get in your lives.  The cost for Jesus for that invitation was the Cross.  We have celebrated the feast of the Body and Blood of Christ.  Our belief joined to our practice gives us the opportunity to let all others know what it truly means to be a Catholic.

 May God give us the grace to do both well.  Cheers in the Lord,
Fr. Tony