Q. Victor, do you think a faithful Catholic can, without falling into error, claim that in the Eucharist the Lord’s presence is true, real, and substantial, but not “physical”? The reason this question seems important to me is that the answer may help provide clarity to those who doubt the Real Presence because they see no evidence of it. If we can acknowledge that the Presence of Christ is more real than anything in the world, yet not “physical”, this may help some people better understand the Eucharist. Your thoughts? (H. P. Brooksville, FL)
A. The Council of Trent taught: Canons on the Most Holy Sacrament of the Eucharist, Canon 1.
“If anyone denies that in the sacrament of the most Holy Eucharist are contained truly, really and substantially the body and blood together with the soul and divinity of our Lord Jesus Christ, and consequently the whole Christ, but says that He is in it only as in a sign, or figure or force, let him be anathema.”
There are four key terms in the solemn definition: “the whole Christ,” “truly,” “really,” and “substantially” contained. What are we being taught by these definitions?
We are being told that the Holy Eucharist means “the whole Christ.” Everything which belongs to Christ—everything that makes Christ, Christ—is present in the Blessed Sacrament. This consequently means that Christ is present in his divinity as God and in his humanity as man. Christ is present in the Eucharist with his human body and human soul, with his bodily organs and limbs and with his human mind, will and feelings—the whole Christ.” Latin reads Totus Christus.
Then we are told Christ is present “truly” and not only symbolically. He is present objectively and not only subjectively in the minds of believers. He is contained in the Blessed Sacrament. Consequently, if our minds realize this objective fact, we possess the truth. There is no more precious truth revealed by Christ that he is on earth, the whole Christ in the Eucharist.
We are taught that Christ is “really” present and not only figuratively. The Eucharistic presence is not a metaphor or figure of speech. It is reality. Christ exists in the Holy Eucharist. During the century when this Real Presence was defined by the Council of Trent, St. Robert Bellarmine counted the number of meanings to Christ’s words at the Last Supper: “This is My Body…. This is My Blood.” He found among the Protestant scholars more than two hundred interpretations, except the one which says Christ is “really” present in the Eucharist.[1]
Finally, this definition tells us that Christ is present “substantially” and not merely by the exercise of His power. True, Christ is everywhere exercising his power. Thus, we can legitimately say that Christ is present in every person in the state of grace. Christ confers his grace on those who are in his friendship. But being in the state of grace is not the same as having the Real Presence of Christ in our bodies and souls.
The Real Presence in the Eucharist is absolutely unique. Christ is not present everywhere with the wholeness of his Divinity and humanity—only in the Eucharist. In the Eucharist, Christ is present in the “fullness of his being.” “The Christian faithful are to hold the Most Holy Eucharist in highest honor, taking an active part in the celebration of the most august sacrifice, receiving this sacrament most devoutly and frequently, and worshiping it with the highest adoration” (Code of Canon Law 898).
[1] Hardon, John A., S.J., With Us Today: On the Real Presence of Jesus Christ in the Eucharist, Ave Maria, FL: Sapentia Press). 2001, p. 27.