|
Christ's Presence in the Mass
Issue: In what ways is Christ present in the Mass?
Response: At Mass Christ is present in the priest, in sacred scripture, in the congregation, and in the Eucharist. Among these, Christ’s presence in the Eucharist is preeminent.
Discussion: In its Constitution on the Sacred Liturgy, the Second Vatican Council addresses the different ways Christ is present in the liturgy:
To accomplish so great a work, Christ is always present in His Church, especially in her liturgical celebrations. He is present in the Sacrifice of the Mass not only in the person of His minister, "the same now offering, through the ministry of priests, who formerly offered himself on the cross," but especially in the Eucharistic species. By His power He is present in the sacraments, so that when anybody baptizes it is really Christ Himself who baptizes. He is present in His word since it is He himself who speaks when the holy scriptures are read in the Church. He is present, lastly, when the Church prays and sings, for He promised "Where two or three are gathered together in my name there am I in the midst of them" (Sacrosanctum Concilium, no. 7).
The Catechism of the Catholic Church also affirms the distinctive and preeminent presence of Christ in the Eucharist:
"Christ Jesus, who died, yes, who was raised from the dead, who is at the right hand of God, who indeed intercedes for us," is present in many ways to his Church [Rom. 8:34]: in his word, in his Church’s prayer, "where two or three are gathered in my name" [Mt.18:20], in the poor, the sick, and the imprisoned, in the sacraments of which he is the author, in the sacrifice of the Mass, and in the person of the minister. But "he is present. . . most especially in the Eucharistic species" (no. 1373).
The mode of Christ’s presence under the Eucharistic species is unique. It raises the Eucharist above all the sacraments, for it is "the perfection of the spiritual life and the end to which all the sacraments tend." In the most Blessed Sacrament of the Eucharist, "the body and blood, together with the soul and divinity, of our Lord Jesus Christ and, therefore, the whole Christ is truly, really and substantially contained." "This presence is called ‘real’—by which is not intended to exclude the other types of presence as if they could not be ‘real’ too, but because it is presence in the fullest sense: that is to say, it is a substantial presence by which Christ, God and man, makes himself wholly and entirely present" (no. 1374).
Because the Eucharist is Christ, Vatican II describes it as the source and summit of the whole Christian life (Lumen Gentium, no. 11), and that is why it is the preeminent mode of Christ’s presence in the liturgy. The whole of salvation history is bound up in His Eucharistic Presence.
Recommended Reading
Holy Bible (Catholic edition)
Catechism of the Catholic Church
Vatican II Documents
Sacrosanctum Concilium
Spirit of the Liturgy, Cardinal Ratzinger
To order, call Benedictus Books toll-free: (888) 316-2640. CUF members receive a 10% discount.
Hahn and Suprenant, eds., Catholic for a Reason: Scripture and the Mystery of the Family of God
Hahn and Flaherty, eds., Catholic for a Reason III: Scripture and the Mystery of the Mass
Leon Suprenant and Philip Gray, Faith Facts: Answers to Catholic Questions
Ted Sri, Mystery of the Kingdom: On the Gospel of Matthew
Leon Suprenant, ed., Servants of the Gospel
Most Rev. Thomas J. Tobin, Without a Doubt: Bringing Faith to Life
To order these and other titles, call Emmaus Road toll-free: (800) 398-5470.
Available Faith Facts
St. Augustine’s Real Faith in the Real Presence
Signs of the Christ: Sacraments of the Catholic Church
Smells, Bells, and Other Liturgical Odds & Ends
Defending Our Rites: Constructively Dealing With Liturgical Abuse
Bread and Wine Used in Consecration of Eucharist
Reception of Holy Communion
This is My Body: Christ’s Real Presence in the Eucharist
© 2004 Catholics United for the Faith
Last edited: 6/9/2004
Date created: 7/1/2005
Date edited: 5/13/2009
|
|
