Bread of Life

BREAD OF LIFE
this is the bread that comes down from heaven so that one may eat it and not die. (john 6: 50)
The miracle of God’s physical presence to us at every Mass is the truest testament to Christ’s love for us and His desire for each of us to have a personal relationship with Him. Jesus Christ celebrated the first Mass with His disciples at the Last Supper, the night before He died. He commanded His disciples, “Do this in remembrance of me” (Luke 22:19). The celebration of the Mass then became the main form of worship in the early Church, as a reenactment of the Last Supper, as Christ had commanded. Each and every Mass since commemorates Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross through the Holy Eucharist. Because the Mass “re-presents” (makes present) the sacrifice on Calvary, Catholics all around the world join together to be made present in Christ’s timeless sacrifice for our sins. There is something fascinating about continuing to celebrate the same Mass—instituted by Christ and practiced by the early Church—with the whole community of Catholics around the world…and in heaven.

THE REAL PRESENCE

Why does the Catholic Church believe Christ is really present in the Eucharist?
The Catholic doctrine of the Real Presence is the belief that Jesus Christ is literally, not symbolically, present in the Holy Eucharist—body, blood, soul and divinity. Catholics believe in the Real Presence of Christ in the Eucharist because Jesus tells us this is true in the Bible:

“I am the bread of life. Your fathers ate the manna in the wilderness, and they died. This is the 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. He who eats my flesh and drinks my blood abides in me, and I in him” - John 6:48-56
Furthermore, the early Church Fathers either imply or directly state that the bread and wine offered in the celebration of the Lord’s Supper is really the body and blood of Jesus Christ. In other words, the doctrine of the Real Presence that Catholics believe today was believed by the earliest Christians 2,000 years ago!

This miracle of God’s physical presence to us at every Mass is the truest testament to Christ’s love for us and His desire for each of us to have a personal relationship with Him.

Friday, June 1, 2012

SYDNEY'S ANNUAL PROCESSION OF THE BLESSED SACRAMENT FEAST OF CORPUS CHRISTI

Sydney's Annual Procession of the Blessed Sacrament Feast of Corpus Christi

Walk with Christ on Sunday 10 June 2012 at 2.30pm

Walk with Christ is a significant annual event for Sydney Catholics. Every year on the Feast of Corpus Christi (The Body and Blood of Christ) more than 5,000 people walk in procession behind the Blessed Sacrament through the streets of Sydney. Starting from St Patrick's Church Hill at 2:30pm, and accompanied by shared prayers and hymns, the colourful procession culminates with Benediction at the St Mary's Cathedral forecourt and concludes at about 4:30 pm.

This special event of prayer and adoration will be accompanied by a recording of hymns and prayers that will be broadcast from speakers along the route. You can join in following along in your free commemorative booklet. Make sure you get a copy from a marshal at the Lang Park rallying point near St Patrick's, Church Hill, before the commencement of the procession.

Walk With Christ engages Catholics of all ages and backgrounds and revives a rich Catholic tradition of public faith demonstration. So don't miss this extraordinary event. Bring your family and friends and join us as we witness to the presence of Christ in our city.
In the Eucharist, the Son of God comes to meet us

Pope Benedict XVI, Sacramentum Caritatis 66, 2006
Click here to join our Facebook page and see pics and footage from past Processions. We'd love to see your photos. Share them on Facebook!
http://www.facebook.com/WalkWithChristSydney
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