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.

Sunday, March 9, 2014

CHRISTIAN UNITY

Howdy, Michael!

Christian unity is very, very important. It was important to Jesus himself, who prayed at the Last Supper that Christians would be united--so we ignore his wish at our peril!

Unfortunately, over the centuries, Christian unity has been broken by heresy and schism.

Former Pope Benedict, in the footsteps of recent popes, worked to restore Christian unity.

The effort to restore full unity among the different groups of Christians in the world is known as "ecumenism." There has been a great deal of work done toward this goal in recent years. Some of it has been good; some of it has been bad.

Pope Benedict gave a speech in which he explained his thoughts on ecumenism.

Let us learn from his wisdom by putting his remarks in a Q & A or "interview" format.

Here's what we'll learn:

1. Why former Pope Benedict thought ecumenism is important.

2. How it relates to the "Year of Faith" he called for in 2012-2013.

3. The dangers we must avoid in ecumenism.

4. Why the issue of authority, including the Magisterium, is so important in ecumenism.

5. Whether we should shy away from controversial issues.

6. What to make of ecumenical documents that haven't been approved by Rome.

7. How the global assault on Christian morality affects ecumenism.

CLICK HERE TO LEARN WHAT POPE BENEDICT HAS TO SAY!

When you're done reading what former Pope Benedict wants us to know about ecumenism, be sure to use the share icons at the bottom of the "interview" to let your friends know! (As always with the Secret Information Club, whisper as loudly as possible!)

Your pal,

Jimmy Akin

Secret Info Club Poobah

www.SecretInfoClub.com

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