The Greatest Eucharistic Miracle

J.M..J.

In 700 A.D., a priest, doubting in the Real Presence was saying Mass. After the words of consecration, the bread visibly changed into Flesh, and the wine into Blood.

In the 13th century, another priest, also doubting the Real Presence, witnessed blood dripping from the Host, staining the corporeal, as he barely said the words of consecration. Pope Urban IV investigated this miracle and, in honour of it, established a new feast: Corpus Christi.

These are just two of many Eucharistic miracles which have occurred throughout history - all of which are testament to the Real Presence of Christ Jesus in the Most Holy Sacrament of the Altar. Some say this miracle is the greatest, others claim another. In my opinion, this is the greatest Eucharistic miracle:

The Transubstantiation.

Yes, the miracle that is, was, and shall be repeated at every Mass is my favourite of all Eucharistic miracles. Mere bread and wine, by the power of the Holy Spirit, transform into the true Body and true Blood of our Lord, Jesus Christ.

Is that not plain usual and boring?

Well, the Transubstantiation is the most important miracle because it is indispensable, and is the most amazing simply because it happens at every single Mass. It is the miracle that fulfils Christ's motivation behind instituting the Holy Eucharist - to feed His flock. Jesus Himself said, "Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood remains in me and I in him." (Jn 6:56) So infinite is this miracle and the grace that flows from it!

Imagine what would happen if the Gifts ceased to turn into the Body and Blood of our Saviour. All the faithful will be denied of the graces promised in this great Sacrament. In addition, Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI says, "Without the Eucharist, the Church simply does not exist." And if the Transubstantiation does not occur, we worship bread, and will be idolators. I believe most of us would condemn ourselves to Hell over such a grievous sin.

All the other miracles add to the faith of those who choose to believe them, yet many still persist in disbelief and find ways and means to offer alternative explanations behind these miracles. If they never happened, those strong in faith will still confess in the Real Presence. Therefore, these miracles only confirm, for the doubters, what is already true: that Transubstantiation occurs. Yes, these miracles are great, deserve to be proclaimed, and are useful in evangelisation. We should praise God for them. But they are still dispensable.

Therefore, I urge you to, at subsequent Masses, recall the moment of consecration, where Transubstantiation occurs, as the greatest Eucharistic miracle. As the priest elevates the Host, adore Him with intense love, and as the priest genuflects, bow your head in deep thanksgiving for that wonderful miracle.

Verbum caro, panem verum
Verbo carnem efficit:
Fitque sanguis Christi merum,
Et si sensus deficit,
Ad firmandum cor sincerum
Sola fides sufficit.

(Pange Lingua Gloriosi Verse 4 - St Thomas Aquinas)

Disclaimer: I do not belong to any religious order. In fact, I am a catechumen seeking baptism in the Catholic Church. Nonetheless, while at Adoration, the Lord has instructed me to write about His Real Presence. If I have confused the my own perceptions with the Lord's wisdom by writing something contrary to the teachings of the Catholic Church, I firstly seek your forgiveness, and ask that you bring it up to me in the comments so that others may not be misled. Thank you.

If you wish to journey with me through RCIA, you can read my blog at myrciajourneymmxiii.blogspot.sg.

Why I Believe in the Bible

~J.M.J~

If you asked me, "Why should I believe in the Bible?" to be honest, I have no satisfactory answer for you. But if you asked me "Why do YOU believe in the Bible?" I am very clear on that. And here is my answer:

Because I believe that someone powerful (i.e. God) is truly present in the Holy Eucharist through my many deep encounters with this Sacrament. And when I finally questioned the validity of the Bible (why follow the Bible and not the scriptures of other religions), I could only answer: because the Bible teaches the Eucharist is the Real Presence of Jesus Christ, who is God, and I have experienced for myself that those teachings are true. In a similar light, I place my faith in the Catholic Church.

Twisted? How can faith be built upon one Sacrament rather than the Word of God? Actually, my path of faith is perfectly reconcilable with the teachings of the Church. CCC 1324 states, 'The Eucharist is the "source and summit of Christian life."' That the Eucharist is my source of Christian life is a fitting description of my journey of faith, since my faith in all the other aspects of this Christian faith is built on it. All Christians agree that faith should be grounded in Christ. And this is how my faith is.

Therefore, it follows that I either be Catholic, or not Christian at all. Because if I were to renounce the Real Presence, my faith in the Bible and all the other tenets of Christianity will be thrashed with it.

Certainly, I cannot rely solely on Eucharistic Adoration to increasing my faith. The Sacrament of Silence remains silent most of the time; I only heard Him once. Therefore, it is absolutely necessary to listen to Scripture, where the voice of the Sacrament of Silence is more audible, and thus increase my love for and knowledge in God. Yet, I spend time with Him in the Sacrament of Silence because presence is essential in any relationship.

Yes, it was indeed by the words of the Word Incarnate that mere bread and wine transformed (and thenceforth still be transformed) into His own Body and Blood. Precious are the words that He spoke, yet more precious is the Gift those words brought about - the Gift of Himself to us.

Adoro Te devote, latens Deitas,
Quæ sub his figuris vere latitas:
Tibi se cor meum totum subjicit
Quia Te contemplans totum deficit.