Fr. Barron comments on the Real Presence of Christ in the Eucharist

Another part of a video series from Wordonfire.org. Father Barron will be commenting on subjects from modern day culture. For more visit http://www.wordonfire.org/

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[homologeo]

If it is true that the priest becomes the persona-Christi, why does he not have the authority to heal people? Why doesn't he use such authority if he indeed has it? As I understand it, the ontological nature of the priest himself must be transformed to affect such a change in the elements, so why cannot this transformation allow for healing, or raising from the dead, etc?

[wordonfirevideo]

@homologeo He does have the authority to heal: it's called the sacrament of the sick.

[Charisma33]

God Bless you, Father! I am very glad I came across this (or rather, the Holy Spirit led me here!) I have a question...my protestant roommate asked me once about the words "Do this in memory of me"? She says that's proof that He is talking about sharing in the Eucharist as a memory of Him...a representation. Obviously I do not agree, I am very strong in my Faith. But as a future nun, it discourages me when I can't find the proper words to defend Catholicism when confronted. What is the answer?

[wordonfirevideo]

@Charisma33 Memory, for ancient Jews, was so much more than intellectual recall.  It was a vivid participation even now in an event from the past. This was how Jews "remembered" the Passover. So Jesus' call to remember what he did is an invitation to participate in the event of his self-offering on the cross.

[wordonfirevideo]

@quantumystery Okay... But, man, you're the one who started the argument!

[wordonfirevideo]

@quantumystery I'm afraid you're mixing things up. The miracle at Cana involved the transfiguration or elevation of one worldly nature (water) into another worldly nature (wine), a process that happens, rather more slowly, all the time, as rainwater is transformed, through a long process, into wine. Transsubstantiation is the changing of a worldly object (bread) into a non-worldly reality (the substance of Christ's body). There is, accordingly, no change at the empirical level.

[francisxcc]

@Charisma33

Father is so right! When the good thief asked Jesus to "remember" him when He came into His kingdom, how did Jesus reply? "This day, you will be with me in Paradise!" This day you will be present in my kingdom!

When we pray at Mass for God to remember the dead, what are we asking for? For God to think about them? No, for God to make them present before Him!

Same thing in the Eucharist: Jesus is exhorting us to invoke His Real Presence, according to "I am with you all days..."

[oldworldartist]

But isn't it true that only a Catholic Priest has the ability by his calling to truly cause the transubstantiation of the host into the actual Spiritual Flesh of Jesus, the Mass itself is the unbloodied sacrifice reinacted as the Priest acts in the place of Jesus. The miracle of the Eucharist in Lanciano in the 700s is evidence of this, he was a Catholic Priest, the elements of the host were changed into a slice of a heart and the wine into blood, it never decayed and matches the Shroud of Turin

[brassspitoon]

Real Presence as a belief is not limited to the RC. Lutherans and many Anglicans also believe that Christ is truly present in the sacrament. Where we differ is your need to try to explain the holy mystery by resort to a pagan Greek philosopher (Aristotle) and "transubstantiation" on Thomist principles. Molecular science has destroyed the view you once held that bloody flesh is really present but veiled from our squeamish eyes by God. But consecrated bread is still molecules of wheat etc.

[homologeo]

@wordonfirevideo Thanks for a response. If this is the case, why don't more priests use this authority to heal the sick? Why do we stand in mass, praying for the sick, while the priest - who has authority - only uses this authority to administer the Eucharist? Healing should be a weekly phenomenon, and yet it remains obscure and sporadic (some contest it does not happen at all). Christ gathered thousands around him to witness the miracles he performed - It seems this is not the case with priests

[colette0306]

Best and clearest explanation I have ever heard of the real presence of Christ in the Eucharist. Explaining it to a non-Catholic, or even to a Catholic who just doesn't have full faith in it, can be incredibly difficult. Father Barron's explanation is logical and sound with full evidential support. If you truly believe all Jesus said, it cannot be so difficult to believe that when he said "This IS my body," he meant it actually IS his body.

[JoeyyLundin]

@JoeyyLundin its at real presence dot com

[JoeyyLundin]

@sruyle Near the Vatican they have an exhibit ... back in the 12th century a priest had trouble im believing the eucharist .. during the mass it had actually changed to human flesh and human blood... scientists had year after year do experiments on it and the blood type of the blood is AB (Blood-type identical to that which Prof. Baima Bollone uncovered in the Holy Shroud of Turin). ... christ shows himself when nec.

[oldworldartist]

Isn't the Feast of Corpus Christi about a Eucharistic Miracle? For anyone who wants evidence, go to The Miracle of the Eucharist from the 700s in Lanciano Italy on Youtube, It will change your life and encourage your Catholic Faith!