The Eucharist in Tradition #2

Fr. Joachim Trytania

Evidence of early belief in the Real Presence may also be seen in outward reverence with which the sacrament was received. A detailed description of the manner in which the Eucharist was received in the 4th century is given to us by St. Cyril of Jerusalem in Catechetical Instructions: "In approaching, therefore, come not with thy wrists extended or thy fingers spread, but make thy left hand a throne for the right, as for that which is to receive a King. And having hallowed thy palm, receive the Body of Christ, saying over it 'Amen.' Then having carefully sanctified thine eyes with the touch of the holy body, partake of it, taking heed lest thou lose any portion thereof; for whatever thou losest is evidently a loss to thee as it were from one of thine own members. For tell me, if anyone gave thee grains of gold, wouldst not thou hold them with all carefulness, being on thy guard against losing any of them and suffering the loss? Wilt thou not then much more carefully keep watch that not a crumb fall from thee of what is more precious than gold and precious stones? Then after thou hast partaken of the body of Christ draw near also to the chalice of his blood; not stretching forth thine hands, but bending, and saying with worship and reverence 'Amen,' hallow thyself by partaking also of the blood of Christ. And while the moisture is still on thine lips, touch it with thine hands and hallow thine eyes and brow and other organs of sense. Then wait for the prayer and give thanks to God who has accounted thee worthy of so great mysteries." St. Cyril intends expressly to instruct catechumens on the great sacrament which they are shortly to receive for the first time, and hence his teaching is much more clear and explicit.

The need of faith in the Real Presence in order to overcome the apparently contrary suggestion of the senses is emphasized in almost identical terms by St. John Chrysostom (+407): "Let us then in everything believe God and gainsay him in nothing, though what is said may seem to be contrary to our thoughts and senses, but let his word be of higher authority than both reasoning and sight. Thus let us do in the Mysteries also, not looking at the things set before us, but keeping in mind his sayings. For his word cannot deceive, but our senses are easily beguiled. That hath never failed, but this in most things goes astray. Since the Word saith, "This is my body,' let us both be persuaded and believe, and look at it with the eyes of the mind."

These extracts from the writings of the Fathers of the Church, though representative, are far from exhaustive, but in these selected passages the Fathers speak quite clearly of the real presence of the body and blood of Christ in this sacrament. The body and blood of Christ, although really, truly and substantially present, are nevertheless present with an extraordinary mode of presence. They are present invisibly, so that our senses cannot reach them. St. Cyril of Jerusalem laments the lack of faith in the people of Capernaum in that "they, not having heard his saying in a spiritual sense, were offended, and went back, supposing that he was inviting them to eat flesh." The Church from its beginning has thought that the body and blood of Christ are truly, really and substantially present in the Sacrament of the Eucharist, but they can only be seen through the eyes of faith, because our senses cannot reach them. Hence another challenge for us.