The Eucharist Part 1: Propose these questions to yourself

Is it difficult for you to accept that by a prayer of consecration from a Catholic priest over bread and wine could become the actual body and blood of Jesus primarily because you cannot observe the physical change? Yes___No___

Regarding the Eucharist and transubstantiation, having some biblical fundamentals will lead one toward a manageable understanding on these subjects. By answering these questions below, a barometer of one’s biblical clarity on this subject can help be determined.

1. On a scale of 1-5, how would you rate your knowledge about Melchizedek’s purpose for being in the Bible? 
2. On a scale of 1-5, how would you rate your knowledge about key passages in 1 Corinthians 10 and 11 which deals with communion and the last supper?
3. On a scale of 1-5, how would you rate your knowledge from Hebrews 7-10 regarding the Old Testament sacrifices, the tabernacle, and the priesthood?
4. On a scale of 1-5 how would you rate your knowledge on Jesus' discourse in John 6 regarding this abbreviated passage “...he that eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life...”?
5. On a scale of 1-5, how would you rate your knowledge about the book of Malachi regarding sacrifices?
6. Choice: Regarding John 2, Though impossible, I believe that Jesus changed the water into wine at the wedding feast in Cana for the following reason(s):

• Obey His mother
• Keep the wedding festivities going to honor the bride and groom.
• Give a prophetic glimpse into the changing of wine into Christs blood at The Last Supper. Uniquely, this would be His last miracle culminating His first miracle and both of which relate to the substantial changing of physical elements.
• None of the above  

Here is the most common roadblock to understanding the Catholic view of the Eucharist. “I can not see the elements of bread and wine change nor can I see the results of a physical change.

Here is an antidote for that common roadblock. An observation of your own conversion to Christianity.

1. If you do not believe baptism was a part of bring you to Christ, then pass on this question. If you do believe baptism is/was integral in your conversion, Acts 22:16 shows that baptism washed away your sins. Did you or anyone physically see those sins washed away? Ref. “And now why do you wait? Rise and be baptized, and wash away your sins, calling on his name”.
2. Was it a simple personal prayer of repentance along with a belief in the risen Christ that allowed Jesus to come in your life? Yes___No___
3. When you asked Jesus Christ to come into your life and dwell in you, were you changed? Yes___No___
4. If yes, could anyone tell from your physical presence or an immediate observation that Jesus did come into your life? Yes___No___
5. If no, then if your unseen, internal or invisible person was indeed changed, but not your seen, visible, or external presence changed, then should others believe you were immediately changed? Yes___No___
6. If that unseen physical change definitely occurred in your life without scientific proof, isn’t it plausible for someone to accept and believe that bread and wine is changed to body and blood without a noticeable or scientific physical change? Yes___No___ 

Question: Can you explain how Jesus shedding his blood  two thousand years ago is efficacious for the forgiveness of your sins today?

Question: Have you ever sung a song about the Blood of Jesus? Something like; “Oh, the Blood of Jesus, what can wash away my sin, nothing but the Blood of Jesus”

Without seeing sin washed away, wouldn’t many say that your belief is a baseless, subjective, and lacks all scientific credibility?

Always looking for your comments or questions either here or at stevegleasoncatholic@gmail.com

What is The Seal of Confession and why protect it.

Published about 1151, we find the following declaration of the law as to the seal of confession:  “Let the priest who dares to make known the sins of his penitent be deposed”. It goes on to say that the violator of this law should be made a life-long, ignominious wanderer. Canon 21 of the Fourth Lateran Council of 1215, binding on the whole church states the obligation of secrecy in the following words: “Let the priest absolutely beware that he does not by word or sign or by any manner whatever in any way betray the sinner: but if he should happen to need wiser counsel let him cautiously seek the same without any mention of person. For whoever shall dare to reveal a sin disclosed to him in the tribunal of penance we decree that he shall be not only deposed from the priestly office but that he shall also be sent into the confinement of a monastery to do perpetual penance”. Many priests have in fact have been imprisoned or died in protecting the seal of Confession. 

1. The most famous example is Saint John Nepomuk, confessor to Queen Johanna, wife of Wenceslaus IV of Bohemia, in the late 14th Century. The paranoid king thought his wife was unfaithful to him and demanded that Father John tell him what his wife confessed, and he of course refused. The King escalated the threats of torture and that did not work. Finally, he ordered that Father John be bound, thrown off the Charles Bridge in Prague and be drowned. 

2. Saint Mateo Correa Magallanes was killed in 1927 in Mexico for refusing to tell General Eulogio Ortiz what condemned prisoners had confessed. After he rejected the General’s order to break the seal, Ortiz put a gun to the side of Father Correa’s head. When the priest responded, “You can do that, but a priest has to guard the seal of confession. I am ready to die,” Ortiz ordered that he be brought to the outskirts of Durango and shot. 

3. During the Spanish Civil War, two priests died protecting the seal. Blessed Felipe Císcar Puig heard the confession of a Franciscan friar about to be executed by firing squad in Valencia in 1936. Soldiers demanded he divulge what the friar had told him. Fr. Císcar refused saying, “Do what you want, but I will not reveal the confession. I would die before that.” They were executed together. 

4. In the same year, Blessed Fernando Olmedo Reguera, who was ministering to those imprisoned with him in Madrid, was pressured and tortured into revealing what they had said. He refused and was martyred. 

As these examples show, tyrants, totalitarians, along with contemporary citizens and politicians have a particular hatred for the seal of Confession. Like the ancient Roman emperors used to try and break young Christian virgins by threatening to expose them to brothels if they didn’t cave in, so still today some leaders and governments try to break priests’ fidelity by forcing them to violate this seal. 

Among many reasons, the most practical yet spiritually significant reason this seal be protected: 

The seal dramatically keeps open the door and desire for repentance. The one who has committed the crime, even the worst of all crimes, would most likely be unwilling to seek sacramental forgiveness if they knew their crimes would be logged, revealed, and submitted to the authorities…even if in the name of the what is good for the citizenry. The absolution by the priest may very well lead the penitent to bring forth his crime on his own whereas the sin/crime being kept in secret may likely steadily propel the criminal in to continued and even worse activities.