Posted on 05/23/2008 3:47:45 AM PDT by markomalley
VATICAN CITY, MAY 22, 2008 (Zenit.org).- Benedict XVI says the Eucharist brought history's deepest and most profound revolution.
The Pope affirmed this today in his homily for the feast of Corpus Christi in the Basilica of St. John Lateran. After the Mass, he led a Eucharistic procession through the streets of Rome to the Basilica of St. Mary Major.
The Eucharist has brought a social revolution, he affirmed, since believers gather before it, leaving aside differences in economic or social class, political convictions, sex and even preferences.
His listeners were living proof of his words: The congregation included Missionaries of Charity, boy scouts, cardinals, Knights of the Holy Sepulcher, pilgrims from around the world, and even some homeless people curious about the celebration.
Meditating on the Eucharistic mystery, the Holy Father cited the phrase from St. Paul: "There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free person, there is not male and female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus."
Truth and strength
"In these words," said the Pontiff, "is perceived the truth and the strength of the Christian revolution, the deepest revolution of human history, which is experienced precisely gathered around the Eucharist. Here people of different ages, sex, social condition and political ideas gather."
"The Eucharist can never be a private event, reserved to people chosen on the basis of affinity or friendship," he added. "The Eucharist is a public worship that has nothing of esotericism or exclusivity.
"We have not decided with whom we want to gather; we have come and found ourselves together with each other, gathered by faith and called to become one body, sharing the only Bread that is Christ.
"We are united beyond our differences of nationality, profession, social class, political ideas: We open ourselves to each other to become one in him."
In fact, Benedict XVI affirmed, "from the beginning, this has been the characteristic of Christianity, visibly fulfilled around the Eucharist. And it is necessary to keep watch always so that the temptations of particularism, even if with good intentions, do not head in the opposite direction."
The feast of Corpus Christi, he concluded, "reminds us above all: To be Christians means to come together from all parts to be in the presence of the only Lord and to be one in him and with him."
Isn't God's grace marvelous?
I know you mean well. But since I know the Eucharist will be blasphemed and profaned on this thread I do pray you had seen the wisdom of making it a caucus thread.
God bless.
The Body, Blood, Soul, and Divinity of Christ cannot be harmed by the words of blasphemers. If they decide to descend upon this thread, it is to their detriment.
We Catholics need to remember the words of St. Peter:
1 Pet 3:14-16 But even if you do suffer for righteousness' sake, you will be blessed. Have no fear of them, nor be troubled, but in your hearts reverence Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to make a defense to any one who calls you to account for the hope that is in you, yet do it with gentleness and and keep your conscience clear, so that, when you are abused, those who revile your good behavior in Christ may be put to shame.
The "founders of Christianity" notwithstanding, the Christ of Christianity instituted it.
this ought to rile imbecils without regard to race or creed.
I always consider the Second Psalm in regard to that:
1 Why have the Gentiles raged, and the people devised vain things?
2 The kings of the earth stood up, and the princes met together, against the Lord, and against his Christ.
3 Let us break their bonds asunder: and let us cast away their yoke from us.
4 He that dwelleth in heaven shall laugh at them: and the Lord shall deride them.
5 Then shall he speak to them in his anger, and trouble them in his rage.
6 But I am appointed king by him over Sion, his holy mountain, preaching his commandment.
7 The Lord hath said to me: Thou art my son, this day have I begotten thee.
8 Ask of me, and I will give thee the Gentiles for thy inheritance, and the utmost parts of the earth for thy possession.
9 Thou shalt rule them with a rod of iron, and shalt break them in pieces like a potter's vessel.
10 And now, O ye kings, understand: receive instruction, you that judge the earth.
11 Serve ye the Lord with fear: and rejoice unto him with trembling.
12 Embrace discipline, lest at any time the Lord be angry, and you perish from the just way.
13 When his wrath shall be kindled in a short time, blessed are all they that trust in him.
Seems a very appropriate Psalm for dealing with some of our cohort on Free Republic.
It's not bread once it's consecrated, Chip.
We believe it is the body of Christ. That's our belief...if it offends you, don't mock it...challenge it with maturity.
What does "consecrated" mean? How does that change it? What does it turn into after you eat it?
Religions fall into three categories:
1. The murdering violent: moslems who will employ any means to force the world to bend to their will.
2. The formerly torturing murdering violent Catholics, who tortured people who were suspected of being and, get this folks, an unbeliever! Remind you of of moslems? The catholic's snobbery and belief in their correctness and superiority relative to, any other faith and their belief that this thing called a "pope" somehow matters makes the beer come out of my nose.
3. The rest of the superstitious folks who expect that their time will come.
Sorry about the beer.
Consecrated means that the priest repeats the words of the institution: "Jesus took bread, and blessed, and broke: and gave to his disciples, and said: Take ye, and eat. This is my body".
The consecration changes the bread into the body of Christ because this is what Jesus did at the Last Supper, and told us to do it, too.
The consecrated host remains the Body, Blood , Soul, and Divinity of Jesus so long as it looks like bread. Once your stomach dissolves it, it is no longer Jesus' body.
They don't print that at the back of beer bottles?
Distortions of the facts offend me as they should everybody. Read Paul's own words:
"For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do shew the Lord's death till he come."[I Corinthians 11]
No matter how you slice it, the consecrated bread was still bread to Paul, this bread, that bread, but bread nonetheless, and they didn't carry it through the streets of Jerusalem in some ostentatious procession for the public to worship. Is that mature enough????
Quote the ignorant, inspired by a divorce-seeking English king “King James” edition of the Bible all you want...but it won’t change the fact that the Eucharist is the Body of Christ.
Tell me, to what “confession do you belong?
Does snake handling come into the equation?
That’s funny — because the quote out of my Catholic Bible is identical. Who has snake all over their face now???
Avoid the real question all you want, Chip. What confession to you belong to?
All the anti-Catholic crowd seems to do is bash and run...bash and run...while never admitting what “confession” they claim membership in.
Pathetic.
Hateful people tend to be cowards.
The founder of Christianity is Christ himeself and the apostles.
Where are you getting your strange ideas?
Were not they there at the Last Supper? (Even though they did not understand it fully at the time.)
Your memory must be slipping — we discussed that a year ago.
Then indulge me.
One indulgence was enough. If you want it, seek and ye shall find.
One who believed in the tenets of their “confession” would be proud to proclaim it.
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