The Presence of Christ
From the Catechism of the Catholic Church, Simplified
The Risen Christ - Especially Present (1373)
Although the risen Christ is present in many ways to his Church (in his Word, in the prayers, in the poor, in the sacraments), "he is present... most especially in the Eucharistic species" (Second Vatican Council).
The Real Presence (1374)
The Eucharist is raised above all the other sacraments because the mode of Christ's presence is unique. In the Eucharist, "the body and blood, together with the soul and divinity of Our Lord Jesus Christ, and therefore, the whole Christ is truly, really and substantially contained" (Council of Trent). "This presence is called real because it is presence in the fullest sense. It is a substantial presence by which Christ, God and man, makes himself wholly and entirely present" (Council of Trent).
Power of Priest's Words (1375)
"The priest in the role of Christ, pronounces these words but their power and grace are God's. ‘This is my body,' he says. This word transforms the things offered" (St. John Chrysostom). Speaking of this conversion into Christ's body and blood, St. Ambrose wrote, "This is not what nature formed but what the blessing has consecrated. By the blessing, nature itself is changed. Could not Christ's words which can make from nothing what did not exist change existing things into what they were not before?"
Declaration of Trent (1376)
The Council of Trent declared, "by the consecration of the bread and wine there takes place a change of the whole substance of the bread into the substance of the body of Christ our Lord and of the whole substance of the wine into the substance of his blood." The holy Catholic Church has fittingly and properly called this change "transubstantiation" (Council of Trent).
Continuing Presence (1377)
This Eucharistic presence begins at the moment of consecration and continues as long as the species of bread and wine subsist. Christ is present whole and entire in each of the species and in each of their parts in such a way that breaking the bread does not divide Christ (Council of Trent).
Signs of Adoration (1378)
We express our faith in Christ's real presence by genuflecting or bowing. This cult of adoration is offered to the Eucharist both during Mass and outside of Mass (as when the reserved host is exposed for solemn veneration) (Pope Paul VI).
Importance of Tabernacle (1379)
The tabernacle (originally intended for reserving communion for the sick) became more important as the Eucharistic faith deepened. Therefore, the tabernacle must be located in an especially worthy place.
Love Until the End (1380-1381)
When departing from his disciples in his visible form, Christ wanted to stay with his Church. Therefore, he gave us his sacramental presence. "By his death he loved us to the end" (Jn 13:1). "Let us not refuse the time to go to meet him in adoration. Let our adoration never cease" (Pope John Paul II).
The truth of the Real Presence "cannot be apprehended by the senses but only by faith which relies on divine authority" (St. Thomas Aquinas). "Receive the words of the Savior in faith. He cannot lie" (St. Cyril of Alexandria).
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