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Magis CenterJanuary 12, 20241 min read

What is the Eucharist? According to New Testament Writers

The conviction about Jesus' real presence in the Eucharist is the universal view of the New Testament writers and the early church fathers. In fact, it is the most important doctrine of the Catholic Church. But why is it important to make that statement? What is the Eucharist

In this clip from Father Spitzer's Universe, Fr. Spitzer and EWTN host Doug Keck discuss the Eucharist according to the New Testament Writers and the Early Church fathers.

What Does the Eucharist Mean? 

To establish what the Eucharist truly means is very important because many people believe that Christ intended the Eucharist to be a memorial celebration. In that, people believe that Christ wanted us to gather together to mentally remember Jesus, not to receive the real Jesus into us. 

Yet, Father Spitzer begs the question, who was closest to Jesus? Because whoever was closest to Jesus would be able to give accounts as to what He explicitly intended with establishing the Eucharist. It turns out that His evangelists and apostles were the ones closest to Him. From the writings of the four Gospels to St. Paul and Early Church fathers like St. Ignatius of Antioch, Christ's intention can become quite clear. All their writings explicitly argue that it is the offering up of Christ’s real body and blood for the life of the world. 

What Did the Church Fathers Think about the Eucharist?

All the Church fathers state that the real presence is the most important aspect of the faith. The Catholic Church continues to reiterate the real presence of the Eucharist. The Church has simply been stating the truth that those in the living memory of Jesus stated with certainty. To state that Christ intended the Eucharist to be a symbolic representation stands in opposition to the writings of those who knew Christ personally. What Catholics believe today is the same as the Church fathers believed back then. 

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The Magis Center's Mission: We exist to turn the rising tide of unbelief in our culture through contemporary, rational, and science-based evidence. Many young people today have the preconceived notions that science and faith are mutually exclusive, that there is no such thing as a soul, and that God is just an illusion of hope. There is a great need for a practical defense of the Catholic Faith that meets the surrounding culture in materialism and scientism. As more young people leave the faith, Magis Center seeks to answer the conflict of science and faith with sound scientific research and clearly communicate the reasonability and truthfulness of the Catholic Faith.

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