Cathal BarryCatholics express their faith in the real presence under the species of bread and wine, writes Cathal Barry
The Church teaches that the Eucharistic presence of Christ begins at the moment of the consecration and endures as long as the Eucharistic species subsist.
“Christ is present whole and entire in each of the species and whole and entire in each of their parts, in such a way that the breaking of the bread does not divide Christ,” the Catechism of the Catholic Church states.
The key teaching document of the Church notes that in the liturgy of the Mass, Catholics “express” their faith in the “real presence” of Christ under the species of bread and wine by, among other ways, “genuflecting or bowing deeply as a sign of adoration of the Lord”.
“The Catholic Church has always offered and still offers to the sacrament of the Eucharist the cult of adoration, not only during Mass, but also outside of it, reserving the consecrated hosts with the utmost care, exposing them to the solemn veneration of the faithful, and carrying them in procession.” (Pope Paul VI)
The Catechism notes that the tabernacle was first intended for the reservation of the Eucharist in a worthy place so that it could be brought to the sick and those absent outside of Mass.
“As faith in the real presence of Christ in his Eucharist deepened, the Church became conscious of the meaning of silent adoration of the Lord present under the Eucharistic species,” the document states.
“It is for this reason that the tabernacle should be located in an especially worthy place in the church and should be constructed in such a way that it emphasises and manifests the truth of the real presence of Christ in the Blessed Sacrament.”
It is highly fitting that Christ should have wanted to remain present to his Church in this unique way, the Catechism notes.
“In his Eucharistic presence he remains mysteriously in our midst as the one who loved us and gave himself up for us,” the document says. “The Church and the world have a great need for Eucharistic worship. Jesus awaits us in this sacrament of love. Let us not refuse the time to go to meet him in adoration, in contemplation full of faith, and open to making amends for the serious offenses and crimes of the world. Let our adoration never cease.” (Pope John Paul II)