The question that the most recent CARA survey at Georgetown, taken in 2023, asked Catholics about what they believe happens during the consecration of the bread and wine during Mass was this: “Do you personally believe that after the Consecration during a Catholic Mass, that Jesus Christ is truly present under the appearance of bread and wine upon the altar?” The survey found that 57 percent of Catholics answered yes, with 21 percent saying no, and 22 percent stating that they “don’t know.”
As difficult as those statistics are for us to hear, when the survey looked at all the data, they found that 64% of the respondents did believe in the Real Presence of Christ in the Eucharist.
All this week, we will be reading from John, Chapter 6, also known as the “Bread of Life Discourse”. Every day we will be hearing Jesus tell his followers that he is the true bread from heaven and that we must eat his flesh and drink his blood to have eternal life. He is our Eucharist, the Real Presence, not just a symbol. John, Chapter 6, whose words are the foundation of our belief in the sacred body and blood of Christ, is only 71 verses long…and well worth 10 minutes reading it through its entirety.
The survey I mentioned asked Catholics questions about their belief in the Eucharist. Imagine if Jesus were to ask us questions about our belief, questions like:
- Do you believe? If so, how are you being transformed through receiving my body and blood, soul and divinity?
- As you receive my ‘Real Presence’, do you see my Presence in all those around you, especially those in need?
- When Mass is over, how do you live out my mission?
In closing, I share with you a recent quote from Pope Leo about the Eucharist:
“Dear brothers and sisters, in a world that is in such great need of peace, this calls on us more than ever to be steadfast and faithful in our Eucharistic encounter with the risen Lord, so that we may go forth as witnesses of charity and messengers of reconciliation.”
