St. Cyril of Jerusalem on the Eucharist

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Although the Real Presence of Christ in the Eucharist was not the first thing that convinced me I needed to become Catholic, it was of prime importance in my journey home. Now that I am home, the Eucharist is what sustains and strengthens me on my perpetual search for holiness. Indeed, it is the "source and summit" of my Christian life.

Thus, I always enjoy taking time to read what Christians in the first centuries had to say about "the breaking of the bread." My findings are such: there is clear evidence that, from the time Christ instituted the Eucharistic meal on Holy Thursday, Christians believed Christ's body, blood, soul, and divinity to be TRULY present. They never considered that it might be "just a symbol." Only within the last five centuries has the "just a symbol" argument taken form, no doubt to the detriment of the true Faith and otherwise faithful Christians.

To prove my argument, I have provided two quotes from St. Cyril of Jerusalem, a fourth-century bishop and Doctor of the Church. Where in either of these passages does he believe it is "just a symbol"?
“He Himself, therefore, having declared and said of the Bread, "This is My Body," who will dare any longer to doubt? And when He Himself has affirmed and said, "This is My Blood," who can ever hesitate and say it is not His Blood?”“Do not, therefore, regard the bread and wine as simply that, for they are, according to the Master's declaration, the Body and Blood of Christ. Even though the senses suggest to you the other, let faith make you firm. Do not judge in this matter by taste, but be fully assured by faith, not doubting that you have been deemed worthy of the Body and Blood of Christ.”

Christ IS present to us in the Eucharist, not symbolically. The first Christians accepted that fact, and I desire to unite myself with them. If I do not believe, I deny that God continually provides a way for me to become holy, to be more perfectly united with Him.

Let us pray that the minds and hearts of non-believers will be transformed by God's grace.

God Bless.

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