The Mass and the Real Presence

What Scripture says

All quotations from the World English Bible (public domain).

1. Matthew 26:26-28

   As they were eating, Jesus took bread, gave thanks for it, and broke it. He gave to the disciples, and said, "Take, eat; this is my body." He took the cup, gave thanks, and gave to them, saying, "All of you drink it, for this is my blood of the new covenant, which is poured out for many for the remission of sins."

   "This IS my body." "This IS my blood." Catholic teaching reads these words in their plain sense.

2. Mark 14:22-24

   As they were eating, Jesus took bread, and when he had blessed, he broke it, and gave to them, and said, "Take, eat. This is my body." He took the cup, and when he had given thanks, he gave to them. They all drank of it. He said to them, "This is my blood of the new covenant, which is poured out for many."

   Mark's account preserves the same words. Repeated by three Synoptic Gospels and Paul — four witnesses.

3. Luke 22:19-20

   He took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke and gave to them, saying, "This is my body which is given for you. Do this in memory of me." Likewise, he took the cup after supper, saying, "This cup is the new covenant in my blood, which is poured out for you."

   "Do this in memory of me" — Catholic teaching reads this as a command to perpetuate the sacrifice, not merely remember an event.

4. 1 Corinthians 11:23-26

   For I received from the Lord that which also I delivered to you, that the Lord Jesus on the night in which he was betrayed took bread. When he had given thanks, he broke it, and said, "Take, eat. This is my body, which is broken for you. Do this in memory of me."

   Paul transmits the same eucharistic tradition he received "from the Lord." A continuous chain.

5. 1 Corinthians 11:27-29

   Therefore whoever eats this bread or drinks the Lord's cup in a manner unworthy of the Lord will be guilty of the body and the blood of the Lord. But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of the bread, and drink of the cup. For he who eats and drinks in an unworthy manner eats and drinks judgment to himself, if he doesn't discern the Lord's body.

   Unworthy reception makes one "guilty of the body and blood" — strong language implying real presence.

6. 1 Corinthians 10:16

   The cup of blessing which we bless, isn't it a sharing of the blood of Christ? The bread which we break, isn't it a sharing of the body of Christ?

   Koinonia — communion, participation, sharing. Not memorial only, but participation in the actual body and blood.

7. John 6:51

   I am the living bread which came down out of heaven. If anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever. Yes, the bread which I will give for the life of the world is my flesh.

   Jesus identifies the bread He gives with His flesh. The bread of life discourse anchors Catholic eucharistic theology.

8. John 6:53-56

   Most certainly I tell you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you don't have life in yourselves. He who eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day. For my flesh is true food and my blood is true drink. He who eats my flesh and drinks my blood lives in me, and I in him.

   "True food. True drink." When the listeners objected, Jesus did not soften — He intensified.

9. John 6:60-66

   Therefore many of his disciples, when they heard this, said, "This is a hard saying! Who can listen to it?"... At this, many of his disciples went back, and walked no more with him.

   Many left because they found the teaching too hard. Jesus did not call them back to clarify a "mere symbol."

10. Malachi 1:11

    For from the rising of the sun even to its going down, my name shall be great among the nations, and in every place incense will be offered to my name, and a pure offering: for my name shall be great among the nations, says Yahweh of Armies.

    A prophecy of a universal pure offering — Catholic tradition reads this as fulfilled in the Mass.

11. Hebrews 13:10

    We have an altar from which those who serve the holy tabernacle have no right to eat.

    "We have an altar." Catholic teaching reads this in continuity with the eucharistic altar.

12. Acts 2:42

    They continued steadfastly in the apostles' teaching and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and prayer.

    "The breaking of the bread" — the early Church's standard term for the Eucharist (cf. Luke 24:35).

Further reading

• Catechism — The Sacrament of the Eucharist →
• USCCB — The Real Presence of Jesus Christ in the Sacrament of the Eucharist →

Related distinctives