The Presence of Christ

mass_isenbrant.jpg (106746 bytes)
Mass of Saint Gregory - by ISENBRANT, Adriaen - from Museo del Prado, Madrid

 

"What Wonderful Majesty! What Stupendous Condescension! O Sublime Humility! That the Lord of the Whole Universe, God and the Son of God, should Humble Himself like this under the Form of a little Bread, for our Salvation".

-Saint Francis of Assisi

 

The Presence of Christ

by Father William G. Most

angelbar.gif (3645 bytes)

There are Several Kinds of Presence of Christ:

littlegoldcross.gif (962 bytes) He is Present where Two (2) or Three (3) are gathered in His Name.
littlegoldcross.gif (962 bytes) He is Present in the Sacraments, in that He brings about the Effects of them.
littlegoldcross.gif (962 bytes) He is Present in the Word of Scripture.

eucharist3.gif (9262 bytes) But, His Presence in the Holy Eucharist is in a Class by itself. It is the Physical Presence of His Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity, as-means-of the Transmission of Grace. The other Presences are not nearly so Great as this. He remains Present as-long-as the Appearances of Bread and Wine last. So after receiving Holy Communion, He will be Present within the Person as-long-as the Appearances last. The amount of Time can vary, but something like 15 Minutes from the Time of Receiving, would be a Reasonable Estimate. Therefore, People should stay a bit after Mass for Thanksgiving. To run out at once, is to Lack Respect. Even if He is still Presenting the ways indicated above, they are not in the same Class as His Physical Presence in the Eucharist.