501 Fathers of the Church - St Ambrose of Milan (c. 333 - 397 A.D.)

You may perhaps say: "My bread is ordinary." But that bread is bread before the words of the Sacraments; where the consecration has entered in, the bread becomes the flesh of Christ. And let us add this: How can what is bread be the Body of Christ? By the consecration. The consecration takes place by certain words; but whose words? Those of the Lord Jesus. Like all the rest of the things said beforehand, they are said by the priest; praises are referred to God, prayer of petition is offered for the people, for kings, for other persons; but when the time comes for the confection of the venerable Sacrament, then the priest uses not his own words but the words of Christ. Therefore it is the word of Christ that confects this Sacrament....Before it be consecrated it is bread; but where the words of Christ come in, it is the Body of Christ. Finally, hear Him saying: "All of you take and eat of this; for this is My Body." And before the words of Christ the chalice is full of wine and water; but where the words of Christ have been operative it is made the Blood of Christ, which redeems the people. (The Sacraments 4:4:14; 4:5:23)

502 Fathers of the Church - St Jerome (c. 347 - 420 A.D.)

"Far be it from me to speak adversely of any of these clergy who, in succession from the Apostles, confect by their sacred word the Body of Christ, and through whose efforts also it is that we are Christians..." (Letter of Jerome to Heliodorus)

503 Fathers of the Church - St Jerome (c. 347 - 420 A.D.)

"The flesh and blood of Christ is understood in two ways; there is either the spiritual and divine way, by which He Himself said: "My flesh is truly food, and my blood is truly drink"; and "Unless you shall have eaten my flesh and drunk my blood you shall not have eternal life." Or else there is the flesh and blood which was crucified and which was poured out by the soldier's lance." (Commentaries on Ephesians 1:1:7)

504 Fathers of the Church - St Jerome (c. 347 - 420 A.D.)

"After the type had been fulfilled by the passover celebration and He had eaten the flesh of the lamb with His Apostles, He takes bread which strengthens the heart of man, and goes on to the true Sacrament of the passover, so that just as Melchisedech, the priest of the Most High God, in prefiguring Him, made bread and wine an offering, He too makes Himself manifest in the reality of His own Body and Blood." (Commentaries on Matthew 4:26:26)

505 The Holy Mass St Anselm

"A single Mass offered for oneself during life may be worth more than a thousand celebrated for the same intention after death."

506 The Holy Mass - St Teresa of Avila

Once, St. Teresa was overwhelmed with God's Goodness and asked Our Lord "How can I thank you?" Our Lord replied, "Attend one Mass."

Page

of 98

Records 457 to 462 of 585

Holy Eucharist teachings index * Holy Eucharist homepage

The Work of God
www.theworkofgod.org