Dear Catholic Exchange:
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How can I explain the true presence of Christ in the Eucharist? My children say it sounds "gross" to eat Christ's flesh and blood.
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Mrs. Koutroulakis
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Dear Mrs. Koutroulakis,
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Peace in Christ!
I admire your desire to help your children to truly understand Christ’s Real Presence. Doing so may take time, especially if your children are younger. The sacrament of the Eucharist is a great mystery, and as such can never be fully explained. You might find it helpful to give your children one concept at a time to consider.
We can explain transubstantiation by analogy. For example, take the transformation of a caterpillar into a butterfly. First we see a caterpillar. Then we see the cocoon that the caterpillar has spun around itself. Finally, we see the butterfly. The appearance is different (caterpillar, cocoon, butterfly), but the substance remains the same. In the case of the Eucharist, the appearance (bread and wine) remains the same while the substance changes, becoming Christ’s flesh and blood.
You might find helpful Maria Montessori’s The Mass Explained to Children. It was originally published in 1932 and does not reflect some of the changes since then, but Dr. Montessori’s treatment of the subject is both straightforward and devout. The sections “The Meaning of the Mass” and “The Mass of the Faithful” (what we now commonly call the Liturgy of the Eucharist) focus particularly on the Eucharist.
You might also look at various catechetical resources — such as the Faith and Life or the Image of God series — to see how they explain Christ’s Real Presence in the Eucharist and how you can apply their approaches.
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United in the Faith,
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Sarah Rozman
Information Specialist
Catholics United for the Faith
827 North Fourth Street
Steubenville, OH 43952
800-MY-FAITH (800-693-2484)
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Editor's Note: To submit a faith question to Catholic Exchange, email faithquestions@catholicexchange.com. Please note that all email submitted to Catholic Exchange becomes the property of Catholic Exchange and may be published in this space. Published letters may be edited for length and clarity. Names and cities of letter writers may also be published. Email addresses of viewers will not normally be published.
.
How can I explain the true presence of Christ in the Eucharist? My children say it sounds "gross" to eat Christ's flesh and blood.
.
Mrs. Koutroulakis
.
Dear Mrs. Koutroulakis,
.
Peace in Christ!
I admire your desire to help your children to truly understand Christ’s Real Presence. Doing so may take time, especially if your children are younger. The sacrament of the Eucharist is a great mystery, and as such can never be fully explained. You might find it helpful to give your children one concept at a time to consider.
We can explain transubstantiation by analogy. For example, take the transformation of a caterpillar into a butterfly. First we see a caterpillar. Then we see the cocoon that the caterpillar has spun around itself. Finally, we see the butterfly. The appearance is different (caterpillar, cocoon, butterfly), but the substance remains the same. In the case of the Eucharist, the appearance (bread and wine) remains the same while the substance changes, becoming Christ’s flesh and blood.
You might find helpful Maria Montessori’s The Mass Explained to Children. It was originally published in 1932 and does not reflect some of the changes since then, but Dr. Montessori’s treatment of the subject is both straightforward and devout. The sections “The Meaning of the Mass” and “The Mass of the Faithful” (what we now commonly call the Liturgy of the Eucharist) focus particularly on the Eucharist.
You might also look at various catechetical resources — such as the Faith and Life or the Image of God series — to see how they explain Christ’s Real Presence in the Eucharist and how you can apply their approaches.
.
United in the Faith,
.
Sarah Rozman
Information Specialist
Catholics United for the Faith
827 North Fourth Street
Steubenville, OH 43952
800-MY-FAITH (800-693-2484)
.
Editor's Note: To submit a faith question to Catholic Exchange, email faithquestions@catholicexchange.com. Please note that all email submitted to Catholic Exchange becomes the property of Catholic Exchange and may be published in this space. Published letters may be edited for length and clarity. Names and cities of letter writers may also be published. Email addresses of viewers will not normally be published.
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