Page:Faithcatholics.pdf/285

From Wikisource
Jump to navigation Jump to search
This page needs to be proofread.

delivered, having taken bread and given thanks, broke it and gave it to his disciples, saying to them, Take and eat, this is my body. Afterwards he took the cup, and said, Take and drink, this is my blood. As then Christ, speaking of the bread, declared, and said, this is my body, who shall dare to doubt it? And, as speaking of the wine, he positively assured us, and said, this is my blood, who shall doubt it and say, that it is not his blood? Catech. Myst. iv. n. 1. p. 319.

“ Jesus Christ, in Cana of Galilee, once changed water into wine by his will only; and shall we think him less worthy of credit, when he changes wine into blood Invited to an earthly marriage, he wrought this miracle ; and shall we hesitate to confess, that he has given to his children his body to eat, and his blood to drink ? Wherefore, with all confidence, let us take the body and blood of Christ. For in the type or figure of bread, his body is given to thee, and in the type or figure of wine, his blood is given; that so being made partakers of the body and blood of Christ, you may become one body and one blood with him. Thus, the body and blood of Christ being distributed in our members, we become Christofori, that is, we carry Christ with us; and thus, as S. Peter says, “ we are made partakers of the divine nature.” Ibid. n. ii. iii. p. 320.–At another time, speaking to the Jews, Jesus Christ says: Unless you eat my flesh and drink my blood, you shall have no life in you. (John, vi.) But they not understanding the words spiritually, were offended with them, and withdrew from him, because they