What is the Real Presence?

Q. What is the Real Presence?

A. The doctrine of the Real Presence affirms that Jesus Christ is truly present in the Eucharist—Body, Blood, Soul, and Divinity (CCC § 1374). According to a recent study done by Pew Research in 2019, close to 70% of Catholics do not believe this truth. It is sad because the Eucharist is Christ’s great gift to man, and unbelief in this regard separates one from Him. In the gospel of John, chapter 6, Jesus’s disciples admit that belief in His true flesh and blood being given to them “is a hard saying” (6:60). Christ affirms that there are “some…that do not believe” (6:64). And those who did not believe departed from Him (6:66). Then, in some of the most beautiful words in Scripture, Jesus asks His apostles, “Will you also go away?” to which Simon Peter replies, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life” (6:67-68). The Real Presence keeps us close to the Lord. Believing that he is among us in this way strengthens our intimate life with Him. May we always stand with St. Peter and cling to Jesus in the Eucharist, the sacrament of our salvation (CCC § 1359).

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