The Eucharist is the mystery at the heart of the Christian faith, the summit of liturgical life and the center of the union between heaven and earth. At the moment of consecration, the bread and wine truly become the Body and Blood of Christ, not symbolically, but in reality, according to Jesus’ own words: “This is my body… This is my blood…”. (Matthew 26:26-28).
The Real Presence: the faith of the Church from the very beginning
The Church Fathers unanimously affirmed this mysterious transformation, which the Church would later call “transubstantiation”.
- St. Cyril of Jerusalem (4th century) writes: “Do not consider bread and wine as mere elements, for they are, according to the Lord’s declaration, the Body and Blood of Christ. Even if the senses tell you otherwise, faith must strengthen you.” (Catecheses mystagogiques, IV, 6)
- St. John Chrysostom also affirms: “The priest invokes the Holy Spirit, and he causes grace to descend upon the offerings. And just as the fire that fell on the ancient altar consumed the sacrifices, so here the Holy Spirit works on the offerings, transforming them.” (Homily on the betrayal of Judas, 1,6)
Heaven opens: the presence of angels and saints
The mystery of the Eucharist is not limited to an earthly action: the entire heavenly liturgy is united with it. Angels and saints participate invisibly in every celebration of the Mass. The altar becomes a meeting place between the visible and invisible worlds.
- St. John Chrysostom writes forcefully: “When you see the Lord immolated and placed on the altar, and the priest bent over the sacrifice, and all are praying, do you think you are still among men and on earth? Are you not rather transported to heaven?” (Homily on the Epistle to the Hebrews, 17:6).
- St. Ambrose of Milan testifies to this angelic presence: “We see the angels attending the sacrifice; we see the martyrs and saints around the altar”. (On the Mysteries, 9, 55)
Union with the saints: a universal communion
In the Eucharistic celebration, the Church is gathered in its totality, not only those on earth, but also those already in glory: the saints, the martyrs, the apostles, the Virgin Mary. This is the “communion of saints” in the deepest sense.
- Saint Augustine says: “If then it is one bread, we are all one body, though many. And why? Because we partake of the one bread. (Sermon 227)
Each mass thus becomes a cosmic event: Christ offers himself for the salvation of the world, surrounded by the celestial liturgy, with angels singing the Sanctus, saints interceding, and the faithful receiving the bread of life.
Conclusion: Adoring the mystery, living the faith
The mystery of the Eucharist is beyond human understanding, but it calls for our adoration, our silence and our faith. At every Mass, heaven descends upon the altar; Christ becomes truly present; and the Church, visible and invisible, gathers around Him.
May this truth spur us on to live each Eucharist with profound reverence, an open heart and a soul in adoration, in communion with the saints and angels.
- St. Francis of Assisi summed up the mystery this way: “Man should tremble, the world should shudder, all heaven should be deeply moved, when the Son of God appears on the altar in the hands of the priest.” (Letter to the whole order)
