Martin Luther On the Real Presence
Q. What did Martin Luther believe about the Body and Blood of Christ in the bread and wine?
A. Martin Luther believed in the Real Presence of Jesus in the Eucharist. He became indignant when groups, who had followed him out of the Catholic Church, rejected the presence of Jesus in the Eucharist. He deplored the fact that every milkmaid and farmhand thought they could interpret scripture correctly. Here he is in his own words.
Who, but the devil, has granted such license of wresting the words of the holy Scripture? Who ever read in the Scriptures, that my body is the same as the sign of my body? or, that is is the same as it signifies? What language in the world ever spoke so? It is only then the devil, that imposes upon us by these fanatical men. Not one of the Fathers of the Church, though so numerous, ever spoke as the Sacramentarians: not one of them ever said, It is only bread and wine; or, the body and blood of Christ is not there present.
Surely, it is not credible, nor possible, since they often speak, and repeat their sentiments, that they should never (if they thought so) not so much as once, say, or let slip these words: It is bread only; or the body of Christ is not there, especially it being of great importance, that men should not be deceived. Certainly, in so many Fathers, and in so many writings, the negative might at least be found in one of them, had they thought the body and blood of Christ were not really present: but they are all of them unanimous.”
–Luther’s Collected Works, Wittenburg Edition, no. 7 p, 391
Examples of Miracles of the Real Presence
Sienna, Italy -- August 17, 1730Consecrated Hosts remain perfectly preserved for over 250 years. Rigorous scientific experiments have not been able to explain this phenomena.
Amsterdam, Holland 1345Eucharist thrown into fire overnight miraculously is unscathed.
Blanot, France -- March 31, 1331The Eucharist falls out of a woman's mouth onto an altar rail cloth. The priest tries to recover the Host but all that remains is a large spot of blood the same size and dimensions as the wafer.
Bolsena-Orvieta, ItalyAgain, a priest has difficulties believing in the Real Presence, and blood begins seeping out of the Host upon consecration. Because of this miracle, Pope Urban IV commissioned the feast of Corpus Christi, which is still celebrated today.
Lanciano, Italy -- 8th century A.D.A priest has doubts about the Real Presence; however, when he consecrates the Host it transforms into flesh and blood. This miracle has undergone extensive scientific examination and can only be explained as a miracle. The flesh is actually cardiac tissue which contains arterioles, veins, and nerve fibers. The blood type as in all other approved Eucharistic miracles is type AB! Histological micrographs are shown.
Physician Tells of Eucharistic Miracle of Lanciano - (Zenit)"Dr. Edoardo Linoli says he held real cardiac tissue in his hands, when some years ago he analyzed the relics of the Eucharistic miracle of Lanciano, Italy."
1 comment:
While I disagree with Martin Luther's decision to leave the Catholic Church and much of his unorthodox mind-set on change, I feel his belief in the Eucharist sets an example of true Faith in God without the benefit of things easily explained. When people are divided and lambasted by the argument of symbolism verses the Real Presence, Luther's musings can bridge a cap between Protestants and Catholics in that he, a Protestant father by choice, upheld what Jesus said in the Upper Room: "This (is)."
The Catholic Church today is being challenged vigorously by non-Catholic evangelizers. Unfortunately, many Catholics feel ill-prepared to defend their Faith in the face of attacks on the argument of the Eucharist being the Real Presence. Luther, from the grave, and through his pen, has answered the argument whereby the merits of our Catholic teaching reigns supreme and renders the Catholic Church correct on the subject.
If what Martin Luther thought is not proof enough that well informed Protestants realize The Real Presence, we can defend the Eucharist by exploring all of John 6; Mk. 14:22-24; 1 Cor. 10:14-17; 1 Cor. 11:23-29; Mt. 26:26-28; Lk. 22:17-20; and Lk. 24:30-35.
In John 6:55, Jesus said, "For my flesh is food indeed, and my blood is drink indeed," - this is not the language of symbolism.
Even atheists asks questions on this topic. But the most profound defense to date, is that Satanic cults would like nothing better than to destroy or belittle the Eucharist. What does that mean to us? It means the devil would not preoccupy himself with something of no significance where the destruction of Jesus' Body and Blood are concerned. The devil fears Mary and he certainly fears God.
In summation, Jesus cannot lie. When He said "This is," He did not mean - the (sign) of My Body - and we can indeed "take (that) to the bank."
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