Episode 42 with Fr. Cedric Pisegna
What is the Real Presence?
As Catholics we believe in the Real Presence of Jesus in the Eucharist. This means at the consecration the bread is turned into the Body of Jesus and the wine into his Blood. The Eucharist is a given gift of Jesus; it is his Body and Blood poured out for all sinners. The Sacrament symbolizes God’s love and mercy, forgiveness, and redemption for all. The early Church recognized and understood the Real Presence as noted in the early writings of St. Justin Martyr and St. Ignatius of Antioch. They had to keep the Eucharist a secret for fear of being tortured and even killed for the Faith.
Who are the Passionists?
The Passionist Order was founded by St. Paul of the Cross, and one of the charisms is to preach about the passion of Jesus Christ. It began back in the 1700s in Italy. Now, it has grown worldwide and is still expanding.
Father Cedric is a Passionist priest who has been giving missions worldwide and has written twenty five books. He was raised Catholic, but fell away from the Church during his beginning years of high school. Later, he met a Passionist priest who was one fire for the Lord and helped bring him back to God. Some time later, he felt a calling to ministry and after years of training became a priest in the Order.
What is a Eucharistic Miracle?
Jesus has given us Eucharistic miracles throughout the ages to help us believe in the Real Presence. Many have occurred throughout the world. The miracle in Lanciano, Italy is probably the best known Eucharistic miracle. In the miracle, during the Consecration the host turned into human heart tissue and the wine turned into actual blood. This miracle is intact and can be seen today. A more recent one occurred in Buenos Aires, Argentina in 1996; one should search the Internet and review that miracle as it has similar characteristics. Amazingly, the doctor studying that miracle was an avowed atheist and is now a devout Catholic.
Why Should We Be in a State of Grace When receiving Communion?
Scripture tells us, “Whoever, therefore, eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty of profaning the body and blood of the Lord. Let a man examine himself, and so eat of the bread and drink of the cup. For any one who eats and drinks without discerning the body eats and drinks judgment upon himself” (1Cor 11:27-29).
For more information on Father Cedric and his writings and missions, please visit frcedric.org
