Continuing the dialogue, part one

by Maria Caulfield, MA
09/05/2024

Continuing the dialogue: Synod process sheds light on areas of concern among Catholics in the Diocese of Erie

A two-part series addressing misconceptions about the Eucharist shared in regional listening sessions

It’s been a lot to take in. What is a synod? What is a synod on synodality? What will happen when the second session of the XVI Ordinary General Synod of Bishops, currently convening in Rome, concludes? And whatever happened to the comments made by more than 3,100 individuals during the listening sessions held in parishes across the Diocese of Erie in 2022 and 2024?

Answers to most of those questions and more can be found at a special micro-site created by the Diocese of Erie at www.ErieRCD.org/synod.html. But while reading through the responses, a number of areas of pain and concern have come to light, including some misunderstandings about what the church teaches.

Deacon Steve Washek, executive director of the Office of Faith Formation for the Diocese of Erie and the diocesan coordinator for the synod, is putting together a working group composed of clergy, religious and laity to study the topics raised and how they may be addressed in our own diocese. What follows is a first effort at addressing one subject that evidently requires more catechesis.

Written by Maria Caulfield, assistant chancellor, the essay on the following page was created in response to information Caulfield reviewed as she helped craft the diocesan report based on the reflections parishioners shared at synod listening sessions across northwest Pennsylvania.

“Why are there so many restrictions around receiving Communion?” people asked. “I don’t think it is right to deny anyone the Eucharist.”

The question came up a number of times in listening sessions both in 2022 and in 2024. The ongoing Eucharistic Revival in the United States creates an opportune moment to look at why the church is so protective of the Eucharist.

This is hardly a subject that can be addressed in a two-page spread of Faith magazine. So we begin by reiterating that this is the first of a two-part series. Those who wish to read the full article can find it at the diocesan synod site already referenced. The hope is that the highlights offered here will lead to a deeper moment of study for those who have questions about the church’s teaching on the Eucharist.

It is not surprising that many of us are frustrated and confused with the teaching on the Eucharist. Jesus’ followers felt the same way when he first brought up the idea of giving them his flesh to eat. In John chapter 6, Jesus addresses the same crowd who had been fed by the multiplication of the loaves and fish.

“I am the bread of life,” he said. “ …the bread that I will give is my flesh for the life of the world.” (Jn 6:35, 51) The crowd began to quarrel among themselves. “How can this man give us his flesh to eat?” But Jesus insisted: “Amen, amen, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you do not have life within you. …For my flesh is true food, and my blood is true drink. …Then many of his disciples who were listening said, ‘This saying is hard; who can accept it?’… As a result of this, many of his disciples returned to their former way of life and no longer accompanied him.” (Jn 6:53, 55, 60, 66)

Jesus did not run after them to clarify or call them back. He even asked the Apostles, “Do you also want to leave?” And the Apostles, though they did not understand what he meant either, chose to stay. Peter spoke for the group: “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life.” (John 6:67-68)

The meaning of this “Bread of Life Discourse” was revealed by the institution of the Eucharist. Hopefully we are all familiar with this key moment in Scripture, when, on the night before his passion, while celebrating the Passover with his disciples, Jesus “took the bread, said the blessing, broke it, and gave it to them, saying, ‘This is my body, which will be given for you; do this in memory of me.’ And likewise the cup after they had eaten, saying, ‘This cup is the new covenant in my blood, which will be shed for you.’” (Lk 22:19-20)

Jesus said this IS my body. This IS my blood. He did not present it as a symbol; the Eucharist is the real deal. Not content to make the church into his mystical body, he makes his own body into food for us and gives himself to us in a most profound and intimate way.

It is immensely important for Catholics to understand this fundamental truth. The Eucharist is really Jesus, even though the Eucharistic elements (the host and the wine) retain their 27 original look and taste. This is explained more fully in the Catechism of the Catholic Church, explored in the online version of this article which references CCC 1374 and CCC 1376.

But this saying is hard. Who can accept it?

It may help to remember that even those who knew him personally had trouble recognizing the Lord after his resurrection. Most of us are familiar with the story of the disciples on the way to Emmaus. The Gospel of Luke recounts that on Easter Sunday, two of Jesus’s disciples left Jerusalem to go home to Emmaus. Jesus joined them on their journey, but they didn’t recognize him.

The disciples told the apparent stranger all about Jesus, and how their hopes had been dashed by his brutal crucifixion. Then Jesus chided them for being slow to believe and interpreted for them all the Scriptures that referred to him. But still, they did not recognize him.

When they reached Emmaus, the disciples asked Jesus to stay with them. While they were at table, “He took bread, said the blessing, broke it, and gave it to them.” (Lk 24:30) This is the exact same formula that Jesus used when he first celebrated the Eucharist. With that, the disciples at last recognized him, but immediately, he vanished from their sight. Now that they realized what had happened, the two disciples went right back to Jerusalem, and “recounted what had taken place on the way and how he was made known to them in the breaking of the bread.” (Lk 24:35) The disciples, sad and discouraged, had their faith restored through the Liturgy of the Word and the Liturgy of the Eucharist. It is with the eyes of faith that we recognize our Lord in the Blessed Sacrament.

Watch for part two in the December edition of Faith, which will get back to the original questions: “If the Eucharist is so important, why don’t we let everyone receive Communion? Why so many rules?” Those who would like to see the article in its entirety right away can find it at www.ErieRCD.org/synod.html.

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