Introduction (1)

1. Introduction (1)

2. Introduction (2) Despite a growth rate exceeding _8%_ among _Pentecostal_ and _Charismatic_ Christians and more than _3.3%_ for all _Protestants, the world wide growth of Christianity is barely equal to _population_ growth. With _55%_ of those claiming Christianity also claiming _Catholicism_ its _declining_ growth overwhelms that of the _faster__growing_ but smaller _churches_ . Catholics represent an _overwhelming__majority_ of the populations of many major countries and _lesser__majorities_ or _significant_ minorities in many more.

3. Introduction (3) The fact that Catholicism is so _widespread,that Catholics are so _populous_ and have been so _prominent_ in every aspect of _humanendeavor_ over the last millennia or so suggests more than a casual connection with the _endurance_ of Christianity. Our objective is to _learn_ the basics of _Roman_ _Catholicism_ so that in _understanding_ their _beliefs, we can be more _effective_ in _presenting_ ours. Every practicing Catholic can relate to discussions of _Faith,_Doctrine_ and _ritual. Our study will consider _facts_ and _fictions,norms_ and _extremes, all in the context of one or more of these three aspects of Catholicism.

4. History (1) To Roman Catholics, the word _Church_ implies the _HierarchicalInstitution_ as well as the body of baptized Roman Catholic _members_ both living and dead. Protestants believe it is the _body_ of all _saints_ whose faith is expressed in the _Nicene__Creed_. _Elder_ and _Deacon_ are the only offices established by Scripture for _governing_ the local church. Even though the _Apostles_ provided broad _doctrinal_ guidance to the early church, Scripture makes no provision for either a governing _hierarchy_ or _council_ in the Post-Apostolic church. Through the sponsorship of _ConstantinetheGreat_ the _Roman__Church_ became the pre-dominant expression of _Christianity_ on Earth.

5. History (2) The forged _Donation_of _Constantine_ not only claimed to establish the _primacy_ of the _Roman__Church_ but granted enormous _landwealth_ and power to the Roman Patriarch, now known as the _thePope. Just as 400 years of slavery in Egypt strengthened and prepared the Hebrews for 40 years in the desert, so the _wealth,power_ and _influence_ of the Catholic Church resulting from the _fraudulent_ Donation of Constantine _preserved_ the _light_ of _faith_ through the _Dark_Ages_, the longest period of decline in the history of civilization.

6. History (3) Used of God to _preserve_ the light of _faith_ the Catholic Church soon came to believe itself to be the _dispenser_ of _grace, and the very _means_ of _Salvation. As early as the _bookofJob, man has sought to place an _intermediary_ between himself and _God. This, combined with his desire for _security_ and _political__power_ resulted in the establishment of the greatest _hierarchical__institution_ on Earth…The Roman Catholic Church.

7. The Scriptures We believe the Bible to be the inspired, the only infallible, authoritative Word of God. 2 Timothy 3:16,17 2 Peter 1:20-21 Matthew 5:18 John 16:12-13. Catholic Agreement Article of Faith Scripture Yes Part No Common Faith (1) Both _Catholics_ and _Protestants_ accept the words of _faith_ in the _Apostle’s__Creed, but have serious _disagreements_ as to their _meaning. X Although Catholics accept the authority of Scripture, _Tradition, _thePope_ and _theMagisterium_ are _equally__valid_ channels of _DivineRevelation.

8. The Godhead We believe that there is one God eternally existent in three persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Man's Creation and Fall We believe that man was created in the image and likeness of God, but that in Adam's sin the race fell, inherited a sin nature and consequent alienation from God and came under the judicial sentence of death. Deuteronomy 6:4 2 Corinthians 13:14 Genesis 1:26 Romans 3:23, 6:23 Catholic Agreement Article of Faith Scripture Yes Part No Common Faith (2) X X Catholic doctrine requires _ExNihiloCreation_ and is compatible with Article 3 below, but the concept of _TheisticEvolution_ is not only accepted, but seriously promoted. _Teachings_ on _theFall_ and it’s _consequences_ are also compatible.

9. The Person and Work of Christ We believe in the deity of our Lord Jesus Christ, in His virgin birth, sinless life, miracles, vicarious and atoning death through His shed blood, in His bodily resurrection, ascension to the right hand of the Father, and in His personal return for His church and with His church in power and glory. Romans 3:25 Hebrews 7:24-25 Titus 2:13 1 Corinthians 15 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 John 20:31 Catholic Agreement Article of Faith Scripture Yes Part No Common Faith (3) X Believing that _Mary_ died a _virgin_ the _virgin__birth_ is not a problem for Catholics. Likewise, believing that _Jesus’sacrifice_ is continually _repeated_ in _theMass, the _balance_ of Article 4 is also acceptable to Catholics.

10. The Holy Spirit We believe that the Holy Spirit, the third person of the God-head, in the present age indwells all believers in the Lord Jesus Christ, baptizes them into the body of Christ, seals them unto the day of redemption, and that every believer is commanded of God to be filled with the Holy Spirit. Acts 1:8 Romans 8:9 1 Corinthians 12:12-14 Ephesians 5:18-20 1 Corinthians 3:16-17 Catholic Agreement Article of Faith Scripture Yes Part No Common Faith (4) X The _BlessedAssurance_ of _oncesaved, always saved_ is doctrinally _unavailable_ to Catholics, plagued by _mortalsin_ and loss of _Sanctifying__Grace.

11. Salvation We believe that salvation is the gift of God brought to man by grace and received by personal faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, and that this faith is manifested in works pleasing unto God. Titus 2:11-14 Ephesians 2:8-10 John 1:12 1 John 5:11-13 Catholic Agreement Article of Faith Scripture Yes Part No Common Faith (5) X Catholic Salvation is _dispensed_ by the _Church_ from a deposit by _Christ, earned on the Cross.

12. The Church We believe that the church, which is the body and bride of Christ, is a spiritual organism made up of all born again persons in this age of grace, irrespective of their affiliation with Christian organizations. Ephesians 1:2-23; 5:25-27 1 Corinthians 12:12-14. Catholic Agreement Article of Faith Scripture Yes Part No Common Faith (6) X The role of the _Church_ is much more than a _spiritualorganism_ to the Catholic believer. To him, it is Divinely _instituted, Divinely _organized_ and Divinely _operated_ and is made up of only _baptizedbelievers.

13. The Final StateWe believe that the condition and retribution of the lost and the salvation and blessedness of the saved are conscious and everlasting. Mark 9:43-48 John 5:28-29; 11:25-26 Revelation 20:5-15. Catholic Agreement Article of Faith Scripture Yes Part No Common Faith (7) X Lack of a mention of _Purgatory_ in the Final State article will cause _discomfort_ to many Catholics. Catholic _rituals_ and _prayer_ place a strong _dependence_ on _works_ and Purgatory provides the biggest _SpiritualWorks_ program of all, allowing _weak, but not _fatallyflawed_ Catholics, “one more chance” to avoid the _loss_ of _Heaven_ and the _pains_ of _Hell.

14. Common Faith (8) But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect, keeping a clear conscience, so that those who speak maliciously against your good behavior in Christ may be ashamed of their slander. I Peter 3:15 http://www.vatican.va/ Statement of Faith Highlands Community Church

15. Differences (1) In reaching out, we will discover _Nominal, _Committed_ and _Radical_ Catholics. In addition to the Apostles’ Creed, most will hold to certain _fundamentalbeliefs_ such as _Purgatory, the _infallibility_ of the _Pope, the _truepresence_ in the _Eucharist, the _Sacrifice_ of the _Mass, and the Church’s _teachings_ concerning the _intercessory_ role of _Mary. With a _worldview_ based on their Catholic _foundations, a _Nominal_ Catholic might see _fight_ or _flight, as their only alternatives when their faith is _challenged.

16. Differences (2) Dialog with a _Committed_ Catholic can be _rewarding_ to _both. The one if _salvation_ is found, the other when _faith_ has grown and _prayer__life_ deepened. Radical Catholics will often be the _bestinformed, _best read_ and most _committed_ to their faith. Most also reject the reforms of _Vatican II.

17. Differences (3) From the Catholic Encyclopedia: Catholics, on the other hand, hold that there may be, that there is in fact, and that there must of necessity be certain revealed truths apart from those contained in the Bible; they hold furthermore that Jesus Christ has established in fact, and that to adapt the means to the end He should have established, a living organ as much to transmit Scripture and written Revelation as to place revealed truth within reach of everyone always and everywhere. Tradition and the Living Magisterium, The Catholic Encyclopedia

18. Differences (4) May new truths enter the current of tradition, and what is the part of the magisterium with regard to revelations which God may yet make? How is this official magisterium organized, and how is it to recognize a Divine tradition or revealed truth? What is its proper rôle with regard to tradition? Where and how are revealed truths preserved and transmitted? What befalls the deposit of tradition in its transmission through the ages? Tradition and the Living Magisterium, The Catholic Encyclopedia

19. Differences (5) Then some Pharisees and teachers of the law came to Jesus from Jerusalem and asked, "Why do your disciples break the tradition of the elders? They don't wash their hands before they eat!" Jesus replied, "And why do you break the command of God for the sake of your tradition? For God said, `Honor your father and mother' and `Anyone who curses his father or mother must be put to death'. But you say that if a man says to his father or mother, `Whatever help you might otherwise have received from me is a gift devoted to God, he is not to honor his father with it'. Thus you nullify the word of God for the sake of your tradition. You hypocrites! Isaiah was right when he prophesied about you: "These people honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me. They worship me in vain; their teachings are but rules taught by men". Matthew 15:1-9  …thus invalidating the word of God by your tradition which you have handed down; and you do many things such as that. Mark. 7:13

20. Differences (6) Central to Catholic Doctrine is the _authority_ of _SacredTradition, which is held to be _equivalent_ or even _superior_ to _Scripture_ itself. For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received, that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, whether then it was I or they, so we preach and so you believed. 1 Corinthians 15:3, 11 The things which you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses, entrust these to faithful men who will be able to teach others also. 2 Tim 2:2

21. Differences (7) So then, brothers, stand firm and hold to the teachings (traditions) we passed on to you, whether by word of mouth or by letter. 2 Thessalonians 2:15 I praise you for remembering me in everything and for holding to the teachings (traditions), just as I passed them on to you. 1 Corinthians 11:2 And there are also many other things which Jesus did, which if they were written in detail, I suppose that even the world itself would not contain the books that would be written. John 21:25

22. Differences (8) And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou, Simon Barjona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven. And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. And I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven. Matthew 16:17-19, KJV

23. Differences (9) 1st - Use Human Reason to confirm the historical accuracy of the Bible. 2nd - Claim that the historically reliable Bible instituted an infallible Church (Matt. 16). 3rd - The infallible Church declares the Bible to be Divinely inspired.

24. Differences (10) The Catholic Church first argues the _historical reliability_ of the _Bible, then quotes _Matt 16:17-19_ to prove that Christ established an _infalliblechurch_ which then _infalliblydeclares_ that the Bible is _inspired. Neither the Catholic Church nor _thePapacy_ was _founded. Both _evolved_ out of the _cultural, _political_ and _spiritual_ conditions of the _post-Apostolic_ Roman Empire as _piouselders_ were replaced by _politicallymotivated Bishops and Emperors elevated the _Bishops_ of _Rome_ to solidify their _Christian Flank.

25. Differences (11) The Empire of Constantine

26. Differences (12) Herein we discover one of the grand springs of the Papacy. As the free states that formerly existed in the world had rendered up their wealth, their independence, and their deities, to form one colossal empire, why, asked the bishops of Rome, should not the various churches throughout the world surrender their individuality and their powers of self-government to the metropolitan see, in order to form one mighty Catholic Church? Why should not Christian Rome be the fountain of law and of faith to the world, as Pagan Rome had been? Why should not the symbol of unity presented to the world in the secular empire be realized in the real unity of a Christian empire? If the occupant of the temporal throne had been a king of kings, why should not the occupant of the spiritual chair be a bishop of bishops? That the bishops of Rome reasoned in this way is a historical fact. History of the Papacy, Ch 2 - Rev. J.A. Wylie, LL.D, 1850.

27. Differences (13) The Catholic Church applies _humanreason_ to establish the Bible as _historicallyaccurate. The HA Bible shows Christ establishing the _infalliblechurch on _Peter_ the _Rock.The IC then declares the Bible is _inspired, using _traditionalsources_ to establish the _Canon_ of _Scripture. The Catholic Church claims _revealedtruth_ is passed on by the Bible and _SacredTradition. It claims Divinely granted _TeachingAuthority_ through the _Living Magisterium, the _Pope_ and the _Bishops_ which allow it to _faithfully_ and _accurately__interpret_ its meaning.

28. Tradition Teaching Authority Magisterium Differences (14) The Circle of Tradition • Tradition establishes the Living Magisterium • The Magisterium claims the Teaching Authority of the Church based on Tradition. • The Magisterium validates Tradition as a source of Divine Revelation.

29. Differences (15) _Sola Scriptura_ and _PapalInfallibility_ represent two ways to guarantee the _fidelity_ of _Divine Revelation. In the first, believers must trust the inspiration of a _fixedCanon_ in the second, a _Living Magisterium. [The Holy Spirit's] words cannot have more than one, and that the very simplest sense, which we call the literal, ordinary, natural sense. . . . We are not to say that the Scriptures or the Word of God have more than one meaning. . . We are not to introduce any . . . metaphorical, figurative sayings into any text of Scripture, unless the particulars of the words compel us to do so.. . . For if anyone at all were to have power to depart from the pure, simple words and to make inferences and figures of speech wherever he wished. . . [then] no one could reach any certain conclusions about . . . any article of faith. . . Martin Luther

30. Differences (16) “…A Dogma is understood to be a truth appertaining to faith or morals, revealed by God, transmitted from the Apostles in the Scriptures or by Tradition, and…proposed by the Church for the acceptance of the faithful…some theologians confine the word defined to doctrines solemnly defined by the pope or by a general council, while a revealed truth becomes a dogma even when proposed by the Church through her ordinary magisterium or teaching office. A dogma therefore implies a twofold relation: to Divine revelation and to the authoritative teaching of the Church.” Dogma, The Catholic Catechism A _doctrine_ is a statement defining an organization’s underlying _philosophical_ positions. A _Dogma_ is a _doctrine_ on _steroids. Roman Catholics are required, under the _pain_ of _mortal sin_ to believe ALL _Dogmas_ promulgated by the Church.

31. 0 - 50 - 100 - 150 - 200 - 250 - 300 - 350 - 400 - 450 - 500 - 550 - 600 - 650 - 700 - 750 - 800 - 850 - 900 - 950 - 1000 - 1050 - 1100 - 1150 - 1200 - 1250 - 1300 - 1350 - 1400 - 1450 - 1500 - 1550 - 1600 - 1650 - 1700 - 1750 - 1800 - 1850 - 1123 Lateran I 1139 Lateran II 1179 Lateran III 1215 Lateran IV 1245 Lyons I 325 Nicaea I 1274 Lyons II 1311 Vienne 381 Constantinople I 431 Ephesus I 1414 Constance 451 Chalcedon I 1431 Basel-Ferrara-Florence 1512 Lateran V 553 Constantinople II 1545 Trent 680 Constantinople III 1869 Vatican I 787 Nicaea II 869 Constantinople IV Differences (17)

32. Differences (18) “And what about the beginnings of the "prestige" of these councils? That is, of the idea that what bishops collectively agree is law has a binding force that is greater than any of their individual instructions to their own see.” The Church in Crisis: A History of the General Councils, 325-1870, Monsignor Phillip Hughes “…it is a safe statement that from the moment when history first shows us the Church of Christ as an institution, the exclusive right of the Church to state with finality what should be believed as Christ's teaching is manifestly taken for granted.” ibid “…having fixed these arrangements by decrees that are inviolable," and says, "These arrangements were made by the bishops at Nicaea under divine inspiration." ibid “…as I receive and venerate the four books of the Gospels, so I do the four councils," which he proceeds to list: Nicaea in 325, Constantinople in 381, Ephesus 431, Chalcedon 451. These, he says, "are the four squared stone on which the structure of the holy faith arises.” ibid

33. Differences (19) I unhesitatingly accept and profess all the doctrines handed down, defined, and explained by the sacred canons and ecumenical councils and especially those of this most holy Council of Trent. Council of Trent, Tridentine Statement of Faith We teach and define that it is a dogma divinely revealed: that the Roman Pontiff, when he speaks ex cathedra, that is, when, in discharge of the office of pastor and teacher of all Christians, by virtue of his supreme Apostolic authority, he defines a doctrine regarding faith or morals to be held by the universal Church, is, by the divine assistance promised to him in Blessed Peter, possessed of that infallibility with which the divine Redeemer willed that His Church should be endowed in defining doctrine regarding faith or morals; and that, therefore, such definitions of the Roman Pontiff are of themselves, and not from the consent of the Church, irreformable. Session 4, Chapter 4. On the infallible teaching authority of the Roman pontiff, Vatican I

34. Pope Gregory IX (ca 1234) presents the book of canon law from “the Chair”. Differences (20) I unhesitatingly accept and profess all the doctrines handed down, defined, and explained by the sacred canons and ecumenical councils and especially those of this most holy Council of Trent. Council of Trent, Tridentine Statement of Faith I unhesitatingly accept and profess all the doctrines (especially those concerning theprimacyoftheRoman Pontiffandhisinfallibleteachingauthority) handed down, defined, and explained by the sacred canons and ecumenical councils and especially those of this most holy Council of Trent. Council of Trent Tridentine Statement of Faith, as revised by Pope Pius IX, 1877

35. Differences (21) Office: The Pope must be speaking or writing from his position as supreme or universal pastor, not simply as a private theologian, or bishop, etc. Mode: He must be defining a doctrine, not merely explaining, commenting, observing, exhorting or discussing, etc. In defining, he conclusively pronounces a doctrine with precision... Content: The doctrine must concern faith or morals. It need not be a revealed doctrine; it may be something already known by human reason Recipient: It must be addressed to all the Church, not merely one segment of her. From an essay by by Father Peter Joseph in Our Sunday Visitor The Doctrine of _Infallibility, though practiced and tacitly accepted for hundreds of years, was not _Dogmatically_ declared until the _FirstVatican_ Council in _1870.

36. The Sacrifice of the Mass (1) The word Mass is derived from the Latin dimissio which is used in ItaMissaest the words of dismissal at the end of the Roman ceremony. For Christ died for sins once for all, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God. He was put to death in the body but made alive by the Spirit… I Peter 3:18 Then Melchizedek king of Salem brought out bread and wine. He was priest of God Most High… Gen 14:18

37. The Sacrifice of the Mass (2) The Lord has sworn and will not change his mind: "You are a priest forever, in the order of Melchizedek." Ps 110:4 The RCC identifies the offering of bread and wine in the _upper room_with the _high priestly offering of the same _elements by _Melchisedech,King of _Salem . “…He (Jesus) unfitted His body to hold His blood and unfitted His Blood to abide in His body; and, in consequence, unfitted both body and blood to continue in union with His human soul.” Fr. Richard Grace, “The Sacrifice of Christ

38. The Sacrifice of the Mass (3) When Jesus gave the bread and wine to His disciples, He made the sacrifice of Himself and became a victim commanding them to repeat that sacrifice with every celebration of the bread and wine. When He died on the cross, He made public the act of sacrifice actually performed in the upper room, and fixed Himself in the state of a perpetual victim The Mass then is the continuedrepetition on earth of the HighPriestly work of Christ, offering Himself in sacrifice under the appearance of bread and wine. It is not a remembrance, but apropitiatorysacrifice offered for sin and to obtain eternallife for both the living and the dead

39. The Sacrifice of the Mass (4) Now it is the express teaching of Scripture that Christ is "a priest for ever according to the order [kata ten taxin] of Melchisedech" (Ps. cix, 4; Heb., v, 5 sq; vii, 1 sqq ). Christ, however, in no way resembled his priestly prototype in His bloody sacrifice on the Cross, but only and solely at His Last Supper. On that occasion He likewise made an unbloody food-offering, only that, as Antitype, He accomplished something more than a mere oblation of bread and wine, namely the sacrifice of His Body and Blood under the mere forms of bread and wine. Otherwise, the shadows cast before by the "good things to come" would have been more perfect than the things themselves, and the antitype at any rate no richer in reality than the type. Since the Mass is nothing else than a continual repetition, commanded by Christ Himself, of the Sacrifice accomplished at the Last Supper, it follows that the Sacrifice of the Mass partakes of the New testament fulfilment of the prophecy of Melchisedech. (Concerning the Paschal Lamb as the second type of the Mass, see Bellarmine, "De Euchar.", V, vii; cf. also von Cichowski, "Das altestamentl. Pascha in seinem Verhaltnis zum Opfer Christi", Munich, 1849.) The Catholic Encyclopedia (On Melchesedech)

40. The Sacrifice of the Mass (5) “14Just as Moses lifted up the snake in the desert, so the Son of Man must be lifted up, 15that everyone who believes in him may have eternal life.” John 3:14-15 “… bore our sins in his body on the tree…”I Pet 2:24 “… no need for daily repeated sacrifices …”Heb 7:26-27 “… once for all…”Heb 9:11-14 “… one sacrifice…”Heb 10:12 “… by one offering…”Heb 10:14 “… no longer any offering for sin…”Heb 10:18

41. The Sacrifice of the Mass (6) “8Now if we died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with him. 9For we know that since Christ was raised from the dead, he cannot die again; death no longer has mastery over him. 10The death he died, he died to sin once for all; but the life he lives, he lives to God.” Rom 6: 8-10 “But any sin offering whose blood is brought into the Tent of Meeting to make atonement in the Holy Place must not be eaten; it must be burned.” Lev 6: 30

42. The Sacrifice of the Mass (7) “10 "Oh, that one of you would shut the temple doors, so that you would not light useless fires on my altar! I am not pleased with you," says the LORD Almighty, "and I will accept no offering from your hands.11 My name will be great among the nations, from the rising to the setting of the sun. In every place incense and pure offerings will be brought to my name, because my name will be great among the nations," says the LORD Almighty. Mal 1:10-11 The Church says that in these verses God promises to abolish Levitical sacrifices and institute an entirely new sacrifice. DO YOU AGREE? “…that the early Church paid most attention to the spiritual and subjective side of sacrifice and laid chief stress on prayer and thanksgiving in the Eucharistic function.” The Sacrifice of the Mass The Catholic Encyclopedia

43. The Sacrifice of the Mass (8) The modern Church reluctantly acknowledges that the early church focused more on prayer and thanksgiving and less on the Eucharistic Sacrifice . "If anyone say that the sacraments of the New Law do not contain the grace which they signify, or that they do not confer grace on those who place no obstacle to the same, let him be anathema" (Sess. viii, can.vi). "If anyone say that grace is not conferred by the sacraments ex opere operato but that faith in God's promises is alone sufficient for obtaining grace, let him be anathema" Council of Trent The CC teaches that the store of grace earned by Jesus, is dispensed by the Church through the Sacraments one of which is the Eucharist .

44. The Sacrifice of the Mass (9) The word Eucharist is derived from the Greek word for thanksgiving . 1378 Worship of the Eucharist. In the liturgy of the Mass we express our faith in the real presence of Christ under the species of bread and wine by, among other ways, genuflecting or bowing deeply as a sign of adoration of the Lord. "The Catholic Church has always offered and still offers to the sacrament of the Eucharist the cult of adoration, not only during Mass, but also outside of it, reserving the consecrated hosts with the utmost care, exposing them to the solemn veneration of the faithful, and carrying them in procession."[206] Catechism of the Catholic Church, Article 3, The Sacrament of the Eucharist

45. The Sacrifice of the Mass (10) Where the Sacrifice of the Mass is a transitory act the Sacrament of the Eucharist remains as long as the consecrated elements exist. "With regard to the power of the priests over the real body of Christ, it is of faith that when they pronounce the words of consecration, the incarnate God has obliged himself to obey and come into their hands under the appearance of bread and wine. We are struck with wonder when we find that in obedience to the words of his priests - hoc est corpus meum - God Himself descends on the altar, and that He comes whenever they call Him, and as often as they call Him, and places Himself in their hands, even though they should be His enemies. And after having come He remains entirely at their disposal and they move Him about as they please from one place to another. They may, if they wish, shut Him up in the tabernacle, or expose Him on the altar, or carry Him outside the church; they may, if they choose, eat His flesh, and give Him for the food of others." St. Alphonsus Liguori (Founder of the Redemptorist missionary order)

46. The Sacrifice of the Mass (11) Transubstantiation takes place in the act of Consecration when the priest elevates the bread and wine and says “this is my body” and “this is the cup of my blood”. Contrary to the Biblical standard of Divinely provided physical evidence of miraculous events, the miracle of Transubstantiation demands the opposite…that believers deny their God given reason and senses.

47. The Sacrifice of the Mass (12) 51"I am the living bread that came down out of heaven; if anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever; and the bread also which I will give for the life of the world is My flesh." 52Then the Jews began to argue with one another, saying, "How can this man give us His flesh to eat?" 53So Jesus said to them, "Truly, truly, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink His blood, you have no life in yourselves. 54"He who eats My flesh and drinks My blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day. 55"For My flesh is true food, and My blood is true drink. 56"He who eats My flesh and drinks My blood abides in Me, and I in him. 57"As the living Father sent Me, and I live because of the Father, so he who eats Me, he also will live because of Me. 58"This is the bread which came down out of heaven; not as the fathers ate and died; he who eats this bread will live forever." 59These things He said in the synagogue as He taught in Capernaum.John 6:51-59

48. The Sacrifice of the Mass (13) 33"For the bread of God is that which comes down out of heaven, and gives life to the world." 34Then they said to Him, "Lord, always give us this bread." 35Jesus said to them, "I am the bread of life; he who comes to Me will not hunger, and he who believes in Me will never thirst. John 6:33-36 61But Jesus, conscious that His disciples grumbled at this, said to them, "Does this cause you to stumble? 62"What then if you see the Son of Man ascending to where He was before? 63" It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh profits nothing; the words that I have spoken to you are spirit and are life. John 6:61-63

49. The Sacrifice of the Mass (14) The CC proposes that John 6:51-59 presents a cannibalistic and ritualistic problem that is solved by the institution of the Eucharist at the Last Supper. Vs. 33-35 and 61-63 clearly establish the spiritual vs. carnal nature of Christ’s words. The next five quotes all demonstrate the Church’s ambivalence about the form and content Communion. With the exception of the 4th one, they are all from Deliniation of Roman Catholicism by Dr. C. Elliot. The cup was withheld from the laity at the Council of Constance (1415). The Council of Trent said, "Whoever shall say that it is a commandment of God that every Christian should receive the Eucharist under both kinds, let him be accursed," Pope Leo I (440) declared that to abstain from the chalice was heresy;

50. The Sacrifice of the Mass (15) Gelasius I (492) ordered that Communion should be administered in both kinds; Paschal (1118) added, "which custom we therefore teach and command to be always observed in Holy Church" (Roman Catholicism, Boettner, page 188). Pope Gregory the Great (598-604) said, "Cursed be anyone that does not receive both and teaches others not to take both bread and wine The CC has been ambivalent on communion of both species, at one time proclaiming the necessity of receiving bread and wine, at another only the bread. 26For whenever you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord's death until he comes. I Cor 11: 26