Errors of the Catholic Mass
READING TIME: 18 MINUTES
The following are the notes to the discussion found at this link (https://www.facebook.com/tammy.cheetham.77/videos/331195654046816/) for anyone who would like to study the subject more in depth.
I just wanted to say it’s been on our hearts to have some discussions concerning the various errors of the Catholic church for quite some time. So, from time to time we’ll be choosing a different topic and presenting some of the problems with it. This is not to say our discussions are comprehensive, but we hope to present some of the important points and then we encourage people to study God’s Word and see if the catechisms of the Catholic church line up. There obviously is a lot of material out there whether in article or video form so some people might wonder why we’re even preparing these discussions. But, what we’ve found is that some of the best ministries to expose Catholicism are Calvinist in nature and we absolutely don’t want to point people in that direction.
So, we want to begin by giving a description of the mass from the Catholic culture.org website and then we’ll go from there. The Sacrifice of the Eucharist, or the Mass, is the central act of worship of the Catholic Church. "Mass" is a late form of the Latin word missio (meaning sending), from which the faithful are sent to put into practice what they have learned and use the graces they have received in the Eucharistic liturgy. (Just to explain, Eucharist, mass, Lord’s Supper, Communion and so forth, are used interchangeably).
The Mass cannot be understood apart from Calvary, of which it is a re-presentation, memorial, and effective application of the merits gained by Christ.
The re-presentation means that because Christ is really present in heaven and on the altar, he is capable now as he was on Good Friday of freely offering himself to the Father. He can no longer die because he now has a glorified body, but the essence of his oblation remains the same.
The Mass is also a memorial. Christ's death is commemorated not only as a psychological remembrance but as a mystical reality. He voluntarily offers himself, the eternal high priest, as he did on Calvary.
Finally, the Mass is the divinely ordained means of applying the merits of Calvary. Christ won for the world all the graces it needs for salvation and sanctification. But these blessings are conferred gradually and continually since Calvary and mainly through the Mass. Their measure of conferral is in proportion to the faith and loving response of the faithful who unite themselves in spirit with the Mass. (https://www.catholicculture.org/culture/library/dictionary/index.cfm?id=34771)
Sister Tammy, would you discuss the points you have been studying at this time?
The Catholic Church states in their Catechisms that the mass is propitiatory, meaning that the actual act of this is what pays for people’s sin to be forgiven. They also believe that the body and the blood are literal when the bible makes it clear these were symbolic. We will discuss these points and the biblical evidence to refute these errors.
According to the Catechism of the Catholic Church, paragraph 1366, "The Eucharist is thus a sacrifice because it re-presents (makes present) the sacrifice of the cross, because it is its memorial and because it applies its fruit."
The catechism continues in paragraph 1367:
The sacrifice of Christ and the sacrifice of the Holy Eucharist are one single sacrifice: "The victim is one and the same: the same now offers through the ministry of priests, who then offered himself on the cross; only the manner of offering is different." "And since in this divine sacrifice which is celebrated in the Mass, the same Christ who offered himself once in a bloody manner on the altar of the cross is contained and is offered in an unbloody manner . . . this sacrifice is truly propitiatory."
Eating Christ's flesh and drinking His blood are symbols of fully receiving His sacrifice on our behalf, by grace through faith.
“If anyone says that the sacrifice of the mass is one only of praise and thanksgiving; or that it is a mere commemoration of the sacrifice consummated on the cross but not a propitiatory one; or that it profits him only who receives, and ought not to be offered for the living and the dead, for sins, punishments, satisfactions, and other necessities, let him be anathema.”[5] The Canons and Decrees of the Council of Trent, Tr. by Rev. H. J. Schroeder, O.P. (Rockford, IL 61105: Tan Books and Publishers, Inc., 1978) Canon 3, p. 149
When you remember something, such as the sacrifice of Jesus through the communion we have as Christians, this doesn’t mean that act becomes propitiatory like the Roman Catholic Church states. The Catholic Church seem to have a problem with this in so many ways and try to spiritualize the act of the mass to somehow think they can make present the actual physical body and blood of Jesus, which is unscriptural and a sacrificing of Jesus over and over. It is cannibalism in a sense if this is the way they see it becoming the actual body and blood of Jesus, however much some want to say otherwise. The overall system of the Catholic Church is not according to the Bible and they have another Jesus as we are continuously warning about, yet these errors are what seem to deceive people into accepting the overall system as the enemy comes as close to biblical truth (yet twisted) as possible. We need to be sober minded and vigilant as we continue to refute these antichrist systems.
I will just share with you a few Scriptures that refute these unbiblical concepts and we will go on to discuss a little bit more as we go along:
1 Corinthians 11:24-26 And when he had given thanks, he brake it, and said, Take, eat: this is my body, which is broken for you: this do in remembrance of me. After the same manner also he took the cup, when he had supped, saying, this cup is the new testament in my blood: this do ye, as oft as ye drink it, in remembrance of me. For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do shew the Lord's death till he come. - notice that Paul refers to the bread, after consecration, as still being “bread,” not the literal body of Christ under the appearance of bread.
John 19:30 When Jesus therefore had received the vinegar, he said, It is finished: and he bowed his head, and gave up the ghost.
Hebrews 7:27 Who needeth not daily, as those high priests, to offer up sacrifice, first for his own sins, and then for the people's: for this he did once, when he offered up himself.
Hebrews 9:25-26 Nor yet that he should offer himself often, as the high priest entereth into the holy place every year with blood of others; For then must he often have suffered since the foundation of the world: but now once in the end of the world hath he appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself.
Romans 5:10-11 For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life. And not only so, but we also joy in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom we have now received the atonement.
Romans 3:25 Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God;
Hebrews 2:17 Wherefore in all things it behoved him to be made like unto his brethren, that he might be a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, to make reconciliation for the sins of the people.
1 John 4:10 Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins.
These scriptures state the sacrifice of Jesus is what makes propitiation for our sin, not an act of the mass or even the Christian communion which are poles apart. But the concept of us partaking of a remembrance of Jesus death on the cross is not what will pay for our sins. Jesus paid once for them and He said it is finished.
As I have stated, the Catholic Church belief is that the Scriptures in John 6:54-55 Whoso eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, hath eternal life; and I will raise him up at the last day. For my flesh is meat indeed, and my blood is drink indeed - is meaning that these become literal, referred to as transubstantiation which means the conversion of the substance of the Eucharistic elements into the body and blood of Christ at consecration, only the appearances of bread and wine still remaining. – to refute this I would like to share from an article I read about this and of course with the things already shared and scriptures to prove just some more to back up this error –
Drinking Jesus’ literal blood violates biblical prohibitions on drinking blood. In both the Old and New Testaments we see prohibition of drinking blood. If one adopts Rome’s literalistic view of transubstantiation, they have to believe they are violating these commands. In Leviticus 17:14 for example we read: “For as for the life of all flesh, its blood is identified with its life. Therefore I said to the sons of Israel, You are not to eat the blood of any flesh, for the life of all flesh is its blood; whoever eats it shall be cut off.” Leviticus 17:10 also forbids the eating of “any blood.” This is significant because part of Jesus’ mission was to obey the Law perfectly as the spotless Lamb (see Galatians 4:4; Luke 3:22; Hebrews 4:15; 7:26; 1 Peter 1:19; 2:22; 3:18). For Catholics to claim Jesus engaged in and allowed His disciples to drink literal blood would be to say before the institution of the New Covenant Jesus engaged in the breaking of the Mosaic Law and was hence not a spotless lamb who perfectly obeyed the Law. The New Covenant was not instituted until Jesus’ blood was shed on the cross (see Luke 22:10; Hebrews 9:15-16). Therefore, Rome’s idea forces one to believe prior to the doing away with the Old Covenant and Mosaic Law, Jesus engaged in and allowed the violation of it. What is more, even according to Jesus’ New Covenant rules, drinking blood is forbidden. Hence, the case is settled clearly on this issue. The conclusion of the Acts 15 council was that Gentiles, like Jews, were not to drink blood (Acts 15:20). Acts 21:25 confirms the same thing. If Jesus was speaking symbolically about His blood being wine we are to drink then the biblical mandate is not violated. But if one agrees with the literalistic Roman view then it definitely is.
Rome’s view is cannibalism. If Rome is right about the bread being the literal body of Christ, and that Catholics actually eat it, then this is cannibalism.
Elements still called “bread and wine” even after alleged transubstantiation in New Testament. In Matthew 26:26-28 Jesus says the bread and wine were His body and blood (what Rome calls consecrating the elements). However, if transubstantiation is true and this was literal, why does Jesus then continue to identify the wine as “fruit of the vine,” i.e., mere wine, (unfermented) in v. 29? Similarly, after mentioning consecration in 1 Corinthians 11:24-25, why does Paul continue to refer to the elements simply “bread” and “the cup” in vv. 26-27. This is inconsistent with the Roman view that a literal change in substance has taken place.
Some Catholics have used Hebrews 9:23 to say that the Mass is a propitiatory sacrifice, they say that Christ is presenting sacrifices (plural) in heaven, which is just way off from the biblical meaning of this verse!
Hebrews 9:23 - It was therefore necessary that the patterns of things in the heavens should be purified with these; but the heavenly things themselves with better sacrifices than these.
As Catholic, Robert Sungenis, wrote:
Since Heb. 9:23-24 clearly teaches that some kind of blood sacrifice is occurring presently in heaven, and since such sacrifice would constitute the ongoing work of Christ's eternal priesthood, we are not surprised to see Heb. 9:23's use of the plural word "sacrifices" in the phrase "with better sacrifices than these" in reference to Christ's present work. Since Heb. 9:22 introduced "blood" into the text as that which forgives sins, then Heb. 9:23 would simply mean: "but the heavenly things themselves with better blood sacrifices than these." St. Paul is comparing and contrasting the Old Covenant "blood sacrifices" with the New Covenant "blood sacrifices." (Robert A. Sungenis, Not by Bread Alone: The Biblical and Historical Evidence for the Eucharistic Sacrifice [2d ed.; Catholic Apologetics International Publishing Inc., 2009], 66-69 [pp.67-68 are part of a lengthy footnote])
This is wrong because the bible clearly states in these verses that ONE TIME SACRIFICE was a COMPLETED work:
For in that he died, he did unto sin once: but in that he liveth, he liveth unto God. (Rom 6:10)
Who needeth not daily, as those high priests, to offer up sacrifice first for his own sins, and then for the people’s: for this he did once, when he offered up himself. (Heb. 7:27)
Neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood he entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption. (Heb. 9:12)
By the which will we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all. (Heb. 10:10)
The author of Hebrews is simply using the plural number for the sake of contrast, between the plural Old Covenant sacrifices and the once-for-all sacrifice of the New Covenant. No further application is required.
Thank you so much, sister Tammy, for all that important information.
Going on from what you have presented concerning their beliefs that the bread and wine are the literal body and blood of Jesus, the Catholic church states that the bread and wine are to be worshiped and venerated as God. The Council of Trent stated Catholics should “give to this most holy sacrament in veneration the worship of latria, which is due to the true God” (Decree Concerning the Most Holy Sacrament of the Eucharist, Thirteenth Session, Ch. 5, The Worship and Veneration to be Shown to this Most Holy Sacrament, The Canons and Decrees of the Council of Trent, trans. H. J. Schroeder, [TAN Books and Publishers, 1978], p. 76). Latria is a theological term (Latin Latrīa, from the Greek λατρεία, latreia) used in Eastern Orthodox and Roman Catholic theology to mean adoration, a reverence directed only to the Holy Trinity.
This is from Catholic Catechism 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."
However, we read the following in Exodus 20:4-5: “Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth. Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them: for I the Lord thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me.” Here God prohibits the worship of objects, even those said to represent him. The command rules out the worship of “an image in the form of anything in heaven.” The Eucharist is an image of Christ in heaven. As defined by the Catholic Church, it is the Son of God under the appearances of bread and wine. So they are breaking this commandment with every observance of mass.
Another important verse to consider is Isa. 42:8. This says, “I am the LORD: that is my name: and my glory will I not give to another, neither my praise to graven images.” If Jesus wanted us to worship bread as His body He would be contradicting this scripture, obviously something He would never do.
Here are two points from a website of a man who was a Catholic for over 30 years and now preaches the gospel to Catholics whenever he can. The first point is some people will assume eating and drinking have to be literal, but they can be figurative – Jer. 15:16 says, “Thy words were found, and I did eat them; and thy word was unto me the joy and rejoicing of mine heart.”
The second point is while on earth, Jesus was never omnipresent physically; this only occurs spiritually. So, then why should we expect Him to be physically omnipresent in hosts all over the world at the same time?
And, concerning Jesus’ physical body, it is in heaven according to the following scriptures. You gave a couple of these already, sister Tammy, but they bear repeating:
Mark 16:19 So then after the Lord had spoken unto them, He was received up into heaven, and sat on the right hand of God.
Acts 1:11 Which also said, Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven? this same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven.
1 Peter 3:22 Who is gone into heaven, and is on the right hand of God; angels and authorities and powers being made subject unto Him.
Hebrews 9:24 For Christ is not entered into the holy places made with hands, which are the figures of the true; but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us:
Hebrews 10:12-14 But this man, after He had offered one sacrifice for sins for ever, sat down on the right hand of God; From henceforth expecting till his enemies be made His footstool. For by one offering He hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified.
Here are just a few more points:
The Apostle Paul says the following in 2 Cor. 5:16: "Wherefore henceforth know we no man after the flesh: yea, though we have known Christ after the flesh, yet now henceforth know we Him no more." So, Paul said even though Christ had been known after the flesh by those who had obviously seen Him, He no longer was known after the flesh. Now, why would Paul say this if Jesus’ flesh was truly “present” on the altar at each communion?
Sister Tammy, you read catechism 1367 earlier which states that Jesus is “offered in an unbloody manner” in the mass. Well, doesn’t this statement then deny that the wine has been turned into Jesus’ blood? I mean that is a clear inconsistency.
The mass wafer even when "transubstantiated" into the body of Christ soon corrupts. This is contrary to Psalm 16:9-11 (which is quoted in Acts 2:27) which declares that His body would not see corruption...!
Next, I want to mention a few examples of something called Eucharistic Adoration. There is so much information about this that we will do a separate discussion at some point, but for the purposes of this discussion I will just introduce it.
According to an article entitled “What is Eucharistic Adoration?” this is when a priest takes a consecrated host and places it in a monstrance (monstrance comes from the Latin “monstrare” to show, to expose, to view). The monstrance is then placed in front of the tabernacle (an ornate box which holds the monstrance and any consecrated hosts) or on the altar of the church or chapel for adoration.
What actually happens during adoration? You may sign up to be an “adorer” which allows you to schedule yourself for one or more hours per week to pray before the very presence of Our Lord, exposed in the monstrance. It means that you can have some time alone with Jesus, to recite your favorite prayers, read the Bible, contemplate acts of faith, hope, charity, thanksgiving, reparation, pray a rosary or do whatever type of prayerful devotion that suits you before Our Lord. You can just sit and say nothing simply keeping Him company, just as you would with a dear friend.” (From “What is Eucharistic Adoration?” www.medjugorje. org/adore.htm)
And, then, we have this from Los Angeles Auxiliary Bishop David O’Connell: “I think we need to promote eucharistic adoration more and more at parishes — for people to just come and talk to Jesus, and be close to them. Let them be as close as they can to the monstrance. Let them talk, because he will really touch their hearts. There’s a heart that beats in the Blessed Sacrament that is filled with love for them.
We keep talking about the Eucharist being the source of our salvation, of all love, of all healing, of all consolation. … And I think, especially, we want to encourage families to come to the Blessed Sacrament, and it will heal them.
I tell families, “Talk to Jesus with your families. Each one of you, say something to Jesus. Just two of you uniting a voice to talk to Jesus, you’re bringing the living presence of Jesus into your home. And you feel it. But what’s more so is when you let the Eucharist touch your heart. And just love Jesus in the Eucharist.” (https://angelusnews.com/content/our-lady-loves-the-suffering-children-and-she-wants-us-to-respond-in-love)
And, then, at the site, www.savior.org we read: “This site’s mission is that of increasing awareness and devotion to our Lord in the Most Blessed Sacrament. We also seek to bring the live image of His living Presence to the homebound, the workplace, and to remote areas around the world.”
Here is one testimony from this site: “I know that this will sound crazy, but I guess I should start from the beginning. Tonight was the first time I prayed my rosary in front of Jesus online. Right after I finished saying the rosary. I saw a distinct face. I can still see his eyes, crown of thorns, nose and beard. I cannot explain it, but I guess he must be very pleased with your work. I am not crazy. I do go adore Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament in person where I live, but just wanted to pray in front of him at home tonight on your site rather than not adoring him at all. When I came to write to you I still saw his face. I will be telling many other people about what a blessing your site is to all around the world.” (And, we will give more examples like this when we have a separate discussion on Eucharistic adoration. But, mainly, again, all of this is idolatrous. Well, sister Tammy, that is all I have for this time. I just pray Catholics will research what it is they believe and I pray for people to witness to Catholics because they believe in another Jesus.)
READING TIME: 18 MINUTES
The following are the notes to the discussion found at this link (https://www.facebook.com/tammy.cheetham.77/videos/331195654046816/) for anyone who would like to study the subject more in depth.
I just wanted to say it’s been on our hearts to have some discussions concerning the various errors of the Catholic church for quite some time. So, from time to time we’ll be choosing a different topic and presenting some of the problems with it. This is not to say our discussions are comprehensive, but we hope to present some of the important points and then we encourage people to study God’s Word and see if the catechisms of the Catholic church line up. There obviously is a lot of material out there whether in article or video form so some people might wonder why we’re even preparing these discussions. But, what we’ve found is that some of the best ministries to expose Catholicism are Calvinist in nature and we absolutely don’t want to point people in that direction.
So, we want to begin by giving a description of the mass from the Catholic culture.org website and then we’ll go from there. The Sacrifice of the Eucharist, or the Mass, is the central act of worship of the Catholic Church. "Mass" is a late form of the Latin word missio (meaning sending), from which the faithful are sent to put into practice what they have learned and use the graces they have received in the Eucharistic liturgy. (Just to explain, Eucharist, mass, Lord’s Supper, Communion and so forth, are used interchangeably).
The Mass cannot be understood apart from Calvary, of which it is a re-presentation, memorial, and effective application of the merits gained by Christ.
The re-presentation means that because Christ is really present in heaven and on the altar, he is capable now as he was on Good Friday of freely offering himself to the Father. He can no longer die because he now has a glorified body, but the essence of his oblation remains the same.
The Mass is also a memorial. Christ's death is commemorated not only as a psychological remembrance but as a mystical reality. He voluntarily offers himself, the eternal high priest, as he did on Calvary.
Finally, the Mass is the divinely ordained means of applying the merits of Calvary. Christ won for the world all the graces it needs for salvation and sanctification. But these blessings are conferred gradually and continually since Calvary and mainly through the Mass. Their measure of conferral is in proportion to the faith and loving response of the faithful who unite themselves in spirit with the Mass. (https://www.catholicculture.org/culture/library/dictionary/index.cfm?id=34771)
Sister Tammy, would you discuss the points you have been studying at this time?
The Catholic Church states in their Catechisms that the mass is propitiatory, meaning that the actual act of this is what pays for people’s sin to be forgiven. They also believe that the body and the blood are literal when the bible makes it clear these were symbolic. We will discuss these points and the biblical evidence to refute these errors.
According to the Catechism of the Catholic Church, paragraph 1366, "The Eucharist is thus a sacrifice because it re-presents (makes present) the sacrifice of the cross, because it is its memorial and because it applies its fruit."
The catechism continues in paragraph 1367:
The sacrifice of Christ and the sacrifice of the Holy Eucharist are one single sacrifice: "The victim is one and the same: the same now offers through the ministry of priests, who then offered himself on the cross; only the manner of offering is different." "And since in this divine sacrifice which is celebrated in the Mass, the same Christ who offered himself once in a bloody manner on the altar of the cross is contained and is offered in an unbloody manner . . . this sacrifice is truly propitiatory."
Eating Christ's flesh and drinking His blood are symbols of fully receiving His sacrifice on our behalf, by grace through faith.
“If anyone says that the sacrifice of the mass is one only of praise and thanksgiving; or that it is a mere commemoration of the sacrifice consummated on the cross but not a propitiatory one; or that it profits him only who receives, and ought not to be offered for the living and the dead, for sins, punishments, satisfactions, and other necessities, let him be anathema.”[5] The Canons and Decrees of the Council of Trent, Tr. by Rev. H. J. Schroeder, O.P. (Rockford, IL 61105: Tan Books and Publishers, Inc., 1978) Canon 3, p. 149
When you remember something, such as the sacrifice of Jesus through the communion we have as Christians, this doesn’t mean that act becomes propitiatory like the Roman Catholic Church states. The Catholic Church seem to have a problem with this in so many ways and try to spiritualize the act of the mass to somehow think they can make present the actual physical body and blood of Jesus, which is unscriptural and a sacrificing of Jesus over and over. It is cannibalism in a sense if this is the way they see it becoming the actual body and blood of Jesus, however much some want to say otherwise. The overall system of the Catholic Church is not according to the Bible and they have another Jesus as we are continuously warning about, yet these errors are what seem to deceive people into accepting the overall system as the enemy comes as close to biblical truth (yet twisted) as possible. We need to be sober minded and vigilant as we continue to refute these antichrist systems.
I will just share with you a few Scriptures that refute these unbiblical concepts and we will go on to discuss a little bit more as we go along:
1 Corinthians 11:24-26 And when he had given thanks, he brake it, and said, Take, eat: this is my body, which is broken for you: this do in remembrance of me. After the same manner also he took the cup, when he had supped, saying, this cup is the new testament in my blood: this do ye, as oft as ye drink it, in remembrance of me. For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do shew the Lord's death till he come. - notice that Paul refers to the bread, after consecration, as still being “bread,” not the literal body of Christ under the appearance of bread.
John 19:30 When Jesus therefore had received the vinegar, he said, It is finished: and he bowed his head, and gave up the ghost.
Hebrews 7:27 Who needeth not daily, as those high priests, to offer up sacrifice, first for his own sins, and then for the people's: for this he did once, when he offered up himself.
Hebrews 9:25-26 Nor yet that he should offer himself often, as the high priest entereth into the holy place every year with blood of others; For then must he often have suffered since the foundation of the world: but now once in the end of the world hath he appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself.
Romans 5:10-11 For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life. And not only so, but we also joy in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom we have now received the atonement.
Romans 3:25 Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God;
Hebrews 2:17 Wherefore in all things it behoved him to be made like unto his brethren, that he might be a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, to make reconciliation for the sins of the people.
1 John 4:10 Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins.
These scriptures state the sacrifice of Jesus is what makes propitiation for our sin, not an act of the mass or even the Christian communion which are poles apart. But the concept of us partaking of a remembrance of Jesus death on the cross is not what will pay for our sins. Jesus paid once for them and He said it is finished.
As I have stated, the Catholic Church belief is that the Scriptures in John 6:54-55 Whoso eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, hath eternal life; and I will raise him up at the last day. For my flesh is meat indeed, and my blood is drink indeed - is meaning that these become literal, referred to as transubstantiation which means the conversion of the substance of the Eucharistic elements into the body and blood of Christ at consecration, only the appearances of bread and wine still remaining. – to refute this I would like to share from an article I read about this and of course with the things already shared and scriptures to prove just some more to back up this error –
Drinking Jesus’ literal blood violates biblical prohibitions on drinking blood. In both the Old and New Testaments we see prohibition of drinking blood. If one adopts Rome’s literalistic view of transubstantiation, they have to believe they are violating these commands. In Leviticus 17:14 for example we read: “For as for the life of all flesh, its blood is identified with its life. Therefore I said to the sons of Israel, You are not to eat the blood of any flesh, for the life of all flesh is its blood; whoever eats it shall be cut off.” Leviticus 17:10 also forbids the eating of “any blood.” This is significant because part of Jesus’ mission was to obey the Law perfectly as the spotless Lamb (see Galatians 4:4; Luke 3:22; Hebrews 4:15; 7:26; 1 Peter 1:19; 2:22; 3:18). For Catholics to claim Jesus engaged in and allowed His disciples to drink literal blood would be to say before the institution of the New Covenant Jesus engaged in the breaking of the Mosaic Law and was hence not a spotless lamb who perfectly obeyed the Law. The New Covenant was not instituted until Jesus’ blood was shed on the cross (see Luke 22:10; Hebrews 9:15-16). Therefore, Rome’s idea forces one to believe prior to the doing away with the Old Covenant and Mosaic Law, Jesus engaged in and allowed the violation of it. What is more, even according to Jesus’ New Covenant rules, drinking blood is forbidden. Hence, the case is settled clearly on this issue. The conclusion of the Acts 15 council was that Gentiles, like Jews, were not to drink blood (Acts 15:20). Acts 21:25 confirms the same thing. If Jesus was speaking symbolically about His blood being wine we are to drink then the biblical mandate is not violated. But if one agrees with the literalistic Roman view then it definitely is.
Rome’s view is cannibalism. If Rome is right about the bread being the literal body of Christ, and that Catholics actually eat it, then this is cannibalism.
Elements still called “bread and wine” even after alleged transubstantiation in New Testament. In Matthew 26:26-28 Jesus says the bread and wine were His body and blood (what Rome calls consecrating the elements). However, if transubstantiation is true and this was literal, why does Jesus then continue to identify the wine as “fruit of the vine,” i.e., mere wine, (unfermented) in v. 29? Similarly, after mentioning consecration in 1 Corinthians 11:24-25, why does Paul continue to refer to the elements simply “bread” and “the cup” in vv. 26-27. This is inconsistent with the Roman view that a literal change in substance has taken place.
Some Catholics have used Hebrews 9:23 to say that the Mass is a propitiatory sacrifice, they say that Christ is presenting sacrifices (plural) in heaven, which is just way off from the biblical meaning of this verse!
Hebrews 9:23 - It was therefore necessary that the patterns of things in the heavens should be purified with these; but the heavenly things themselves with better sacrifices than these.
As Catholic, Robert Sungenis, wrote:
Since Heb. 9:23-24 clearly teaches that some kind of blood sacrifice is occurring presently in heaven, and since such sacrifice would constitute the ongoing work of Christ's eternal priesthood, we are not surprised to see Heb. 9:23's use of the plural word "sacrifices" in the phrase "with better sacrifices than these" in reference to Christ's present work. Since Heb. 9:22 introduced "blood" into the text as that which forgives sins, then Heb. 9:23 would simply mean: "but the heavenly things themselves with better blood sacrifices than these." St. Paul is comparing and contrasting the Old Covenant "blood sacrifices" with the New Covenant "blood sacrifices." (Robert A. Sungenis, Not by Bread Alone: The Biblical and Historical Evidence for the Eucharistic Sacrifice [2d ed.; Catholic Apologetics International Publishing Inc., 2009], 66-69 [pp.67-68 are part of a lengthy footnote])
This is wrong because the bible clearly states in these verses that ONE TIME SACRIFICE was a COMPLETED work:
For in that he died, he did unto sin once: but in that he liveth, he liveth unto God. (Rom 6:10)
Who needeth not daily, as those high priests, to offer up sacrifice first for his own sins, and then for the people’s: for this he did once, when he offered up himself. (Heb. 7:27)
Neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood he entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption. (Heb. 9:12)
By the which will we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all. (Heb. 10:10)
The author of Hebrews is simply using the plural number for the sake of contrast, between the plural Old Covenant sacrifices and the once-for-all sacrifice of the New Covenant. No further application is required.
Thank you so much, sister Tammy, for all that important information.
Going on from what you have presented concerning their beliefs that the bread and wine are the literal body and blood of Jesus, the Catholic church states that the bread and wine are to be worshiped and venerated as God. The Council of Trent stated Catholics should “give to this most holy sacrament in veneration the worship of latria, which is due to the true God” (Decree Concerning the Most Holy Sacrament of the Eucharist, Thirteenth Session, Ch. 5, The Worship and Veneration to be Shown to this Most Holy Sacrament, The Canons and Decrees of the Council of Trent, trans. H. J. Schroeder, [TAN Books and Publishers, 1978], p. 76). Latria is a theological term (Latin Latrīa, from the Greek λατρεία, latreia) used in Eastern Orthodox and Roman Catholic theology to mean adoration, a reverence directed only to the Holy Trinity.
This is from Catholic Catechism 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."
However, we read the following in Exodus 20:4-5: “Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth. Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them: for I the Lord thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me.” Here God prohibits the worship of objects, even those said to represent him. The command rules out the worship of “an image in the form of anything in heaven.” The Eucharist is an image of Christ in heaven. As defined by the Catholic Church, it is the Son of God under the appearances of bread and wine. So they are breaking this commandment with every observance of mass.
Another important verse to consider is Isa. 42:8. This says, “I am the LORD: that is my name: and my glory will I not give to another, neither my praise to graven images.” If Jesus wanted us to worship bread as His body He would be contradicting this scripture, obviously something He would never do.
Here are two points from a website of a man who was a Catholic for over 30 years and now preaches the gospel to Catholics whenever he can. The first point is some people will assume eating and drinking have to be literal, but they can be figurative – Jer. 15:16 says, “Thy words were found, and I did eat them; and thy word was unto me the joy and rejoicing of mine heart.”
The second point is while on earth, Jesus was never omnipresent physically; this only occurs spiritually. So, then why should we expect Him to be physically omnipresent in hosts all over the world at the same time?
And, concerning Jesus’ physical body, it is in heaven according to the following scriptures. You gave a couple of these already, sister Tammy, but they bear repeating:
Mark 16:19 So then after the Lord had spoken unto them, He was received up into heaven, and sat on the right hand of God.
Acts 1:11 Which also said, Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven? this same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven.
1 Peter 3:22 Who is gone into heaven, and is on the right hand of God; angels and authorities and powers being made subject unto Him.
Hebrews 9:24 For Christ is not entered into the holy places made with hands, which are the figures of the true; but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us:
Hebrews 10:12-14 But this man, after He had offered one sacrifice for sins for ever, sat down on the right hand of God; From henceforth expecting till his enemies be made His footstool. For by one offering He hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified.
Here are just a few more points:
The Apostle Paul says the following in 2 Cor. 5:16: "Wherefore henceforth know we no man after the flesh: yea, though we have known Christ after the flesh, yet now henceforth know we Him no more." So, Paul said even though Christ had been known after the flesh by those who had obviously seen Him, He no longer was known after the flesh. Now, why would Paul say this if Jesus’ flesh was truly “present” on the altar at each communion?
Sister Tammy, you read catechism 1367 earlier which states that Jesus is “offered in an unbloody manner” in the mass. Well, doesn’t this statement then deny that the wine has been turned into Jesus’ blood? I mean that is a clear inconsistency.
The mass wafer even when "transubstantiated" into the body of Christ soon corrupts. This is contrary to Psalm 16:9-11 (which is quoted in Acts 2:27) which declares that His body would not see corruption...!
Next, I want to mention a few examples of something called Eucharistic Adoration. There is so much information about this that we will do a separate discussion at some point, but for the purposes of this discussion I will just introduce it.
According to an article entitled “What is Eucharistic Adoration?” this is when a priest takes a consecrated host and places it in a monstrance (monstrance comes from the Latin “monstrare” to show, to expose, to view). The monstrance is then placed in front of the tabernacle (an ornate box which holds the monstrance and any consecrated hosts) or on the altar of the church or chapel for adoration.
What actually happens during adoration? You may sign up to be an “adorer” which allows you to schedule yourself for one or more hours per week to pray before the very presence of Our Lord, exposed in the monstrance. It means that you can have some time alone with Jesus, to recite your favorite prayers, read the Bible, contemplate acts of faith, hope, charity, thanksgiving, reparation, pray a rosary or do whatever type of prayerful devotion that suits you before Our Lord. You can just sit and say nothing simply keeping Him company, just as you would with a dear friend.” (From “What is Eucharistic Adoration?” www.medjugorje. org/adore.htm)
And, then, we have this from Los Angeles Auxiliary Bishop David O’Connell: “I think we need to promote eucharistic adoration more and more at parishes — for people to just come and talk to Jesus, and be close to them. Let them be as close as they can to the monstrance. Let them talk, because he will really touch their hearts. There’s a heart that beats in the Blessed Sacrament that is filled with love for them.
We keep talking about the Eucharist being the source of our salvation, of all love, of all healing, of all consolation. … And I think, especially, we want to encourage families to come to the Blessed Sacrament, and it will heal them.
I tell families, “Talk to Jesus with your families. Each one of you, say something to Jesus. Just two of you uniting a voice to talk to Jesus, you’re bringing the living presence of Jesus into your home. And you feel it. But what’s more so is when you let the Eucharist touch your heart. And just love Jesus in the Eucharist.” (https://angelusnews.com/content/our-lady-loves-the-suffering-children-and-she-wants-us-to-respond-in-love)
And, then, at the site, www.savior.org we read: “This site’s mission is that of increasing awareness and devotion to our Lord in the Most Blessed Sacrament. We also seek to bring the live image of His living Presence to the homebound, the workplace, and to remote areas around the world.”
Here is one testimony from this site: “I know that this will sound crazy, but I guess I should start from the beginning. Tonight was the first time I prayed my rosary in front of Jesus online. Right after I finished saying the rosary. I saw a distinct face. I can still see his eyes, crown of thorns, nose and beard. I cannot explain it, but I guess he must be very pleased with your work. I am not crazy. I do go adore Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament in person where I live, but just wanted to pray in front of him at home tonight on your site rather than not adoring him at all. When I came to write to you I still saw his face. I will be telling many other people about what a blessing your site is to all around the world.” (And, we will give more examples like this when we have a separate discussion on Eucharistic adoration. But, mainly, again, all of this is idolatrous. Well, sister Tammy, that is all I have for this time. I just pray Catholics will research what it is they believe and I pray for people to witness to Catholics because they believe in another Jesus.)