A recent study suggests that only 2/3 of Catholics believe that the Eucharist is truly Jesus. Although I was taught about and believed in Jesus’ real presence when growing up, I simply didn’t understand the mystery. I couldn’t make sense of the significance of that doctrine. It wasn’t until my discovery of Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament and Brant Pitre’s (2011) book that I fully understood.
At my pastor’s prompting I spent time in Eucharistic Devotion, grew to appreciate its blessings, and now realize that it was the vehicle for my faith renewal. At first, I found it difficult to quiet my mind even for a few minutes, but as my experience increased, I learned how to spend most of my time in contemplative prayer. Pitre (2021) describes this as spending time with God “…in his presence, to listen to his voice, and to seek his “face.” (chapter 3). In Adoration I have felt a profound sense of the Lord’s presence that has comforted, guided, and strengthened me on my faith journey. I also now have a deeper awareness of the presence of our Lord in the Eucharist at mass.
Dr. Pitre’s book on the Eucharist (2011, chapter eight) writes that no other Gospel passage makes as strong a connection between the Eucharist and Jesus’ bodily Resurrection as the story of Jesus’ appearance on the road to Emmaus (Luke 24:13-35). He describes Jesus’ appearance as the first Eucharist after the Resurrection, and that Jesus was the principal celebrant (p. 201). The disciples were prevented from recognizing Jesus, and only when he took bread, blessed it and broke it did they realize it was him. At that moment, Jesus vanished. Dr. Pitre explains that this was Jesus’ way of revealing how he would be present with them from now on (p. 200). “… Jesus was showing the disciples that the Eucharist is his crucified and risen body. And in his risen body, he is no longer bound by space, or time, or even appearance.” (p. 200). “… His normal manner of appearing to his disciples will not be in the form of a man, but under the veil of the Eucharist.” (pp. 200-201).
Dr. Pitre (2011) concludes by noting that although the disciples on the road to Emmaus might not have realized it, Jesus answered their prayer to “Stay with Us.” “In the ‘breaking of the bread,’ in every Eucharist, he answers their prayer, saying to them —and to all of us— I’m with you always, even to the end of time.“ (p. 201).
EWTN News. New study suggests more than two-thirds of Catholics believe the Eucharist is truly Jesus. Retrieved April 29, 2026 from https://www.ewtnnews.com/world/us/new-study-suggests-more-than-two-thirds-of-catholics-believe-the-eucharist-is-truly-jesus
Pitre, B. (2011). Jesus and the Jewish Roots of The Eucharist: Unlocking the Secrets of the Last Supper. Image.
Pitre, B. (2021). Introduction to the Spiritual Life. Image.
Leave a Reply