An amazing and ancient homily...

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In one of his sermons (below), Saint Augustine spoke clearly that in the Eucharist we become, indeed we are, what we receive.  These are powerful words for us to consider on this feast of the Body and Blood of Christ.

Sermons [272] A.D. 391-430:

What you see is the bread and the chalice;
that is what your own eyes report to you.

But what your faith obliges you to accept
is that the bread is the Body of Christ
and the chalice the Blood of Christ. ...

How is the bread His Body?
And the chalice, or what is in the chalice,
how is it His Blood?

Those elements, brothers and sisters,
are called sacraments,
because in them one thing is seen,
but another is understood.

What is seen is the corporeal species,
but what is understood is the spiritual fruit. ... `

You, however, are the Body of Christ and his members.
If, therefore, you are the Body of Christ and his members,  
your mystery is presented at the table of the Lord,  
you receive your mystery.  

To that which you are, you answer: `Amen...'
For you hear: `The Body of Christ!'
and you answer: `Amen!'  

Be a member of Christ's Body,
so that your `Amen' may be the truth.



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