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kbfsc
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| Posted: Jan 31 2012 at 8:58pm | IP Logged
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My daughter (who is preparing this year for her first Holy Communion) has told me several times, "I don't want to drink blood!" She's not being sassy (at this particular moment  ) but is genuinely concerned and trying to make sense of it all. And I feel ill-equipped to answer her well! I guess her questions all come down to WHY did Christ give us the Eucharist in the form He did? WHY must we consume Him? I've spent a fair amount of personal study and enjoyed in particular learning more about the typology of the sacrificial lamb of the Passover - but still don't feel like I have a good answer for my 8 yo. I feel a little silly asking the question! How does a serious, Catholic homeschooling mama not know this stuff?! But I'm asking anyway and trusting in your mercy and wisdom...  Anyone handle this before? Any good tips?
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Kiera
happy mama of ds '02, dd '03, ds '06, dd '09 and little ones in heaven
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CrunchyMom
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| Posted: Jan 31 2012 at 9:19pm | IP Logged
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Aw, that is tough!
I hope someone will correct me if this is wrong, but when I think about the Real Presence, I don't think of it as turning into flesh and blood as much as it becoming "fully God." I know it is explicitly flesh and blood and that scripture and Eucharistic miracles confirm this, but my perception is more that Christ was saying "this is ME, I'm making myself fully present in this" in the most concrete terms possible.
So, maybe if you can emphasize that Christ is fully present AS GOD in both the bread and wine and sort of de-emphasize the ick factor, she could come around? I'm not sure how to say it, but it is "all" of God, not just a "piece" of God.
Not sure if that helps, but it's what I would try.
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Lindsay
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[URL=http://mysymphonygarden.blogspot.com/]Lost in the Cosmos[/UR
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guitarnan
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| Posted: Jan 31 2012 at 10:38pm | IP Logged
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What Lindsay said.
The way I learned it in high school (from the wonderful educator who is now President of Christendom College), Jesus is present "under the auspices of bread and wine," which means that although He is there, and bread and wine are transubstantiated, we experience the taste and texture of those physical elements of bread and wine. Jesus IS Eucharist, but the bread and wine retain their outward appearances, textures, tastes, etc. The miracle of transubstantiation takes place at the consecration, and part of that miracle is that what used to be bread and wine still look and feel and taste like bread and wine, but...aren't.
Even more amazingly, miracles have happened which show us that Jesus is present in the Eucharist, but that the Eucharist is also food and drink. St. Catherine of Siena barely ate during the last years of her life, but she received Holy Communion frequently and that was enough to sustain her and keep her in good health. St. Maximilian Kolbe was able to survive on concentration camp rations (much of which he gave away to other prisoners), despite his tuberculosis; although he could not celebrate the Mass in the camp, he was somehow sustained and kept in good health.
It's okay (and more than okay) to tell your daughter that some things about our faith are hard to understand, that grownups spend their lives trying to learn from the teachings of Jesus, and that some teachings are mysteries that we have to ask God to reveal to us in His time (which, for most of us, is after our death to this earthly life). (I tell my daughter that my first question to God will be, "Why mosquitoes?") If you have not already said this straight out, be sure to assure her that the host will taste like a host and the wine will taste like wine, and that you know this from many years of experience. Many parishes allow First Communion students to try unconsecrated hosts and wine prior to the big day, so they know what to expect - is that a possibility? (Tip: Most First Communicants despise the wine...you can also tell her she can skip it after her FHC for as long as she likes!)
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Nancy in MD. Mom of ds (24) & dd (18); 31-year Navy wife, move coordinator and keeper of home fires. Writer and dance mom.
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Claire F
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| Posted: Jan 31 2012 at 11:01pm | IP Logged
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My son has had similar questions (although he's a year away from FHC) - such as, "Mom, is that skin the priest is holding up?" referring to the consecrated host. "He said it was the body of Christ!"
I've told my son that those things are bread and wine, but they are ALSO Jesus. So it's still wine, it's just been changed to have the real presence of Jesus in it. It is both at the same time - but not actual flesh and blood, as if a body had been used.
I also agree that it is fine to tell her that some things are difficult to understand. Saint Peter admitted his confusion at how it would be possible to consume the flesh of Jesus, but said if Jesus said so, it must be. When it was later revealed, at the last supper, how it was to be done, it still remained mysterious. Bread and wine... flesh and blood. But God makes it possible, even if we don't fully understand it.
Good luck!
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Claire
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Angi
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| Posted: Feb 01 2012 at 1:13pm | IP Logged
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I simply tell the second graders in my class that it IS the body and blood of Christ, he wants us to take Him into ourselves, but, it tastes like bread and wine.
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Turtle
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| Posted: Feb 01 2012 at 3:05pm | IP Logged
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FWIW if it was my child I would probably say something like . . . You know, Our Lord, in His infinite wisdom, knew that people, including you, (insert child's name), would not be comfortable drinking blood that looked, tasted, and felt like real blood, even if it was His Blood. That could be why He gave us the gift of His Body and Blood under the appearances of bread and wine, so you would delight in receiving Him.
Hope this helps.
:)
Melissa
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kbfsc
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| Posted: Feb 01 2012 at 3:37pm | IP Logged
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Good ideas, all, ladies.
Emphasizing the miraculous, mysterious nature of it all seems important. I think introducing the idea that it's ok not to understand everything is very good, too. That's a life-long lesson. And I never considered telling her that the Precious Blood doesn't *taste* like blood! Yes, certainly the Lord anticipated that our senses would be overwhelmed if we didn't receive the Eucharist under the appearances of bread and wine.
All together I feel much more well-prepared. Thank you!
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Kiera
happy mama of ds '02, dd '03, ds '06, dd '09 and little ones in heaven
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Elena
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| Posted: Feb 01 2012 at 5:34pm | IP Logged
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You know, she might just be a little nervous about what it is going to taste like! Maybe you could just get a little wine for a dress rehearsal so she knows what to expect.
When my youngest son made his first communion he had a horrible face after receiving the precious blood - I wished I had practiced with him ahead of time! 
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Elena
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4Real Forums : Domestic Church
Topic: tough FHC question
