• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar

Corpus Christi Watershed

Pope Saint Paul VI (3 April 1969): “Although the text of the Roman Gradual—at least that which concerns the singing—has not been changed, the Entrance antiphons and Communions antiphons have been revised for Masses without singing.”

  • Donate
  • Our Team
    • Our Editorial Policy
    • Who We Are
    • How To Contact Us
    • Sainte Marie Bulletin Articles
    • Jeff’s Mom Joins Fundraiser
  • Pew Resources
    • Brébeuf Catholic Hymnal
    • Jogues Illuminated Missal
    • Repository • “Spanish Music”
    • KYRIALE • Saint Antoine Daniel
    • Campion Missal, 3rd Edition
  • MUSICAL WEBSITES
    • René Goupil Gregorian Chant
    • Noël Chabanel Psalms
    • Nova Organi Harmonia (2,279 pages)
    • Roman Missal, 3rd Edition
    • Catechism of Gregorian Rhythm
    • Father Enemond Massé Manuscripts
    • Lalemant Polyphonic
    • Feasts Website
  • Miscellaneous
    • Site Map
    • Secrets of the Conscientious Choirmaster
    • “Wedding March” for lazy organists
    • Emporium Kevin Allen
    • Saint Jean de Lalande Library
    • Sacred Music Symposium 2023
    • The Eight Gregorian Modes
    • Gradual by Pothier’s Protégé
    • Seven (7) Considerations
Views from the Choir Loft

Fulton Sheen & The Holy Eucharist

Jeff Ostrowski · May 25, 2013

I am against “re-publishing” Blog entries, but I made an exception below. This blog was first published about a year ago.

OME HAVE CALLED called Bishop Sheen’s book, Life of Christ (1958), his great masterpiece, and I would say it is definitely one of his finest. The Gospel of St. John, Chapter 6, contains the discourse on the Holy Eucharist. I’m not going to repeat everything Fulton Sheen said about it Life of Christ, but I strongly urge everyone to read the good bishop’s words.

The Holy Eucharist is central to the Christian faith. It’s introduction in John 6 is also accompanied by interactions with two other very important and significant things: (1) The Papacy and St. Peter (John 6: 67-69); (2) The strong possibility that Christ’s teaching on the Eucharist was what caused Judas to fall away (John 6: 71). Just for the record, Judas was not the last person to reject Christ on account of his teaching about the Holy Eucharist.

When Christ said:

I am the living bread which came down from heaven. If any man eat of this bread, he shall live for ever; and the bread that I will give, is my flesh, for the life of the world.  (John 6: 51-52)

. . . a great many of his disciples no longer followed our Lord anymore. They left Him.

The Jews therefore strove among themselves, saying: How can this man give us his flesh to eat?  (John 6: 53)

Many therefore of his disciples, hearing it, said: This saying is hard, and who can hear it?  (John 6: 61)

After this, many of His disciples went back to their old ways; and walked no more in His company.  (John 6: 67)

Remember that the Jews had been forbidden to drink blood (Leviticus 17: 10, 12). They imagined that our Lord was referring to cannibalism, and, disgusted by this notion, they followed Him no more.

They failed to realize that our Lord was not referring to cannibalism. Fr. Rumble (Radio Replies, Volume 3, no. 869) explained the Catholic understanding:

Christ is not present in the Eucharist under a form in which cannibalism could be possible. His body is really and substantially present, but not in a natural way. It is an entirely supernatural mode of presence which you may not believe, but which at least excludes all notions of cannibalism.

You can read more (URL) of what Fr. Rumble has to say. Basically, in the Blessed Sacrament, Christ is present Body, Blood, Soul, & Divinity, but under a form that makes cannibalism impossible.

There’s no question that this is mysterious and miraculous. That’s OK: so many things in our universe are. We live in a society that is obsessed with “creature comforts” (video games, materialistic pursuits, fine dining, etc.). We no longer appreciate the miraculous. We no longer wonder what it must have been like when the world and universe were created, because we’re too busy playing video games. We no longer care to think about what a miracle the human body is, or the way that the human race continues, age after age, in a miraculous way no human could ever invent. Now that I’m a parent, I appreciate the miracle that our daughter is (her little hands, organs, mouth, eyes, etc.). We have another child on the way: another miracle! Miracles abound in the natural universe: the sun rising in the sky, the moon at night, the bugs, microscopic organisms, animals, plants, etc. The way that the earth’s water literally “recycles” itself, year after year, century after century. It evaporates, becomes clouds, rains down upon the earth, travels through the rivers, waters plants, then evaporates again. We never think about these miracles because, quite frankly, we’re too busy playing video games, or otherwise seeking worldly pleasures.

Christ expected those who had seen Him work miracles to have a faith in His words, but they left Him.

Christ still expects us to have faith in His words. It seems to me that St. Thérèse of Lisieux, in one of her letters, explained why Christ did that. I cannot remember her exact words, but she basically said, “Christ asks us to have faith in Him, no matter what, because He desires our poor souls so very much. If we experience trials and tribulations when it comes to faith in God, let us remember this.” I think St. John mary Vianney said pretty much the same thing.

In other words, what have we to offer up? We have running water, modern medicine, computers, television, radio, phones, modern medicine, cars, heaters, air condition, modern medicine, modern plumbing, clean food, clear water, (did I mention modern medicine?), and so many other things that no civilization ever had. People used to die at age 35. Infant mortality was tremendous. Doctors and their various treatments were AWFUL and BRUTAL. Penicillin and anesthesia had not been discovered. What have we to offer up?

Christ, therefore, asks us to give Him a very easy thing: our faith in Him! Let us never fail to do so.

One more thing: I remember serving Mass for an old Irish priest. In the sacristy before Mass, he said, “You know, it’s a good thing Christ does hide Himself from us in the Holy Eucharist, under the forms of bread and wine. We could not bear to look upon His Infinite Purity and Holiness.” I thought this was a powerful insight.

Opinions by blog authors do not necessarily represent the views of Corpus Christi Watershed.

Filed Under: Articles Tagged With: Bishop Fulton J Sheen, Eucharist Not Cannibalism, Leslie Rumble Radio Replies, The Holy Eucharist Last Updated: October 4, 2022

Subscribe

It greatly helps us if you subscribe to our mailing list!

* indicates required

About Jeff Ostrowski

Jeff Ostrowski holds his B.M. in Music Theory from the University of Kansas (2004). He resides with his wife and children in Michigan. —(Read full biography).

Primary Sidebar

Corpus Christi Watershed

President’s Corner

    New Bulletin Article • “12 October 2025”
    My pastor requested that I write short articles each week for our parish bulletin. Those responsible for preparing similar write-ups may find a bit of inspiration in these brief columns. The latest article (dated 12 October 2025) talks about an ‘irony’ or ‘paradox’ regarding the 1960s switch to a wider use (amplior locus) of vernacular in the liturgy.
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    “Reminder” — Month of October (2025)
    Those who don’t sign up for our free EMAIL NEWSLETTER miss important notifications. Last week, for example, I sent a message about this job opening for a music director paying $65,000 per year plus benefits (plus weddings & funerals). Notice the job description says: “our vision for sacred music is to move from singing at Mass to truly singing the Mass wherein … especially the propers, ordinaries, and dialogues are given their proper place.” Signing up couldn’t be easier: simply scroll to the bottom of any blog article and enter your email address.
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    “Music List” • 27th in Ordinary Time (Year C)
    Readers have expressed interest in perusing the ORDER OF MUSIC I’ve prepared for 5 October 2025, which is the 27th Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year C). If such a thing interests you, feel free to download it as a PDF file. As always, the Responsorial Psalm, Gospel Acclamation, and Mass Propers for this Sunday are conveniently stored at the spectacular feasts website alongside the official texts in Latin. Readers will want to check out the ENTRANCE CHANT posted there, which has a haunting melody (in the DEUTERUS MODE) and extremely powerful text.
    —Jeff Ostrowski

Quick Thoughts

    “American Catholic Hymnal” (1991)
    The American Catholic Hymnal, with IMPRIMATUR granted (25 April 1991) by the Archdiocese of Chicago, is like a compendium of every horrible idea from the 1980s. Imagine being forced to stand all through Communion (even afterwards) when those self-same ‘enlightened’ liturgists moved the SEQUENCE before the Alleluia to make sure congregations wouldn’t have to stand during it. (Even worse, everything about the SEQUENCE—including its name—means it should follow the Alleluia.) And imagine endlessly repeating “Alleluia” during Holy Communion at every single Mass. It was all part of an effort to convince people that Holy Communion was historically a procession (which it wasn’t).
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    “Canonic” • Ralph Vaughan Williams
    Fifty years ago, Dr. Theodore Marier made available this clever arrangement (PDF) of “Come down, O love divine” by P. R. Dietterich. The melody was composed in 1906 by Ralph Vaughan Williams (d. 1958) and named in honor of of his birthplace: DOWN AMPNEY. The arrangement isn’t a strict canon, but it does remind one of a canon since the pipe organ employs “points of imitation.” The melody and text are #709 in the Brébeuf Catholic Hymnal.
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    Did they simplify these hymn harmonies?
    Choirs love to sing the famous & splendid tune called “INNSBRUCK.” Looking through a (Roman Catholic) German hymnal printed in 1952, I discovered what appears to be a simplified version of that hymn. In other words, their harmonization is much less complex than the version found in the Saint Jean de Brébeuf Hymnal (which is suitable for singing by SATB choir). Please download their 1952 harmonization (PDF) and let me know your thoughts. I really like the groovy Germanic INTRODUCTION they added.
    —Jeff Ostrowski

Random Quote

“Père Joseph Gelineau represented everything that had gone wrong with the Church since the new liturgists had gained control.”

— Jean Langlais

Recent Posts

  • “Three Reasons To Shun Bad Hymns” • Daniel B. Marshall
  • “Puzzling Comment” • By A Respected FSSP Priest
  • New Bulletin Article • “12 October 2025”
  • “Reminder” — Month of October (2025)
  • “American Catholic Hymnal” (1991)

Subscribe

Subscribe

* indicates required

Copyright © 2025 Corpus Christi Watershed · Isaac Jogues on Genesis Framework · WordPress · Log in

Corpus Christi Watershed is a 501(c)3 public charity dedicated to exploring and embodying as our calling the relationship of religion, culture, and the arts. This non-profit organization employs the creative media in service of theology, the Church, and Christian culture for the enrichment and enjoyment of the public.