The Catholic Defender: Eucharistic Miracle of Erding, Germany1417

The Eucharistic Miracle of Erding, Germany happened on Holy Thursday in 1417. Two peasants worked the same job. One was more prosperous than the other.

The poorer peasant worked extra hours to try to improve his financial situation.

However, he remained poor. He asked his coworker how he managed to be so successful.

The more prosperous worker explained that he relied on faith. He even kept Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament in a special place in his home.

The poor peasant wrongly believed that the Eucharistic Host was a good luck charm.

On Holy Thursday, he went to Mass. Upon receiving Communion, he hid the Host in his clothes and left the church.

On his walk home, he realized that what he had done was sinful.

He immediately turned to take the Host back to the church.

As he pulled the Eucharist from his pocket, it slipped from his hands and flew into the air. He tried to catch it to no avail. Deeply afraid, he informed the priest and brought him to the spot where the Host escaped.

The priest found the Host on the ground emanating a bright light.

When the priest went to pick it up, it flew into the air. He could not catch it.

The bishop was summoned and he also witnessed the phenomenon.

The villagers were in awe as they watched. The bishop dedicated a chapel at the site of this Eucharistic miracle.

A new and bigger church was built in 1675 to accommodate the large number of faithful who venerate the miracle at this holy site. A relic of the Most Precious Blood of Jesus is housed in the sanctuary.

St. Ignatius of Antioch (c. 110 A.D.)

I have no taste for corruptible food nor for the pleasures of this life. I desire the Bread of God, WHICH IS THE FLESH OF JESUS CHRIST, who was of the seed of David; and for drink I DESIRE HIS BLOOD, which is love incorruptible. (Letter to the Romans 7:3)

St. Justin the Martyr (c. 100 – 165 A.D.)

For not as common bread nor common drink do we receive these; but since Jesus Christ our Savior was made incarnate by the word of God and had both flesh and blood for our salvation, so too, as we have been taught, the food which has been made into the Eucharist by the Eucharistic prayer set down by Him, AND BY THE CHANGE OF WHICH our blood and flesh is nourished, IS BOTH THE FLESH AND THE BLOOD OF THAT INCARNATED JESUS. (First Apology, 66)

St. Irenaeus of Lyons (c. 140 – 202 A.D.)

…He took from among creation that which is bread, and gave thanks, saying, “THIS IS MY BODY.” The cup likewise, which is from among the creation to which we belong, HE CONFESSED TO BE HIS BLOOD.

Tertullian (c. 155 – 250 A.D.)

Likewise, in regard to days of fast, many do not think they should be present at the SACRIFICIAL prayers, because their fast would be broken if they were to receive THE BODY OF THE LORD…THE BODY OF THE LORD HAVING BEEN RECEIVED AND RESERVED, each point is secured: both the participation IN THE SACRIFICE… (Prayer 19:1)

Origen (c. 185 – 254 A.D.)

You see how the ALTARS are no longer sprinkled with the blood of oxen, but consecrated BY THE PRECIOUS BLOOD OF CHRIST. (Homilies on Joshua 2:1)

We actually have far more of these quotes in our show notes at deepertruthblog.com. The point is this, and there is no escaping it. Jesus words on this matter are literal. Paul’s words on this matter are literal. The Apostles took them literally, the Jews took them literally, and, there can be no dispute that the early church took them literally. My opponent has absolutely no case here, this is settled, infallible and foundational Christian doctrine. This concludes my closing statement.

St. Clement of Alexandria (c. 150 – 216 A.D.)

Calling her children about her, she [the Church] nourishes them with holy milk, that is, with the Infant Word…The Word is everything to a child: both Father and Mother, both Instructor and Nurse. “EAT MY FLESH,” He says, “AND DRINK MY BLOOD.” The Lord supplies us with these intimate nutriments. HE DELIVERS OVER HIS FLESH, AND POURS OUT HIS BLOOD; and nothing is lacking for the growth of His children. O incredible mystery! (Instructor of Children 1:6:42,1,3)

St. Cyprian of Carthage (c. 200 – 258 A.D.)

And we ask that this Bread be given us daily, so that we who are in Christ and daily receive THE EUCHARIST AS THE FOOD OF SALVATION, may not, by falling into some more grievous sin and then in abstaining from communicating, be withheld from the heavenly Bread, and be separated from Christ’s Body…

Council of Nicaea (c. 325 A.D.)

It has come to the attention of the holy and great council that in some localities and cities deacons give the Eucharist to presbyters, although neither the canon nor the custom permits those who do NOT offer sacrifice to give the Body of Christ to those who do offer the sacrifice… (Canon 18)

Aphraates the Persian Sage (c. 280 – 345 A.D.)

After having spoken thus ["This is My body…This is My blood"], the Lord rose up from the place where He had made the Passover and had given His Body as food and His Blood as drink, and He went with His disciples to the place where He was to be arrested. But He ate of His own Body and drank of His own Blood, while He was pondering on the dead. With His own hands the Lord presented His own Body to be eaten, and before He was crucified He gave His blood as drink… (Treatises 12:6)

St. Ephraim (c. 306 – 373 A.D.)

Our Lord Jesus took in His hands what in the beginning was only bread; and He blessed it, and signed it, and made it holy in the name of the Father and in the name of the Spirit; and He broke it and in His gracious kindness He distributed it to all His disciples one by one. He called the bread His living Body, and did Himself fill it with Himself and the Spirit.

St. Athanasius (c. 295 – 373 A.D.)

You shall see the Levites bringing loaves and a cup of wine, and placing them on the table. So long as the prayers of supplication and entreaties have not been made, there is only bread and wine. But after the great and wonderful prayers have been completed, then the bread is become the Body, and the wine the Blood, of our Lord Jesus Christ….