Holy Family Catholic Church

Beautiful Eucharist: A Crisis of Christlessness?

For this week’s conversation, I wish to offer the extensive passage below that begins on page 35 of Peter Kreeft’s chapter in Beautiful Eucharist in which he describes a “crisis of Christlessness”:

The crisis of faith in the Church is a crisis of faith in Christ’s real presence.  The deepest root of the dullness and ineffectiveness of most parishes, laity, clergy, homilies, liturgies, music, catechesis, programs, and all the extra Martha-like activities is not outright heresy or apostasy, but simply remoteness from The Person.

Let’s ask ourselves honestly: Why have Evangelical, Fundamentalist, and Pentecostal Protestant sects and denominations been so much more successful throughout the Americas during the past generation?  Why would a Catholic, who is in possession of the fullness of faith, the full Gospel, exchange it for a faith that is only partial?  It is not primarily because of a disaffection for the things Catholics have and Protestants don’t: history, tradition, popes, saints, sacraments, etc.  Rather, it is due to an affection for the one thing Catholics have but don’t know they have—in fact, the main thing Catholics have: Christ.  These Catholics never knew Jesus Christ in the Church, but they did find Christ present in the souls and lives of Protestants.

Ironically, the Church has a presence these Protestants do not even claim to have: an objective and perfect real presence in the Eucharist worth of worship, not just a subjective and imperfect presence in souls.  Christ is really, truly, objectively, fully present in the Eucharist, hidden under the appearances of bread and wine, as He was in the streets of Nazareth or on the Cross.

[W]hat will we hear if we rediscover His presence and adore Him?  The same sound we hear in the Gospels: the sound of a blazing fire, the rattle of dry bones coming to life, the shouts of joy that ring through Scripture and through the great old Protestant hymns.

How do we get this joy back?  Not by any gimmicks or human contrivance, but by recognizing the real presence and responding with adoration.  And the primary place of the real presence is the Eucharist.

Do you agree or disagree with Peter about this crisis of Christlessness?  Why? 

Share your thoughts and see how others are responding in the "Comments" section below. 

In the peace of Christ,

Bob