Question About The Eucharist

[MrsFrozen]

As a cradle Catholic, I am kind of embarrassed to ask this, because I think I should already know the answer, but here goes..

My husband is in RCIA classes, and each week we get articles to read. I just read one about Communion before Vatical II and after. Here's a quote from the article.

[My devotion before Vatican II] stopped short; it went only "half-way."  My devotion was focused on the first transformation: the transformation of the bread and wine into the Body and Blood of Christ.  I had forgotten ... the second transformation: the transformation of the Christians into Christ.  This second transformation is the purpose of the first: Christ becomes really present in the Eucharist so that we may really become his Body."

This is confusing me. I believe in the True Presence. What I don't understand is when he says, "Christ becomes really present in the Eucharist so that we may really become his Body." What does this mean? I am assuming it doesn't mean we're gods after we take Eucharist. Does this mean we are supposed to be Christ-like? Thank you very much.

God bless. :)

[cappie]

Not sure if this helps clarify your question;

As Catholics we believe that Jesus is really and personally present to us in the broken bread and shared cup of the Eucharist. And although we believe that Christ is present in the Scriptures, the assembly and the ministers of the Church, we hold that Christ's presence under the form of bread and wine is one filled with the greatest intimacy and uniqueness.

The Eucharist is not intimate and unique because it is magic. It's not intimate and unique because we gaze upon the elements. The Eucharist is intimate and unique because earthly signs are transformed by God's love, and are consumed in faith. As we eat and drink these elements Christ becomes part of us, and we come alive in Christ.

In the fifth century St Augustine taught his people that if they truly loved the Eucharist they would become what they eat. The same is true for us today. By receiving into our hands the bread – blessed and broken, the cup – poured and shared, we say ‘Amen’ to becoming the same in Christ: blessed, broken, poured out and shared in love. We commune with God and God with us in the Eucharist so that just as earthly gifts are transformed into Christ so through us will be the entire world, and all things in it.

There is a huge and important difference between grace and magic. One is a trick for show. The other is the power of love, which expresses itself in faith, hope, and service.

[Pontifex]

Amen!