5.13. Isn’t the Eucharist still valid and Catholic since it was approved by the Church?
Since the Holy Eucharist is the source and summit of the Catholic Faith, any alteration to its doctrine, form, or reception strikes at the very heart of the Church’s sacramental life. Traditional Catholic teaching safeguards the truth that the Eucharist is Jesus Christ Himself—Body, Blood, Soul, and Divinity—made present through transubstantiation by a validly ordained priest. The Vatican II sect, through the Novus Ordo rite, has undermined or obscured these essential truths, introducing ambiguity, irreverence, and sacrilege. Changes to the form of consecration, the ministerial priesthood, and the mode of reception have rendered many Novus Ordo “Eucharists” invalid.
Below is a detailed comparison showing how the true Catholic Eucharist differs fundamentally from the Novus Ordo version, and why faithful Catholics must avoid the counterfeit and seek the valid sacrament wherever it is still reverently and lawfully offered.
| Category | Traditional Catholic Eucharist | Novus Ordo "Eucharist" | Remarks |
|---|---|---|---|
| Name & Identity | Most Holy Eucharist – the Body, Blood, Soul, and Divinity of Christ | “Eucharistic Bread,” “Communion,” “Sacred Species” | Modern terms often downplay the Real Presence and sacrificial character of the Eucharist. |
| Doctrine | Transubstantiation: the entire substance of bread and wine becomes Christ | Real Presence vaguely affirmed; transubstantiation rarely emphasized | Vatican II and Novus Ordo catechesis often omit or obscure this dogma, leading to heretical interpretations. |
| Form of Consecration | “This is My Body... This is the Chalice of My Blood... for you and for many...” | “...for you and for all...” | Changing “many” to “all” distorts Christ’s words and undermines the doctrine of particular redemption. A defect in form may invalidate the sacrament. |
| Minister | Validly ordained priest (with traditional rite) | “Priest” ordained in the new rite (post-1968) | The new rite of ordination is doubtful in form and intent, raising grave doubts about the validity of consecration in the Novus Ordo. |
| Matter | Unleavened wheat bread and pure grape wine | Often valid, but sometimes questionable due to improper ingredients or intent | Abuses in matter (e.g. rice-based hosts, invalid wine) can invalidate the sacrament; lax norms have led to widespread profanation. |
| Reception | Kneeling, on the tongue, from a priest | Standing, in the hand, from laypeople (EMHCs) | Communion in the hand is sacrilegious and historically condemned. Lay distribution profanes the sacred species and diminishes reverence. |
| Frequency | Received only when in the state of grace, with proper preparation | Encouraged at every Mass, often without confession | Frequent reception without proper preparation leads to sacrilege. Confession is often neglected. |
| Exposition & Adoration | Frequent Benediction, Eucharistic processions, Forty Hours devotion | Infrequent; often replaced with vague “Eucharistic celebrations” | Loss of external reverence leads to loss of internal belief. Adoration is essential to affirm faith in the Real Presence. |
| Tabernacle Placement | Central on the altar, veiled, treated with great reverence | Often moved to the side, behind a screen, or hidden entirely | This physically and symbolically marginalizes Christ in the Blessed Sacrament. |
| Terminology | “Holy Communion,” “Blessed Sacrament,” “Sacrament of the Altar” | “Shared meal,” “Eucharistic celebration,” “Jesus bread” | Modern language dilutes doctrine. Referring to the Eucharist as a meal aligns with Protestant theology. |
| Fruit | Increase in sanctity, vocations, devotion to the Eucharist | Disbelief in the Real Presence; casual, irreverent attitude | Polls show the majority of Novus Ordo attendees deny transubstantiation. This is a direct result of modernist Eucharistic theology. |
| Validity | Certain and reverently administered | Doubtful or invalid in many cases | Due to defects in form, matter, minister, and intention, many Novus Ordo “Eucharists” are invalid or sacrilegious. |
Summary:
The Traditional Catholic Eucharist is the true Body and Blood of Christ, offered as a propitiatory sacrifice and received with profound reverence.
The Novus Ordo “Eucharist”, due to changes in doctrine, form, matter, and minister, is invalid, heretical, and sacrilegious.
Faithful Catholics must avoid Novus Ordo “Eucharist” entirely and seek the valid sacrament from priests ordained in the traditional rite and offering the traditional Mass.