Ales Rarus

The following is from Teaching Truths by Signs and Ceremonies or The Church, Its Rites and Services Explained for the People by Rev. Jas. L. Meagher (1882, New York: Russel Brothers).

"In the Greek text [the expression of carnal nature of the Eucharist] is stronger than in our English Bible. Those who do not wish to believe use all kinds of ways in order to get out of believing the truth of Christ's presence. But these words are so clear, the universal belief of all antiquity, the writings of the fathers of the Church, who give the belief of all ages up to the time of Christ, all these are so strong on that even Luther himself says, 'These words are so clear that no angel from heaven, no man on earth could speak clearer." (Ch. 5, p. 81)

"St. Ignatius, made Bishop of Antioch in the year 69, writing against the Gnostics says: 'They abstain from prayer, because they confess not that the Eucharist is the flesh of our Lord Jesus Christ.' St. Justin, the Martyr, born in the year 105, explaining the Mass to the Roman Emporer Antoninus, says: 'He who is the chief among the brethren, taking the bread and the vessel of wine and water, giving glory to the Father of all, in the name of the Son and Holy Spirit, continues the Eucharist…Then all the people say Amen…But we do not take this as communion bread or drink, but as for our salvation, by the Word of God, Jesus Christ was made flesh, thus by these prayers we receive the flesh and blood of the same incarnate Jesus Christ.'" (Ch. 5, p. 84)

"St. Ambrose, born in the year 340, says: 'Of the bread the flesh of Christ is made…But how can that which is bread become the Body of Christ? By consecration. By whose words and by whose language does the consecration take place? Those of our Lord Jesus Christ. For it was not the Body of Christ before the consecration, but I say to thee, that after consecration it is now the Body of Christ. He said and it was done, he commanded and it was made.'" (Ch.5, p. 85)