Ratification, The.--The American Prayer-book having been set forth,
it was duly ratified by the action of the General Convention on
October 16th, 1789, and the certificate of such ratification appears
in every copy of the Prayer-book, declaring "it to be the Liturgy of
this Church," and requiring "that it be received as such by all the
members of the same."
Real Presence.--The name given to the Church's doctrine concerning
Christ's Presence in the Holy Eucharist. The term "Real Presence"
is intended to signify that the Presence of our Lord in this
Sacrament is a reality; that while His Presence is spiritual, it
is none the less real, and not simply figurative. The sacrament is
not a mere sign or token of an absent {225} Christ. It is a great deal
more. As it is Christ who invites, bids and calls us to this Feast
and provides the spiritual food for it, it would be strange indeed
if we were uncertain whether He is there to receive us and to feed
us; and if He is present, His Presence must be very _real_. Under
the outward form of Bread and Wine we have the Scriptural warrant
to believe that the Body and the Blood of Christ are given, taken
and received verily and indeed by the faithful in the Lord's Supper,
to the strengthening and refreshing of their souls,--as declared in
the Church Catechism and the Twenty-eighth Article of Religion.
Being assured of this fact, it is useless and only fruitful in
doubt and perplexity, to speculate upon the manner of this Presence,
which is a _Mystery of the Gospel_; as such the Church has received
and taught it, but has never explained or defined. This being the
attitude of the Church, it will be our wisdom to say of this
Mystery:
"Christ was the Word that spake it;
He took the Bread and brake it,
And what that Word did make it,
That I believe and take it."