The Sixth Chapter of the Gospel of St. John, being a stumbling block to the protestants. (Not to mention the Jews.)

For the last six Sundays (with the exception of the Feast of the Transfiguration of the Lord on August 6) the Gospel readings have been from the Sixth Chapter of St. John.

Everybody loves the Miracle of the Loaves and the Fishes, (though it does prefigure the Blessed Sacrament, you Christians-sans-Sacraments) but by the time we get to Verse 41 we have not only lost the murmuring Jews who only followed Jesus for a free lunch, but our protestant friends who seem worn out from taking the Bible literally up to that point.

The strangest facet of the schismatis' refusal to accept the teaching of His Church in this matter is the Christ's almost unprecedented militantness on this point. Jesus very clearly says all must eat his flesh and drink his blood to have eternal life. (For you clowns ready with charges of cannibalism, see the notes for Verses 63 and 64 below and keep your willful ignorance to yourselves.)

Please note: He does not REPEAT NOT say we should symbolically playact at eating his flesh and blood.

So, if you are a Jew wondering when the Messiah is going to show, or a protestant wondering why your "church" doesn't treat all of Jesus' words like they are the gospel truth, carefully read St. John's account below and then go have a nice chat with your friendly neighborhood Roman Catholic priest.


6:1. After these things Jesus went over the sea of Galilee, which is that of Tiberias.
Post haec abiit Iesus trans mare Galilaeae quod est Tiberiadis

6:2. And a great multitude followed him, because they saw the miracles which he did on them that were diseased.
Et sequebatur eum multitudo magna quia videbant signa quae faciebat super his qui infirmabantur

6:3. Jesus therefore went up into a mountain: and there he sat with his disciples.
Subiit ergo in montem Iesus et ibi sedebat cum discipulis suis

6:4. Now the pasch, the festival day of the Jews, was near at hand.
Erat autem proximum pascha dies festus Iudaeorum

6:5. When Jesus therefore had lifted up his eyes and seen that a very great multitude cometh to him, he said to Philip: Whence shall we buy bread, that these may eat?
Cum sublevasset ergo oculos Iesus et vidisset quia multitudo maxima venit ad eum dicit ad Philippum unde ememus panes ut manducent hii

6:6. And this he said to try him: for he himself knew what he would do. Hoc autem dicebat temptans eum ipse enim sciebat quid esset facturus

6:7. Philip answered him: Two hundred pennyworth of bread is not sufficient for them that every one may take a little.
Respondit ei Philippus ducentorum denariorum panes non sufficiunt eis ut unusquisque modicum quid accipiat

6:8. One of his disciples, Andrew, the brother of Simon Peter, saith to him: Dicit ei unus ex discipulis eius Andreas frater Simonis Petri

6:9. There is a boy here that hath five barley loaves and two fishes. But what are these among so many?
Est puer unus hic qui habet quinque panes hordiacios et duos pisces sed haec quid sunt inter tantos

6:10. Then Jesus said: Make the men sit down. Now, there was much grass in the place. The men therefore sat down, in number about five thousand. Dixit ergo Iesus facite homines discumbere erat autem faenum multum in loco discubuerunt ergo viri numero quasi quinque milia

6:11. And Jesus took the loaves: and when he had given thanks, he distributed to them that were set down. In like manner also of the fishes, as much as they would.
Accepit ergo panes Iesus et cum gratias egisset distribuit discumbentibus similiter et ex piscibus quantum volebant

6:12. And when they were filled, he said to his disciples: gather up the fragments that remain, lest they be lost.
Ut autem impleti sunt dixit discipulis suis colligite quae superaverunt fragmenta ne pereant

6:13. They gathered up therefore and filled twelve baskets with the fragments of the five barley loaves which remained over and above to them that had eaten.
Collegerunt ergo et impleverunt duodecim cofinos fragmentorum ex quinque panibus hordiaciis quae superfuerunt his qui manducaverunt

6:14. Now those men, when they had seen what a miracle Jesus had done, said: This is of a truth the prophet that is to come into the world.
Illi ergo homines cum vidissent quod fecerat signum dicebant quia hic est vere propheta qui venturus est in mundum

6:15. Jesus therefore, when he knew that they would come to take him by force and make him king, fled again into the mountains, himself alone. Iesus ergo cum cognovisset quia venturi essent ut raperent eum et facerent eum regem fugit iterum in montem ipse solus

6:16. And when evening was come, his disciples went down to the sea.
Ut autem sero factum est descenderunt discipuli eius ad mare

6:17. And when they had gone up into a ship, they went over the sea to Capharnaum. And it was now dark: and Jesus was not come unto them.
Et cum ascendissent navem venerunt trans mare in Capharnaum et tenebrae iam factae erant et non venerat ad eos Iesus

6:18. And the sea arose, by reason of a great wind that blew.
Mare autem vento magno flante exsurgebat

6:19. When they had rowed therefore about five and twenty or thirty furlongs, they see Jesus walking upon the sea and drawing nigh to the ship. And they were afraid.
Cum remigassent ergo quasi stadia viginti quinque aut triginta vident Iesum ambulantem super mare et proximum navi fieri et timuerunt

6:20. But he saith to them: It is I. Be not afraid.
Ille autem dicit eis ego sum nolite timere

6:21. They were willing therefore to take him into the ship. And presently the ship was at the land to which they were going.
Voluerunt ergo accipere eum in navi et statim fuit navis ad terram quam ibant

6:22. The next day, the multitude that stood on the other side of the sea saw that there was no other ship there but one: and that Jesus had not entered into the ship with his disciples, but that his disciples were gone away alone.
Altera die turba quae stabat trans mare vidit quia navicula alia non erat ibi nisi una et quia non introisset cum discipulis suis Iesus in navem sed soli discipuli eius abissent

6:23. But other ships came in from Tiberias, nigh unto the place where they had eaten the bread, the Lord giving thanks.
Aliae vero supervenerunt naves a Tiberiade iuxta locum ubi manducaverant panem gratias agente Domino

6:24. When therefore the multitude saw that Jesus was not there, nor his disciples, they took shipping and came to Capharnaum, seeking for Jesus. Cum ergo vidisset turba quia Iesus non esset ibi neque discipuli eius ascenderunt naviculas et venerunt Capharnaum quaerentes Iesum

6:25. And when they had found him on that other side of the sea, they said to him: Rabbi, when camest thou hither?
Et cum invenissent eum trans mare dixerunt ei rabbi quando huc venisti

6:26. Jesus answered them and said: Amen, amen, I say to you, you seek me, not because you have seen miracles, but because you did eat of the loaves and were filled.
Respondit eis Iesus et dixit amen amen dico vobis quaeritis me non quia vidistis signa sed quia manducastis ex panibus et saturati estis

6:27. Labour not for the meat which perisheth, but for that which endureth unto life everlasting, which the Son of man will give you. For him hath God, the Father, sealed.
Operamini non cibum qui perit sed qui permanet in vitam aeternam quem Filius hominis vobis dabit hunc enim Pater signavit Deus

6:28. They said therefore unto him: What shall we do, that we may work the works of God?
Dixerunt ergo ad eum quid faciemus ut operemur opera Dei

6:29. Jesus answered and said to them: This is the work of God, that you believe in him whom he hath sent.
Respondit Iesus et dixit eis hoc est opus Dei ut credatis in eum quem misit ille

6:30. They said therefore to him: What sign therefore dost thou show that we may see and may believe thee? What dost thou work?
Dixerunt ergo ei quod ergo tu facis signum ut videamus et credamus tibi quid operaris

6:31. Our fathers did eat manna in the desert, as it is written: He gave them bread from heaven to eat.
Patres nostri manna manducaverunt in deserto sicut scriptum est panem de caelo dedit eis manducare

6:32. Then Jesus said to them: Amen, amen, I say to you; Moses gave you not bread from heaven, but my Father giveth you the true bread from heaven.
Dixit ergo eis Iesus amen amen dico vobis non Moses dedit vobis panem de caelo sed Pater meus dat vobis panem de caelo verum

6:33. For the bread of God is that which cometh down from heaven and giveth life to the world.
Panis enim Dei est qui descendit de caelo et dat vitam mundo

6:34. They said therefore unto him: Lord, give us always this bread. Dixerunt ergo ad eum Domine semper da nobis panem hunc

6:35. And Jesus said to them: I am the bread of life. He that cometh to me shall not hunger: and he that believeth in me shall never thirst.
Dixit autem eis Iesus ego sum panis vitae qui veniet ad me non esuriet et qui credit in me non sitiet umquam

6:36. But I said unto you that you also have seen me, and you believe not. Sed dixi vobis quia et vidistis me et non creditis

6:37. All that the Father giveth to me shall come to me: and him that cometh to me, I will not cast out.
Omne quod dat mihi Pater ad me veniet et eum qui venit ad me non eiciam foras

6:38. Because I came down from heaven, not to do my own will but the will of him that sent me.
Quia descendi de caelo non ut faciam voluntatem meam sed voluntatem eius qui misit me

6:39. Now this is the will of the Father who sent me: that of all that he hath given me, I should lose nothing; but should raise it up again in the last day.
Haec est autem voluntas eius qui misit me Patris ut omne quod dedit mihi non perdam ex eo sed resuscitem illum novissimo die

6:40. And this is the will of my Father that sent me: that every one who seeth the Son and believeth in him may have life everlasting. And I will raise him up in the last day.
Haec est enim voluntas Patris mei qui misit me ut omnis qui videt Filium et credit in eum habeat vitam aeternam et resuscitabo ego eum in novissimo die

6:41. The Jews therefore murmured at him, because he had said: I am the living bread which came down from heaven.
Murmurabant ergo Iudaei de illo quia dixisset ego sum panis qui de caelo descendi

6:42. And they said: Is not this Jesus, the son of Joseph, whose father and mother we know? How then saith he: I came down from heaven?
Et dicebant nonne hic est Iesus filius Ioseph cuius nos novimus patrem et matrem quomodo ergo dicit hic quia de caelo descendi

6:43. Jesus therefore answered and said to them: Murmur not among yourselves.
Respondit ergo Iesus et dixit eis nolite murmurare in invicem

6:44. No man can come to me, except the Father, who hath sent me, draw him. And I will raise him up in the last day.*
Nemo potest venire ad me nisi Pater qui misit me traxerit eum et ego resuscitabo eum novissimo die

6:45. It is written in the prophets: And they shall all be taught of God. Every one that hath heard of the Father and hath learned cometh forth me. Est scriptum in prophetis et erunt omnes docibiles Dei omnis qui audivit a Patre et didicit venit ad me

6:46. Not that any man hath seen the Father: but he who is of God, he hath seen the Father.
Non quia Patrem vidit quisquam nisi is qui est a Deo hic vidit Patrem

6:47. Amen, amen, I say unto you: He that believeth in me hath everlasting life.
Amen amen dico vobis qui credit in me habet vitam aeternam

6:48. I am the bread of life.
Ego sum panis vitae

6:49. Your fathers did eat manna in the desert: and are dead.
Patres vestri manducaverunt in deserto manna et mortui sunt

6:50. This is the bread which cometh down from heaven: that if any man eat of it, he may not die.
Hic est panis de caelo descendens ut si quis ex ipso manducaverit non moriatur

6:51. I am the living bread which came down from heaven.
Ego sum panis vivus qui de caelo descendi

6:52. If any man eat of this bread, he shall live for ever: and the bread that I will give is my flesh, for the life of the world.
Si quis manducaverit ex hoc pane vivet in aeternum et panis quem ego dabo caro mea est pro mundi vita

6:53. The Jews therefore strove among themselves, saying: How can this man give us his flesh to eat?
Litigabant ergo Iudaei ad invicem dicentes quomodo potest hic nobis carnem suam dare ad manducandum

6:54. Then Jesus said to them: Amen, amen, I say unto you: except you eat the flesh of the Son of man and drink his blood, you shall not have life in you.*
Dixit ergo eis Iesus amen amen dico vobis nisi manducaveritis carnem Filii hominis et biberitis eius sanguinem non habetis vitam in vobis

6:55. He that eateth my flesh and drinketh my blood hath everlasting life: and I will raise him up in the last day.
Qui manducat meam carnem et bibit meum sanguinem habet vitam aeternam et ego resuscitabo eum in novissimo die

6:56. For my flesh is meat indeed: and my blood is drink indeed.
Caro enim mea vere est cibus et sanguis meus vere est potus

6:57. He that eateth my flesh and drinketh my blood abideth in me: and I in him.
Qui manducat meam carnem et bibit meum sanguinem in me manet et ego in illo

6:58. As the living Father hath sent me and I live by the Father: so he that eateth me, the same also shall live by me.
Sicut misit me vivens Pater et ego vivo propter Patrem et qui manducat me et ipse vivet propter me

6:59. This is the bread that came down from heaven. Not as your fathers did eat manna and are dead. He that eateth this bread shall live for ever. Hic est panis qui de caelo descendit non sicut manducaverunt patres vestri manna et mortui sunt qui manducat hunc panem vivet in aeternum

6:60. These things he said, teaching in the synagogue, in Capharnaum. Haec dixit in synagoga docens in Capharnaum

6:61. Many therefore of his disciples, hearing it, said: This saying is hard; and who can hear it?
Multi ergo audientes ex discipulis eius dixerunt durus est hic sermo quis potest eum audire

6:62. But Jesus, knowing in himself that his disciples murmured at this, said to them: Doth this scandalize you?
Sciens autem Iesus apud semet ipsum quia murmurarent de hoc discipuli eius dixit eis hoc vos scandalizat

6:63. If then you shall see the Son of man ascend up where he was before?* Si ergo videritis Filium hominis ascendentem ubi erat prius

6:64. It is the spirit that quickeneth: the flesh profiteth nothing. The words that I have spoken to you are spirit and life.*
Spiritus est qui vivificat caro non prodest quicquam verba quae ego locutus sum vobis spiritus et vita sunt

6:65. But there are some of you that believe not. For Jesus knew from the beginning who they were that did not believe and who he was that would betray him.
Sed sunt quidam ex vobis qui non credunt sciebat enim ab initio Iesus qui essent credentes et quis traditurus esset eum

6:66. And he said: Therefore did I say to you that no man can come to me, unless it be given him by my Father.
Et dicebat propterea dixi vobis quia nemo potest venire ad me nisi fuerit ei datum a Patre meo

6:67. After this, many of his disciples went back and walked no more with him.
Ex hoc multi discipulorum eius abierunt retro et iam non cum illo ambulabant

6:68. Then Jesus said to the twelve: Will you also go away?
Dixit ergo Iesus ad duodecim numquid et vos vultis abire

6:69. And Simon Peter answered him: Lord, to whom shall we go? Thou hast the words of eternal life.
Respondit ergo ei Simon Petrus Domine ad quem ibimus verba vitae aeternae habes

6:70. And we have believed and have known that thou art the Christ, the Son of God.
Et nos credidimus et cognovimus quia tu es Christus Filius Dei

6:71. Jesus answered them: Have not I chosen you twelve? And one of you is a devil.
Respondit eis Iesus nonne ego vos duodecim elegi et ex vobis unus diabolus est

6:72. Now he meant Judas Iscariot, the son of Simon: for this same was about to betray him, whereas he was one of the twelve.
Dicebat autem Iudam Simonis Scariotis hic enim erat traditurus eum cum esset unus ex duodecim



*NOTES

VERSE 44. Draw him... Not by compulsion, nor by laying the free will under any necessity, but by the strong and sweet motions of his heavenly grace.
VERSE 54. Except you eat and drink, etc... To receive the body and blood of Christ, is a divine precept, insinuated in this text; which the faithful fulfil, though they receive but in one kind; because in one kind they receive both body and blood, which cannot be separated from each other. Hence, life eternal is here promised to the worthy receiving, though but in one kind. Ver. 52. If any man eat of this bread, he shall live for ever; and the bread that I will give, is my flesh for the life of the world. Ver. 58. He that eateth me, the same also shall live by me. Ver. 59. He that eateth this bread, shall liver for ever.
VERSE 63. If then you shall see, etc... Christ by mentioning his ascension, by this instance of his power and divinity, would confirm the truth of what he had before asserted; and at the same time correct their gross apprehension of eating his flesh, and drinking his blood, in a vulgar and carnal manner, by letting them know he should take his whole body living with him to heaven; and consequently not suffer it to be as they supposed, divided, mangled, and consumed upon earth.
VERSE 64. The flesh profiteth nothing... Dead flesh separated from the spirit, in the gross manner they supposed they were to eat his flesh, would profit nothing. Neither doth man's flesh, that is to say, man's natural and carnal apprehension, (which refuses to be subject to the spirit, and words of Christ), profit any thing. But it would be the height of blasphemy, to say the living flesh of Christ (which we receive in the blessed sacrament, with his spirit, that is, with his soul and divinity) profiteth nothing. For if Christ's flesh had profited us nothing, he would never have taken flesh for us, nor died in us nothing, he would never have taken flesh for us, nor died in the flesh for us. Are spirit and life... By proposing to you a heavenly sacrament, in which you shall receive, in a wonderful manner, spirit, grace, and life, in its very fountain.