Dear Claudette,

Thanks for the question.

You said:
I was having a discussion with my granddaughter and family when she mentioned she was taught in Catholic school that when the priest holds up The Host he says This is a symbol of My Body.

This is pure heresy and should be reported to your local bishop immediately.

You are absolutely correct in your understanding, though we should clarify that we eat and drink His Body and Blood sacramentally under the form/or accidents of bread and wine.

We are not cannibals.

You said:

• Please help me with a proper reply so I can explain it in a way she will understand it.

These postings should help you to explain the Eucharist in a way she will understand it.

• Do Catholics practice ritualistic cannibalism when partaking in the Eucharist?
• If we eat His Body and drink His Blood during the Eucharist does that make us cannibalistic?
  

Contact your local bishop immediately, even if you have to do so in person!

A good bishop would also follow-up with the seminary and seminary professors under which this priest was trained and take appropriate seminary action. e.g. dismissal.

In my humble opinion, many, if not all, of the main problems we have in the Church stem from weak seminary professors and a poor seminary culture.

At the CCD or catechesis level, we have to instill in the faithful:

• Why being Catholic is such a privilege.
• How the word Catholic means the Christian faith according to its totality, and
• How Catholic Christians are called to bring forth the full Catholic Christian Gospel to the next generation of Catholic Christians (as Jesus told us to — Matthew 28:18-20) and to non-Catholic Christians who are open to accepting it.

This can only be done by starting Catholic Apologetic support groups at the CCD or catechesis level.

Mike