Words about the Eucharist written by the Fathers of the Early Church who received their training directly from the Disciples.
Here is a chart to show which of the Apostolic (Early Church) Fathers had a direct connection with which Disciple and the words they wrote about the Lord's Presence in the Eucharist as handed down to them by the Disciples themselves.
St. Ignatius, 3rd Bishop of Antioch, Syria. (Now Turkey) Disciple of St John (died c. 110, Rome;) Feast day October 17; Ignatius was the little child Jesus took into His arms in Matthew 18:2, Luke 9:46-48 and in Mark’s gospel 9:33-37:
Matthew 18:2-4
2 He called a little child to him, and placed the child among them. 3 And he said: “Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the Kingdom of Heaven.
St Ignatius Disciple of St John and St Peter wrote....
"I have no taste for corruptible food nor for the pleasures of this life. I desire the Bread of God, which is the Flesh of Jesus Christ, Who was of the seed of David; and for drink I desire His blood, which is love incorruptible. Letter to the Romans 7:3 CHURCH FATHERS: Epistle to the Romans (St. Ignatius)
"Take care, then, to use one Eucharist, so that whatever you do, you do according to God: For there is one Flesh of Our Lord Jesus Christ, and one cup in the Union of His Blood; one Altar, as there is one Bishop with the Presbytery…" Letter to the Philadelphians 4:1 CHURCH FATHERS: Epistle to the Philadelphians (St. Ignatius)
"They [i.e. the Gnostics] abstain from the Eucharist and from prayer, because they do not confess that the Eucharist is the Flesh of Our Saviour Jesus Christ, Flesh which suffered for our sins and which the Father, in his goodness, raised up again." Letter to Smyrnians 7:1 CHURCH FATHERS: Epistle to the Smyrnaeans (St. Ignatius)
St. Justin the Martyr (c. 100 - 165 A.D.) We call this food Eucharist; and no one else is permitted to partake of it, except one who believes our teaching to be true and who has been washed in the washing which is for the remission of sins and for regeneration [Baptism], and is thereby living as Christ has enjoined. For not as common bread nor common drink do we receive these; but since Jesus Christ our Savior was made incarnate by the word of God and had both flesh and blood for our salvation, so too, as we have been taught, the food which has been made into the Eucharist by the Eucharistic prayer set down by Him, AND BY THE CHANGE OF WHICH our blood and flesh is nourished, IS BOTH THE FLESH AND THE BLOOD OF THAT INCARNATED JESUS. First Apology, 66 CHURCH FATHERS: The First Apology (St. Justin Martyr)
St. Irenaeus Bishop of Lyons (c. 140 - 202 A.D.) Disciple of Polycarp who knew St John. …He took from among creation that which is bread, and gave thanks, saying, "THIS IS MY BODY." The cup likewise, which is from among the creation to which we belong, He confessed to Be His Blood. He taught THE NEW SACRIFICE OF THE NEW COVENANT, of which Malachi, one of the twelve prophets, had signified beforehand: [quotes Mal 1:10-11]. By these words He makes it plain that the former people will cease to make offerings to God; BUT THAT IN EVERY PLACE SACRIFICE WILL BE OFFERED TO HIM, and indeed, a pure one; for His name is glorified among the Gentiles. Against Heresies 4:17:5
But what consistency is there in those who hold that the bread over which thanks have been given is the Body of their Lord, and the cup His Blood, if they do not acknowledge that He is the Son of the Creator… How can they say that the flesh which has been nourished by the Body of the Lord and by His Blood gives way to corruption and does not partake of life? …For as the bread from the earth, receiving the invocation of God, is no longer common bread but the Eucharist, consisting of two elements, earthly and heavenly… Against Heresies 4:18:4-5
"If the body be not saved, then, in fact, neither did the Lord redeem us with His Blood; and neither is the cup of the Eucharist the Partaking of His Blood nor is the bread which we break the partaking of His Body…He has declared the cup, a part of creation, to be His own Blood, from which He causes our blood to flow; and the Bread, a part of creation, He has established as His own Body, from which He gives increase to our bodies.
When, therefore, the mixed cup and the baked bread receives the Word of God and becomes the Eucharist, The Body of Christ, and from these the substance of our flesh is increased and supported, how can they say that the flesh is not capable of receiving the gift of God, which is eternal Life -- flesh which is nourished by the Body and Blood of the Lord …receiving the Word of God, becomes the Eucharist, which is the Body and Blood of Christ … " Against Heresies 5:2:2-3 CHURCH FATHERS: Against Heresies (St. Irenaeus)
"The Didache"(c. 90 A.D.) The Lord's Teaching Through the Twelve Apostles to the Nations. A Document known to be of the 1st century Church. "But concerning the Eucharist, after this fashion give ye thanks. First, concerning the cup. We thank thee, our Father, for the holy vine, David thy Son, which thou hast made known unto us through Jesus Christ thy Son; to thee be the glory for ever.
And concerning the broken bread. We thank thee, our Father, for the life and knowledge which thou hast made known unto us through Jesus thy Son; to thee be the glory for ever.
As this broken bread was once scattered on the mountains, and after it had been brought together became one, so may thy Church be gathered together from the ends of the earth unto thy kingdom; for thine is the glory, and the power, through Jesus Christ, for ever.
And let none eat or drink of your Eucharist but such as have been baptized into the name of the Lord, for of a truth the Lord hath said concerning this, Give not that which is holy unto dogs. ( 9:1-5)
On the Lord's Day of the Lord gather together, break bread and give thanks, after confessing your transgressions SO THAT YOUR SACRIFICE MAY BE PURE. Let no one who has a quarrel with his neighbor join you until he is reconciled by the Lord: "In every place and time let there be OFFERED TO ME A CLEAN SACRIFICE. For I am Great King," says the Lord, "and My name is wonderful among the Gentiles." (14:1-2)" CHURCH FATHERS: The Didache
