Pentecostal Benny Hinn Says Catholics Have More Miracles, Credits Eucharist

Quick Summary

1. Pentecostal preacher Benny Hinn claims that Catholics experience more miracles than Pentecostals, citing a study that he does not specify.
2. Hinn credits the Catholic belief in the real presence of Jesus in the Eucharist as a reason for the reported higher occurrence of miracles.
3. While Hinn affirms a version of the real presence, his interpretation appears different from the Catholic doctrine of transubstantiation.
4. Hinn suggests that the relative lack of “church hopping” among Catholics contributes to their healing experiences, contrasting it with the tendency of Pentecostals to change churches frequently.
5. Hinn also mentions witnessing miracles among Coptic Christian communities, attributing them to similar reasons as Catholics.

This is a bit unexpected.

A video is being shared around on social media (watch it at the bottom of this article) of Pentecostal preacher and supposed faith-healer Benny Hinn telling a Pentecostal audience that Catholics experience more miracles than Pentecostals. Amazingly, he credits this to the Catholic belief in the real presence of Jesus in the Eucharist, which Hinn says he also affirms (at least a version of it). He also credits the fact that Catholics don’t “church hop” (or jump for church to church) as much as Pentecostals.

“They just released a study that more people are healed in a Catholic church than in Pentecostal churches,” Hinn tells his audience. It’s not clear what study he is referring to. “The studies have proven it,” he declares.

He then explains why he thinks that is the case: “Because Catholic people revere the Eucharist.

“More people get healed in a Catholic church during communion than Pentecostals… because to us it’s symbolic.”

He then defends the doctrine of the real presence: “Well Jesus didn’t say, ‘This is symbolic of body,’ he said, ‘This is my body’; [he didn’t say,] ‘This is symbolic of my blood,’ he said, ‘This is my blood.’”

“And I believe, I always have believed, that in the Spirit it is his body, in the Spirit its hid blood, so you revere it. There’s healing in communion. Absolutely, I’ve seen it happen in my own ministry.”

It’s important to note that Catholics believe in transubstantiation, which says that the bread and wine truly become Jesus in substance, not simply spiritually. In saying he believes the bread and wine becomes Jesus’ body and blood “in the Spirit,” Hinn appears to be affirming something different than the Catholic doctrine.

He then points to the relative lack of “church hopping” among Catholics: “And there’s healing in the Catholic churches because these people are devoted and show up every Sunday. They don’t church hop. We hop, they don’t. That’s why we’re sick, and many of them are healed.”

He then goes on to talk about miracles he’s seen in Coptic Christian communities, saying that they have miracles for similar reasons as Catholics.

Other than the fact that he’s addressing a Pentecostal audience, it’s not clear when or where the video was taken.

Here’s the clip:

Are more people healed in Catholic churches than in Pentecostal churches?

According to Benny Hinn, he claims that a study has shown that more people are healed in Catholic churches than in Pentecostal churches. Is there a theological explanation for this?

In Catholic theology, the sacraments, including the Eucharist, are considered channels of God’s grace. The Catholic Church teaches that during the Eucharistic celebration, the bread and wine become the actual body and blood of Jesus Christ through the process of transubstantiation. This belief in the real presence of Jesus in the Eucharist is deeply revered by Catholics.

Catholics approach the Eucharist with great reverence and devotion, understanding it to be more than just a symbolic act. They believe that by receiving the body and blood of Christ, they enter into a profound communion with Him. This intimate encounter with Jesus in the Eucharist can foster spiritual healing and bring about miraculous experiences.

In Scripture, Jesus Himself affirms the reality of His presence in the Eucharist. In the Gospel of John, Jesus says, “I am the living bread that came down from heaven. Whoever eats of this bread will live forever, and the bread that I will give for the life of the world is my flesh” (John 6:51). He further emphasizes the necessity of consuming His body and blood for eternal life (John 6:53-58).

The Catholic Church has a rich tradition of miraculous healings associated with the Eucharist throughout its history. These healings are seen as signs of God’s presence and power in the sacrament. While individual experiences may vary, the Catholic belief in the real presence and the reverence shown during the Eucharistic celebration can create a conducive environment for God’s healing grace to manifest.

Therefore, if Benny Hinn’s claim is accurate, it could be understood within the context of the Catholic belief in the real presence of Jesus in the Eucharist and the reverence shown by Catholics during the reception of this sacrament.

Does the Catholic belief in the real presence of Jesus in the Eucharist contribute to more healing during communion?

Benny Hinn suggests that more people experience healing in Catholic churches during communion because of the Catholic belief in the real presence of Jesus in the Eucharist. Can this belief truly contribute to healing?

The Catholic Church holds the belief of transubstantiation, which teaches that the bread and wine used in the Eucharistic celebration truly become the body and blood of Jesus Christ. Catholics understand this transformation to occur not only symbolically or spiritually but in substance.

The belief in the real presence of Jesus in the Eucharist implies a profound encounter with Christ Himself. When Catholics receive the consecrated bread and wine, they believe they are partaking in a sacred mystery where they are united with the person of Jesus Christ. It is through this intimate union with Christ that Catholics can experience His healing power.

In the Gospel of Matthew, Jesus institutes the Eucharist during the Last Supper, saying, “Take, eat; this is my body… Drink of it, all of you, for this is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins” (Matthew 26:26-28). These words of Jesus emphasize the reality of His body and blood in the Eucharist and the salvific significance of this sacrament.

Catholics approach the Eucharist with reverence, acknowledging the presence of Christ and seeking His healing touch. Through faith, they believe that Christ’s body and blood, received in communion, have the power to bring about physical, emotional, and spiritual healing. Countless testimonies of healing within the Catholic Church throughout history attest to this belief.

While the experience of healing may vary from person

to person, the Catholic belief in the real presence of Jesus in the Eucharist provides a profound context for encountering Christ’s healing grace. By approaching the Eucharist with faith, reverence, and an open heart, Catholics believe they can experience the transformative power of Christ’s love and mercy.

Do Catholics experience more miracles because they don’t “church hop” as much as Pentecostals?

Benny Hinn suggests that Catholics experience more miracles because they don’t “church hop” as much as Pentecostals. Is there a theological explanation for this?

The act of “church hopping” refers to the practice of frequently changing one’s place of worship or denomination. Benny Hinn implies that the relative lack of church hopping among Catholics contributes to their experience of more miracles compared to Pentecostals.

From a Catholic theological perspective, the regular participation in the liturgical life of the Church, including attending Mass on Sundays and receiving the sacraments, is considered vital for spiritual growth and nourishment. Catholics believe that through the sacraments, especially the Eucharist, they encounter the living Christ and are strengthened in their faith.

Attending Mass regularly fosters a sense of stability, continuity, and communal worship among Catholics. It allows them to engage in the sacramental life of the Church consistently, receiving the graces associated with the sacraments. By faithfully participating in the Church’s liturgy, Catholics position themselves to receive the manifold blessings that God offers through His Church.

In the book of Acts, it is written, “And they devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers” (Acts 2:42). This passage highlights the early Christian community’s commitment to gathering regularly for worship and fellowship.

By remaining steadfast in their commitment to the Catholic Church and its liturgical practices, Catholics create an environment that is conducive to encountering God’s transformative presence. The regularity of their worship and their involvement in the sacramental life of the Church contribute to a deepening of their faith and openness to God’s grace.

While it is important to note that miracles and the experience of God’s grace are not limited to any particular denomination or practice, the consistency and devotion exhibited by Catholics in their worship can create a spiritual atmosphere that fosters a greater receptivity to God’s miraculous workings.

How does the Catholic belief in the real presence of Jesus in the Eucharist differ from Benny Hinn’s understanding?

Benny Hinn affirms a belief in the real presence of Jesus in the Eucharist, but he appears to articulate it differently from the Catholic understanding. What are the distinctions between the Catholic belief and Hinn’s understanding?

In Catholic theology, the belief in the real presence of Jesus in the Eucharist is expressed through the doctrine of transubstantiation. According to this teaching, during the consecration at Mass, the substance of bread and wine is transformed into the substance of the body and blood of Christ, while the accidents (appearances) of bread and wine remain.

Hinn, on the other hand, seems to express a different understanding of the real presence. He states that the bread and wine become Jesus’ body and blood “in the Spirit.” While this terminology is not explicitly defined, it suggests a spiritual presence rather than a substantial transformation.

The Catholic Church affirms that the real presence of Jesus in the Eucharist is not merely symbolic but a true and substantial presence. This belief is supported by biblical passages such as the Last Supper accounts in the Gospels, where Jesus explicitly states, “This is my body” and “This is my blood” (Matthew 26:26-28).

Catholics believe that in the Eucharist, they receive the whole Christ—His body, blood, soul, and

divinity. The Eucharist is not a mere symbol or representation but a sacrament that effectuates what it signifies. Through the power of the Holy Spirit and the words of consecration pronounced by the priest, the bread and wine truly become the body and blood of Christ.

The Catholic understanding of the real presence is deeply rooted in Scripture, Tradition, and the writings of the early Church Fathers. It is a profound mystery that highlights the intimacy of the believer’s union with Christ and the sacrificial nature of the Eucharist.

While Hinn’s affirmation of the real presence may indicate some common ground with Catholic theology, his description of it as “in the Spirit” suggests a departure from the precise understanding articulated by the Catholic Church in the doctrine of transubstantiation.