This is odd, especially since Mithraism predates Christ's birth (in many ways it was pre-Zoroastrian, as Zoroaster denounced aspects of the cult). Ancient covenants were sanctioned by the common meal.
Christianity isn't in any way related to Mithraism. Post the name and work of the RCC "scholar" who you referenced. So little is known about the cult that I would be surprised to see a RCC scholar arguing against second century primary source evidence.
Mithras was the ancient Persian god of contracts and by your logic one would have to also assert it is therefore related to Judaism, as the Jewish angel Tamiel was the angel of contracts. Mithraism began to be accepted by the Roman legions as they advanced into Persia. They then brought Mithraism back to the empire proper when they returned. People have attempted to draw parallels between Mithraism and Christianity, but from what little is known of the practices of Mithraists the two share no commonalities. Furthermore, as I pointed out, St. Justin, writing to the Roman emperor in 155 A.D., complained that the followers of Mithraism were COPYING Christians, trying to imitate the Christian Eucharist.
Only ancient covenant meal the Christian Eucharist fulfilled was that of the Old Covenant in Exodus 24. You cannot read the institution of the new covenant (Eucharist) narratives without recalling Exodus 24, where after Moses offers the blood of the covenant,
he and the others are taken up to eat and drink in the presence of God (communion)...
"And Moses took the blood, and sprinkled it on the people, and said, '
Behold the blood of the covenant, which the Lord hath made with you concerning all these words.'
Then went up Moses, and Aaron, Nadab, and Abihu, and seventy of the elders of Israel:
And they saw the God of Israel: and there was under his feet as it were a paved work of a sapphire stone, and as it were the body of heaven in his clearness. And upon the nobles of the children of Israel he laid not his hand:
also they saw God, and did eat and drink. (Exodus 24:8-11, KJV)
The
Eucharistic sacrifice is called "
the New Testament" by our Blessed Lord (cf. Mt. 26:28, Mark 14:24, Luke 22:20, 1 Cor 11:25)...
"And as ttey were eating, Jesus took bread, and blessed it, and brake it, and gave it to the disciples, and said, 'Take, eat; this is my body.' And he took the cup, and gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, 'Drink ye all of it;
For this is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins.'" (Mt. 26:26-28)
"And as they did eat, Jesus took bread, and blessed, and brake it, and gave to them, and said, 'Take, eat: this is my body.' And he took the cup, and when he had given thanks, he gave it to them: and they all drank of it. And he said unto them, '
This is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many'." (Mark 14:22-24)
"And he took bread, and gave thanks, and brake it, and gave unto them, saying, 'This is my body which is given for you: this do in remembrance of me.' Likewise also the cup after supper, saying, '
This cup is the new testament in my blood, which is shed for you.'" (Luke 22:19-20)
Here is St. Paul
quoting our Blessed Lord, "For I have received of the Lord that which also I delivered unto you, that the Lord Jesus the same night in which he was betrayed took bread: And when he had given thanks, he brake it, and said, 'Take, eat: this is my body, which is broken for you: this do in remembrance of me.' After the same manner also he took the cup, when he had supped, saying, '
This cup is the new testament in my blood: this do ye, as oft as ye drink it, in remembrance of me.'" (1 Cor 11:23-25)
In the New Testament, the reality always surpasses the figure. If wine was in the chalice and not Christ's blood, then this would be the first instance in all of Scripture
where the figure of something would have surpassed the reality.
Exodus 24 with Moses offering the blood and communion with God is the figure ---> Pointing to and fulfilled in the New Covenant of the Eucharistic sacrifice offered by Christ, the New Moses, offering HIS very body and blood and true communion with God