text: You are so precise in your understanding of the concepts of "in the person of..." vs. "in the presence..."   Vatican II was the theological force that changed the distorted medieval reliance of the priest being the presence of Christ, rather than all of the baptized having Christ present within ("in the person").    And yes, the Eucharistic celebration is a symbolic remembrance.  If it was a reenactment we would either kill someone at each Mass, or expect that the blood and bones of Jesus would be crushed in our mouths upon receiving communion.