Grace Thompson
The Catholic belief that the Eucharist involves literally consuming the body and blood of Christ is considered a hard teaching to understand and defend, even for some Catholics. The term for this belief is transubstantiation, which holds that the bread and wine offered during the Eucharistic celebration become the body and blood of Christ while retaining their physical appearance. This belief is based on the interpretation of Jesus' words at the Last Supper, where he offered his disciples bread and wine, saying, This is my body and This is my blood. While some Catholic churches have adopted the use of individual cups for communion due to health concerns, the traditional practice of sharing a common cup is seen as a symbol of community and unity.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Catholic belief in drinking Christ's blood | Catholics believe that the consecrated bread and wine become the Body and Blood of Christ, which they consume. |
| Drinking Christ's blood as a divine law | Catholics believe that Jesus commanded his followers to drink his blood, and that this is a positive divine law. |
| Drinking Christ's blood as a natural moral law | Some Catholics argue that drinking Christ's blood is not part of the natural moral law, and that it is instead a ceremonial precept. |
| Drinking Christ's blood in practice | Catholics traditionally drink from a common cup, symbolizing community. However, during the Spanish flu pandemic and the COVID-19 pandemic, some churches adopted the use of individual cups to reduce the risk of disease transmission. |
| Distribution of Christ's blood during Mass | The Precious Blood is not always distributed during Mass, and some Catholics may only receive the Sacred Host (consecrated bread). |
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What You'll Learn
The Eucharist is Christ's blood and body
The Eucharist is a central tenet of Catholic doctrine, and it is believed that the bread and wine used in the celebration are changed into the body and blood of Christ. This change is referred to as "transubstantiation", and it is a mystery, according to the Catholic Church, in which the "signs of bread and wine" become the Body and Blood of Christ. This belief is not new, and Christ's disciples heard it directly from Him, as recorded in the Bible (John 6:60,66).
The term "transubstantiation" was used by the 11th century and was widespread by the 12th century. It was affirmed by the Fourth Council of the Lateran in 1215. The bread and wine are said to be "made" or "changed into" the body and blood of Christ, and this change is brought about through the Eucharistic prayer, with the word of Christ and the action of the Holy Spirit. The outward characteristics of bread and wine remain, but the substance is changed.
The Eucharist, therefore, is not just a symbolic act, but a real consumption of the body and blood of Christ. This is a challenging teaching, even for some Catholics, as it involves a deep level of faith. The Eucharist is also not just a memorial of Christ's death and resurrection, but a continuation of the sacrifice Christ made on the cross.
The distribution of the Eucharist is usually done by a priest giving consecrated bread, and sometimes a shared chalice of wine, to the congregation. The sharing of the chalice is an important symbol of community, but it has been a subject of debate during times of disease outbreaks.
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Catholics believe they consume Christ's blood
Catholics believe that during the Eucharist, the bread and wine offered during the consecration become the actual body and blood of Christ. This belief is called transubstantiation. While the taste, texture, and physical composition of the bread and wine remain the same, Catholics believe that they are consuming the body and blood of Christ in the Eucharist. This belief is based on the words of Christ during the Last Supper, where he offered his disciples bread and wine, saying, "This is my body" and "This is my blood."
The practice of drinking from a shared cup, or chalice, during Communion is an important symbol of community for Catholics. It represents sharing everything, including risk and suffering, and is seen as a testament to the scandal of sharing in Jesus' person and fate. However, during the Spanish flu pandemic in 1918, many churches, including Catholic ones, began using individual cups for Communion to reduce the risk of disease transmission.
The belief in consuming the blood of Christ is a challenging aspect of Catholic doctrine, even for some Catholics themselves. It is often a point of criticism and caricature by non-Catholics. The idea of drinking blood can be difficult to defend and accept, even within the faith. Nevertheless, Catholics maintain that the Eucharist is not just symbolic but involves the real presence of Christ.
The Catholic Church's teaching on transubstantiation states that the bread and wine are changed into the body and blood of Christ through the Eucharistic prayer, the word of Christ, and the action of the Holy Spirit. This change is referred to as a mystery, and the outward characteristics of bread and wine remain unaltered. The doctrine of transubstantiation was affirmed by the Fourth Council of the Lateran in 1215 and has been a part of Catholic teaching for centuries.
While the distribution of the Precious Blood during Mass is not common, Catholics believe that receiving either the bread or the wine, or both, grants the fullness of the sacrament's grace. The decision to distribute the Precious Blood during Mass is typically left to local bishops and varies across different Catholic communities.
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The blood is drunk from a shared chalice
The Catholic Church teaches that, during the Eucharistic offering, the bread and wine are changed into the body and blood of Christ. This belief is called transubstantiation. Catholics believe that the faithful consume the body and blood of Christ during the Eucharist or Mass.
The practice of drinking from a shared chalice is an important symbol of community for Catholics. In the words of Father Baldovin, "the common cup is a testimony to the scandal of sharing in Jesus, not only his person but his fate". Drinking from the same cup as other members of the congregation is a symbol of sharing everything, including risk and suffering. This practice is also a symbol of courageous discipleship, as Jesus himself said, "Can you drink the cup that I will drink?".
However, the use of a shared chalice has been a subject of debate, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic. Some Catholics have suggested that churches should adopt the practice of using individual cups, as was done during the 1918 Spanish Flu pandemic, to reduce the risk of cross-contamination. Nevertheless, others argue that the use of separate cups indicates a weak sense of community and appeals to modern individualism and consumerism.
The Catholic Church has specific instructions regarding the consecration and consumption of the precious blood. Priests are instructed to consecrate all the wine that is to be used for a particular Mass and to consume any remaining wine themselves. The blood cannot be poured from one container into another, and it cannot be stored in the tabernacle after consecration.
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The blood is not distributed at every mass
The Catholic Church teaches that the bread and wine used in the Eucharist become the body and blood of Christ. This belief is called transubstantiation. However, the "outward characteristics of bread and wine" remain unchanged. The Catholic Church teaches that the manner in which this change occurs is a mystery.
While the belief in transubstantiation is central to Catholic doctrine, the distribution of the consecrated wine (referred to as the "Precious Blood") during Mass is not universal. In fact, it is relatively rare for the Precious Blood to be distributed to the congregation during Mass.
Historically, only priests customarily received from the chalice, and this tradition has continued in many Catholic churches. During the Spanish flu pandemic of 1918, some churches adopted the practice of using individual cups for each communicant to reduce the risk of disease transmission. However, this practice is generally not followed in Catholic churches, where the common cup is seen as a symbol of community and unity.
In 1970, the Sacred Congregation for Divine Worship allowed bishops' conferences to determine the extent to which Holy Communion could be received under both species (the consecrated bread and wine). The General Instruction already listed certain circumstances where communion under both species was permitted, such as during a nuptial Mass. In 1984, the National Conference of Catholic Bishops in America decided to leave the policy to the local ordinary.
The decision not to distribute the Precious Blood during Mass may be influenced by practical considerations, such as the time required to distribute two species instead of one, as well as the theological emphasis on the unity of Christ's body and blood in the Eucharist.
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The blood is not just symbolic
Catholics believe that during the consecration, the bread and wine offered at the Eucharist truly become the Body and Blood of Christ. This belief is called transubstantiation. The term was used at least by the 11th century to refer to the change and was in widespread use by the 12th century. The Fourth Council of the Lateran affirmed this doctrine in 1215.
The Catechism of the Catholic Church summarizes the Church's teachings on the Eucharist:
> At the Last Supper, on the night He was betrayed, our Savior instituted the Eucharistic sacrifice of His Body and Blood. This He did in order to perpetuate the sacrifice of the Cross throughout the ages until He should come again, and so to entrust to His beloved Spouse, the Church, a memorial of His death and resurrection: a sacrament of love, a sign of unity, a bond of charity, a paschal banquet in which Christ is consumed, the mind is filled with grace, and a pledge of future glory is given to us.
The manner in which the change occurs is a mystery, according to the Catholic Church:
> The signs of bread and wine become, in a way surpassing understanding, the Body and Blood of Christ.
While the outward characteristics of bread and wine remain unaltered, the Catholic Church teaches that in the Eucharistic offering, bread and wine are changed into the body and blood of Christ. This belief is not just symbolic but is based on the real presence of Christ in the Eucharist.
The practice of sharing a common cup during Communion is also significant in Catholicism. Drinking from the cup is seen as a sign of courageous discipleship and an expression of openness to martyrdom and a willingness to lay down one's life. The common cup symbolizes community and sharing, even in risk and suffering.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, Catholics believe that during the Eucharist, the wine becomes the Blood of Christ, which the faithful consume. However, it is important to note that the wine retains its physical appearance, taste, and texture.
Drinking from the cup is seen as a sign of courageous discipleship and an expression of the willingness to follow in Jesus's footsteps, even unto martyrdom. It is also a symbol of community, representing the sharing of risks and suffering.
The use of a common cup during Communion symbolizes community and unity among the congregation. It represents sharing everything, including risks and suffering. However, during the Spanish flu pandemic in 1918, some churches began using individual cups to reduce the risk of disease transmission.
