Grace Thompson
The Catholic Church teaches that the bread and wine offered during the Eucharist are changed into the body and blood of Christ, a process known as transubstantiation. This belief was first expressed in the 11th century by Hildebert de Lavardin, Archbishop of Tours, and popularised by the 1215 Fourth Council of the Lateran. The ritual, which involves the consecration of the bread and wine by a priest, is followed by their distribution to the congregation during Holy Communion. While the bread and wine are usually offered together, some Catholic traditions, such as Byzantine Catholics, practice intinction, where the bread is dipped in wine before being served.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| What is received by the congregation | Holy Communion |
| What is offered | Bread and wine |
| Who consecrates the bread and wine | A priest |
| Who receives both bread and wine | The ordained |
| Who receives only the bread | The laity |
| What is the belief regarding the bread and wine | The bread and wine become the body and blood of Christ |
| What is the term for the change of bread and wine into the body and blood of Christ | Transubstantiation |
| What remains unchanged | The appearances or "species" of the bread and wine |
| What is the belief regarding the presence of Christ | Christ is present in a true, real and substantial way |
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What You'll Learn
The bread and wine become the body and blood of Christ
The Catholic Church teaches that during Mass, the bread and wine used for Communion become the body and blood of Jesus Christ. This belief is known as transubstantiation.
The Fourth Council of the Lateran in 1215 spoke of the bread and wine as "transubstantiated" into the body and blood of Christ. The Council of Trent in 1551 declared: "By the consecration of the bread and wine there takes place a change of the whole substance of the bread into the substance of the body of Christ and of the whole substance of the wine into the substance of his blood."
The Catholic Church states that the outward characteristics of bread and wine remain unaltered, but their essence becomes that of the body and blood of Christ. This change is brought about through the Eucharistic prayer and the action of the Holy Spirit. The Catechism states that as soon as the Institution Narrative begins, the Lord is present in the elements of bread and wine.
The belief in transubstantiation is central to the Catholic faith, but it is not universally accepted among Catholics. A survey found that only about one-third of U.S. Catholics agree with their church's teaching on the Eucharist, while nearly seven-in-ten believe that the bread and wine are symbols of the body and blood of Jesus Christ.
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Transubstantiation
The term "transubstantiation" comes from the Latin "trans", meaning "across" or "beyond", and "substantia", meaning "substance". It was first used to describe this change by Hildebert de Lavardin, Archbishop of Tours, in the 11th century, and was in widespread use by the 12th century. The Fourth Council of the Lateran in 1215 affirmed this doctrine, stating that the bread and wine are "transubstantiated, by God's power, into his body and blood".
The Catholic Church teaches that this change is not merely symbolic or metaphorical, but a real and substantial conversion, brought about through the efficacy of the word of Christ and by the action of the Holy Spirit during the Eucharistic Prayer. The outward characteristics of the bread and wine remain unaltered, but their essence becomes that of Christ's body and blood.
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The Eucharist is a sacrifice
The Eucharist is also a sacrifice because it is what Jesus gave to his disciples at the Last Supper, which was a Passover meal. The Passover prefigures the Eucharist. When God instituted the Passover, he instructed Moses that Israel was to keep this memorial forever. Even today, during the Passover meal, the youngest child asks, "Why is this night different from all others?" This question reflects the gravity of the commitment made in a covenant.
In the biblical sense, sacrifice has multiple components, but the modern use of the word typically refers to the "immolation" aspect, which involves pain or giving something up. Jesus' immolation was so perfect that it can be continually re-offered and accepted by God. The Mass participates in the eternal sacrifice because the prayers of the liturgy of the Eucharist bring about transubstantiation and re-offer Jesus' sacrifice on the cross for our sins.
The bread and wine of the Eucharist are consecrated by the priest through prayer and become the body and blood of Christ. This is known as transubstantiation, where the substances of the bread and wine become the substances of the body and blood of Christ while their physical form and appearance remain unaltered. The Catholic Church teaches that the Eucharist is the body and blood of Christ, and that this change occurs in a way that surpasses understanding.
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Holy Communion
The Holy Communion is a part of the Mass, a long rite in two parts: the Liturgy of the Word and the Liturgy of the Eucharist. The latter includes the "Offering" of the bread and wine at the altar, their consecration by the priest through prayer, and their reception by the congregation in Holy Communion. The Eucharist is the source and summit of the Christian life, originating from the Greek word "eucharistia".
The consecrated elements of sacramental bread and sacramental wine are consumed during the Holy Communion. The bread can be either leavened or unleavened. The Catholic Church states that the Eucharist is the body and blood of Christ, with the substances of the bread and wine becoming the substances of the body and blood of Christ through transubstantiation. However, the form and appearances of the bread and wine remain unaltered. This belief in transubstantiation is not to explain how the change occurs but to denote that a change occurs in a way that surpasses understanding.
The Fourth Council of the Lateran in 1215 spoke of the bread and wine as "transubstantiated" into the body and blood of Christ. This was further emphasised by the Council of Trent in 1551, which declared that by the consecration of the bread and wine, there is a change in the whole substance of the elements into the substance of the body and blood of Christ.
The Holy Communion is a significant aspect of Catholic faith, where the consecrated bread and wine are believed to be the Real Presence of Christ, representing His body and blood.
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The Mass
The Eucharist, or Holy Communion, is the source and summit of the Christian life. The term originates from the Greek word "eucharistia". The elements of the Eucharist are sacramental bread (either leavened or unleavened) and sacramental wine, which are consecrated on an altar or a communion table and consumed thereafter.
The Catholic Church states that the Eucharist is the body and blood of Christ, with the consecrated substances of the bread and wine becoming the substances of the body and blood of Christ (transubstantiation) while the form and appearances remain unaltered. This belief in transubstantiation was affirmed by the Fourth Council of the Lateran in 1215 and the Council of Trent in 1551.
During the Mass, the bread and wine are offered, consecrated, and received by the congregation. The bread and wine are treated with reverence during and after the celebration of the Eucharist. In the current form of the Mass, or the Ordinary Form (Mass of Pope Paul VI or Novus Ordo), the Eucharist can be received under the appearance of wine and the Eucharist under the appearance of bread, although they are taken at separate times. In the Extraordinary Form of the Mass (Traditional Latin Mass), it is customary for the congregation to only receive the Eucharist under the appearance of bread.
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Frequently asked questions
The bread and wine are consecrated on an altar or a communion table and consumed during the Eucharist. Catholics believe that the bread and wine become the body and blood of Christ, a process known as transubstantiation, while the physical form and appearance of the bread and wine remain unaltered.
Catholics receive the bread and wine during the Liturgy of the Eucharist, which is the second part of the Mass. The first part is the Liturgy of the Word, which consists of readings from the Bible and a sermon.
The belief in transubstantiation is based on the words of Jesus during the Last Supper, when he shared a meal with his disciples and said, "This is my body... do this in memory of me." Catholics interpret these words literally and believe that the bread and wine become the actual body and blood of Christ through the power of the Holy Spirit and the prayers of the priest.
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