Joshua Bennett
The Eucharist is a sacrament in the Catholic Church, believed to contain the body and blood of Christ, present in the bread and wine consecrated during the liturgy. The roots of the Eucharist can be traced back to the Old Testament, with the New Testament providing the practice's origin. The Last Supper, as described in the Gospels, is a foundational moment in the history of the Eucharist, where Jesus instituted the sacrament and commanded his disciples to celebrate this sacred meal in remembrance of him. The Catholic Church formalized the Doctrine of Transubstantiation at the Fourth Lateran Council in 1215, specifying that the bread and wine are transformed into the actual body and blood of Jesus Christ during consecration. The Council of Trent in the 16th century reaffirmed this teaching, fostering a deeper reverence for the Eucharist. The Eucharist remains a central aspect of Catholic faith and worship, with a rich history of interpretation and development.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| The Eucharist is derived from | The Greek word "eucharistia", meaning "thanksgiving" |
| The Eucharist is believed to be | The body and blood of Christ, present in the bread and wine |
| The Eucharist was instituted by | Jesus at the Last Supper |
| The Eucharist is also referred to as | Communion |
| The Eucharist is a | Sacrament |
| The Eucharist was formalised by | The Fourth Lateran Council in 1215 |
| The doctrine of Transubstantiation was popularised by | Thomas Aquinas in the 1200s |
| The Feast of Corpus Christi was instituted in | 1264 |
| The Council of Trent reaffirmed the Church's teaching of | The True Presence of the Eucharist |
| The Eucharist was challenged by | The Protestant Reformation |
| The Tridentine Mass was allowed by | Pope Benedict XVI in 2007 |
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What You'll Learn
The Last Supper
The Eucharist is the name that Catholic Christians give to the sacrament by which, according to their belief, the body and blood of Christ are present in the bread and wine. The word 'Eucharist' comes from the Greek word 'eucharistia', meaning 'thanksgiving'. The Eucharist is also referred to as 'Holy Communion'.
The Eucharist was instituted by Jesus Christ at the Last Supper, on the night before he died, during the Passover feast in Jerusalem. During the Last Supper, Jesus shared bread and wine with his disciples, which he declared to be his body and blood. He commanded his disciples to continue this sacred ritual after his death, saying, "Do this in remembrance of me".
The Gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and Paul's First Letter to the Corinthians all contain accounts of the Last Supper, in which Jesus "gave thanks" as he distributed the bread and wine. These biblical narratives serve as the foundation for the Catholic belief in the Eucharist.
For over 2,000 years, priests have recited Jesus' words from the Last Supper during Masses, and Catholics have partaken in the sacred meal, believing that the bread and wine have been transformed into the Body and Blood of Christ.
While the belief in the Real Presence of Christ in the Eucharist has been a consistent teaching of the Catholic Church, the specific doctrine of transubstantiation, which states that the substance of the bread and wine is converted into the Body and Blood of Christ while the appearances remain the same, was formalized at the Fourth Lateran Council in 1215.
The Protestant Reformation in the 16th century posed a significant challenge to the Catholic Church's teaching on the Eucharist, with reformers like Martin Luther and Ulrich Zwingli offering alternative interpretations. In response, the Council of Trent reaffirmed the doctrine of transubstantiation and enacted reforms to foster a deeper reverence for the Eucharist among Catholics.
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The Council of Trent
In its decrees, the Council of Trent declared:
> "If any one shall say that in the most Holy Sacrament of the Eucharist the substance of the bread and wine remains, together with the body and blood of our Lord Jesus Christ, let him be anathema. For our Lord Himself said: 'This is my body'. The word 'this' signifies the entire substance of the thing present; and therefore, if the substance of the bread remained, our Lord could not have truly said: 'This is my body'."
The council emphasised that the doctrine of transubstantiation is rooted in Scripture, specifically referring to Christ's words during the Last Supper as recorded in the Gospels. Additionally, the council addressed the importance of sacramental confession before receiving the Eucharist for those conscious of mortal sin.
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Transubstantiation
The Catholic Church teaches that during the Eucharist, the bread and wine are converted into the body and blood of Christ. This doctrine, known as transubstantiation, is based on the belief in the Real Presence of Christ in the Eucharist, which holds that Jesus is truly present in the consecrated bread and wine, not just symbolically or spiritually.
The term "transubstantiation" was first used by Hildebert of Tours around 1079 in the 11th century, and it came into widespread use by the 12th century. The Fourth Council of the Lateran in 1215 formally established the doctrine of transubstantiation, declaring that the bread and wine used in the Eucharist are transformed into the actual body and blood of Jesus Christ while retaining their outward characteristics. This was reaffirmed by the Council of Trent in response to the Protestant Reformation's challenge to the Catholic Church's teachings on the Eucharist. The council declared that the conversion of the bread and wine into the body and blood of Christ is a mystery that cannot be fully explained, but it is a fundamental belief of the Catholic faith.
The doctrine of transubstantiation has been a source of controversy and debate throughout the history of the Catholic Church. During the Protestant Reformation, key figures such as Martin Luther, John Calvin, and Ulrich Zwingli presented varying views on Eucharistic presence, ranging from consubstantiation to symbolic interpretation. The Council of Trent played a crucial role in reaffirming the Church's teaching on transubstantiation and fostering a deeper reverence for the Eucharist.
In conclusion, transubstantiation is a fundamental doctrine of the Catholic Church, expressing the belief in the Real Presence of Christ in the Eucharist. While the specific term "transubstantiation" may not have been used until the 11th century, the underlying belief in the transformation of the Eucharist is ancient, dating back to the early Church and the apostles themselves.
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The Protestant Reformation
The Catholic Church's belief in the Eucharist is rooted in the Old and New Testaments and Catholic Church history. The Eucharist, derived from the Greek word 'eucharistia', meaning 'thanksgiving', refers to the accounts of the Last Supper in the Bible, where Jesus "gave thanks" as he took the bread and wine, which his followers believed to be his flesh and blood.
The Reformation's impact on the Eucharist led to a variety of Protestant denominations abandoning the notion of the Eucharist completely. However, some Protestants still practice Communion, also known as the Lord's Supper, as a memorial feast or commemorative ceremony to remember Jesus' sacrifice.
The Catholic Church responded to the Reformation's challenges by reaffirming its teachings on the True Presence and transubstantiation through the Council of Trent in 1551. The Council defined that the consecration of bread and wine in the Eucharist converted their entire substance into the body and blood of Christ, a process called transubstantiation.
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The Gospels
The Eucharist is considered a sacrament by the Catholic Church, and it is believed to be "the source and summit of the Christian life". The Eucharist is also referred to as Holy Communion, the Blessed Sacrament, or the Lord's Supper.
The Gospel of John, particularly Chapter 6, contains an extended reflection on the meaning of the Bread of Life, which is deeply Eucharistic. The Gospel of Luke also provides a description of the Mass that the disciples would partake in, highlighting the Liturgy of the Word and the Liturgy of the Eucharist.
The Eucharist is believed to have been instituted by Jesus Christ during the Last Supper, which took place during the Passover feast in Jerusalem. Through the consecration of the bread and wine, Catholics believe that these substances truly become the body and blood of Christ, a doctrine known as transubstantiation.
The early Christians frequently took the Eucharist with them on their journeys, and writings from the Church Fathers document their belief in the Real Presence of Christ in the Eucharist. However, there were differing opinions among the Fathers regarding the nature of this presence, with some teaching that it was spiritual and others believing in a physical presence.
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Frequently asked questions
The Catholic Church teaches that the Eucharistic bread and wine become the Body and Blood of Jesus Christ. This is known as the Doctrine of Transubstantiation.
The Eucharist was instituted by Jesus at the Last Supper, as described in the Gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and 1 Corinthians. The early Church Fathers viewed the Eucharist in spiritual terms, but the concept of a literal sacrifice emerged, with the Church moving away from the spirituality of the apostolic age.
The Catholic view of the Eucharist has evolved over the centuries, with the Church Fathers expressing varying beliefs about the nature of the Eucharist. The Fourth Lateran Council in 1215 formalised the Doctrine of Transubstantiation, and the Council of Trent in the 16th century reaffirmed the Church's teaching of the True Presence of the Eucharist.
