Transubstantiation

By Mike Lambrecht

      Transubstantiation – As one of the central mysteries of the Catholic faith, it is of utmost importance that we not only know what it means, but that we understand and believe. The CCC quoting the Council of Trent tells us that:

‘Because Christ our Redeemer said that it was truly his body that he was offering under the species of bread, it has always been the conviction of the Church of God, and this holy Council now declares again, that 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 our Lord and of the whole substance of the wine into the substance of his blood. This change the holy Catholic Church has fittingly and properly called transubstantiation.’

      Therefore, transubstantiation refers to the miracle that occurs at every Mass whereby the bread and wine become the body and blood of our Lord. This miracle occurs during the consecration. “In the most blessed sacrament of the Eucharist ‘the body and blood, together with the soul and divinity, of our Lord Jesus Christ and, therefore, the whole Christ is truly, really, and substantially contained.’”²

      Through the eyes of faith we know that the substance of the bread and wine is changed into the very body and blood of Christ but that the accidents of the bread and wine remain. Therefore, what we see, smell, and taste is bread and wine, but through the power of the Holy Spirit we know that the substance is that of Christ’s body and blood.

      Now that we know what Transubstantiation is, why don’t we take a closer look at why the Church believes and teaches this important dogma? Let’s begin with Jesus’ own words on the topic. Jesus said, “Truly , truly, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of man and drink his blood, you have no life in you; he who eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day. For my flesh is food indeed, and my blood is drink indeed.” Most Protestants read this verse and assume that Jesus is not talking literally but symbolically. However, if we continue reading we can see that this is not the case.

      Just a few verses later scripture says, “After this many of his disciples drew back and no longer walked with him.” If the Protestants claims are true, and Jesus is only speaking figuratively, then why wouldn’t he say so at this point and stop his disciples from leaving him? Moreover, why would his disciples leave him if they thought he was speaking only symbolically? The only logical interpretation is that Jesus was speaking literally, and that is why the Church teaches the true presence in the Eucharist.

      This teaching is very clear from the words of the Last Supper as well. “‘Take and eat; this is my body.’ Then he took a cup, gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, ‘Drink from it, all of you, for this is my blood of the covenant, which will be shed on behalf of many for the forgiveness of sins.’”⁵ Additionally, St. Paul talks about the true presence of Christ in the Eucharist by stating, “Whoever, therefore, eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty of profaning the body and blood of the Lord. For any one who eats and drinks without discerning the body eats and drinks judgment upon himself.”⁶ Again, we must ask ourselves, how would it be possible to drink judgment upon oneself if the bread and wine were only symbolic? It is obvious that St. Paul believes not merely in a symbolic presence of Christ in the Eucharist but in a literal, true presence of Christ in the Eucharist.

      I would like to leave you with a reflection by St. Ambrose on the change brought about through Transubstantiation:

Be convinced that this is not what nature has formed, but what the blessing has consecrated. The power of the blessing prevails over that of nature, because by the blessing nature itself is changed…. Could not Christ’s word, which can make from nothing what did not exist, change existing things into what they were not before? It is no less a feat to give things their original nature than to change their nature.⁷

 

¹ Catechism of the Catholic Church paragraph 1376

² Catechism of the Catholic Church paragraph 1374

³ John 6:53-55                                        

⁴ John 6:66

⁵ Matthew 26:26-28                                               

⁶ 1 Corinthians 11:27,29

⁷ Catechism of the Catholic Church paragraph 1375