In this year of National Eucharistic Revival, we continue to reflect on this great gift. I just read that some 83% of Catholics who attend Mass at least occasionally believe that the Blessed Sacrament is more than a symbol. That is a different statistic from what we have been hearing. (Who knows who is right. They say the answer depends on how the question was asked.) It was said that the people surveyed believe that Jesus is in the consecrated bread and wine. Better than saying that it is just a symbol but not at all accurate.
Through the prayer of consecration, the bread and wine change in substance and become the very Body and Blood of Christ. The appearances of bread and wine remain, but the bread and wine are no longer bread and wine, they are the true body and blood soul and divinity of Christ. That is very, very different than saying that Jesus is “in” the bread and wine. The bread and wine ARE Jesus Body and Blood. That is why we speak of transubstantiation. That “whatness” (substance) of the bread and wine are transformed.
We believe it because as St. Thomas Aquinas wrote it’s because Jesus said so.
Happy Father’s Day!
Saint James Catholic Church 