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Great question.
There are at least two possible ways to answer the question.
Transubstantiation
The most immediate answer that comes to mind is transubstantiation.
In transubstantiation, the entire substances of bread and wine become the Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity of Christ, while the outward appearances remain those of bread and wine.
There are very precise philosophical terms such as substance and accident, and nature which, when properly understood, greatly facilitate one's understanding of transubstantiation. Related links are provided below for further exploration.
More generally speaking, transubstantiation is a miraculous transformation of one substance into two others (Divine and human), which is not without precedent in salvation history. A few examples of one substance becoming another include:
- wood becoming a serpent and vice versa (cf. Ex 4:1-5, 7:8-13)
- water becoming blood (cf. Ex 7:14-24)
- water becoming wine (cf. Jn 2:1-12)
The difference between the transformations above and transubstantiation are the outward appearances; i.e. while the above miracles were confirmed by the eyes of the body and the five senses, the miracle of transubstantiation can only be confirmed by the inner eyes of faith.
The Catechism draws from the Council of Trent as follows:
The Council of Trent summarizes the Catholic faith by declaring: "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." (CCC no. 1376)
Epiclesis
From the liturgical perspective, the part of the Eucharistic Prayer called the epiclesis occurs in close connection with transubstantiation. As the Catechism states:
The Epiclesis ("invocation upon") is the intercession in which the priest begs the Father to send the Holy Spirit, the Sanctifier, so that the offerings may become the body and blood of Christ and that the faithful by receiving them, may themselves become a living offering to God. (CCC, no. 1105)
Both Eastern and Western Catholic theologians agree that transubstantiation occurs within close proximity to the epiclesis. However, there still remains dialogue between East and West as to whether transubstantiation occurs before, during or after the epiclesis.
REFERENCES
The Holy Bible, Revised Standard Version, Second Catholic Edition. (Ignatius Press: San Francisco, CA. 2006.)
Libreria Editrice Vaticana. Catechism of the Catholic Church. (Paulist Press: Mahwah, NJ. 1994)
This was unleavened bread, as no leaven was permitted in Jewish homes during the Passover and the associated Festival of Unfermented Cakes. (Exodus 13:6-10) Leaven is used Scripturally to denote sinfulness. The unleavened quality of the bread is appropriate because it "represents" Jesus' sinless fleshly body. (Hebrew 7:26; 9:14; 1 Peter 2:22, 24)
Transubstantiation: the entire substance of the bread is turned in the Body of Christ, and the entire substance of the wine is turned in the Blood of Christ; the accidents (what you can see, touch, taste, etc.) remain of the bread and wine.
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What is the sacrament of the Holy Eucharist?
The one referred to as the 'Blessed Sacrament' is usually the Eucharist or Holy Communion also called the 'Lord's Supper.' The Blessed Sacrament is another name for the Eucharist, which is the Body and Blood, Soul and Divinity of Christ, given to the Church at the Last Supper and at every Mass.
Do Mormons believe communion is Jesus' body?
No. Members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (the "Mormon" church) beieve that the elements of Communion (Mormons call it 'Sacrament') are a symbol of Jesus Christ. Mormons do not believe that the elements are transubstantiated to become the body and blood of Christ, as some other Christian groups believe.For the Sacrament, Mormon Priests first bless bread and water. Part of the blessing says, "bless and sanctify this bread/water...that they may eat it in remembrance of the body/blood of Thy Son". This helps to clarify that the bread and water are to be used as symbols to help us remember Christ. Jesus said that He was the "Bread of Life" (John 6:35 & 48) and that His Gospel was the "Living Water" (John 4:10-11 & John 7:38), which gives further meaning to the symbolism of the Sacramental elements.
What do you call the red light near the tabernacle?
The red light near the tabernacle is typically called the sanctuary lamp or the eternal flame. It symbolizes the presence of the Blessed Sacrament reserved in the tabernacle and serves as a sign of Christ's presence in the Eucharist.
What does the Sacrament of Baptism call all Christans to do?
The sacrament of baptism ask all Christians to get baptized which means to get emerged into water. You do this because you are showing that you are reborn again in christ and not in sin, that you follow God and all his teachings.Does that help?
What do the bread and wine represent for Catholics?
For Catholics they are the substantial prescence of the body, blood, soul, and divinity of Jesus Christ. They represent Christ's sacrifice for humans on the cross and call to mind the Last Supper Jesus had with his disciples.
What do you call the person seeking forgivness in the sacrament of reconciliation?
what do we call the person seeking forgiveness in the sacrament of reconciliation
What do you call a Eucharist wafer?
A Eucharist wafer is the body of Christ, who died for you.
What do you call the person seeking forgiveness in the sacrament of reconciliation?
what do we call the person seeking forgiveness in the sacrament of reconciliation
Why do you call Jesus the body of Christ?
I am not sure who is calling Jesus the "body of Christ", but no, Jesus is not the body of Christ. Believers in Jesus around the world are the body of Christ (Romans 12:5, "...so we (believers), being many, are one body in Christ." Also see I Corinthians 12:14-20; Ephesians 1:22-23.
What do you call red fluid in the body?
The red fluid in the body is blood.
What you call red fluid in the body?
The red fluid in the body is blood.
What do the epistles call the church?
The church is uniquely identified with Jesus Christ, so much so that the epistles call the church "the body of Christ."The body is a unit, though it is made up of many parts; and though all its parts are many, they form one body. So it is with Christ.1 Corinthians 12:12 (NIV)Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it.1 Corinthians 12:27 (NIV)
