At the Last Supper, Jesus took bread, blessed it, broke it, and gave it to his disciples, saying, “Take, eat; this is my body” (Matthew 26:26). He also took the cup of wine, blessed it, and gave it to them, saying, “Drink from it, all of you; for this is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins” (Matthew 26:27-28). These words, along with similar accounts in the Gospels of Mark, Luke, and Paul’s First Letter to the Corinthians, form the basis of the Catholic Church’s teaching on the Eucharist.
The Church teaches that through the power of the Holy Spirit and the words of consecration spoken by a validly ordained priest, the bread and wine truly become the body and blood of Christ while retaining the appearances of bread and wine. This change is called transubstantiation, meaning that the substance of the bread and wine is transformed into the substance of Christ’s body and blood, while the accidents (the physical appearances) remain unchanged.
This teaching is not a symbolic or merely spiritual understanding of the Eucharist; rather, it affirms the real presence of Christ in the consecrated elements. In receiving the Eucharist, Catholics believe they are truly receiving the body, blood, soul, and divinity of Jesus Christ under the appearance of bread and wine. This profound mystery is at the heart of Catholic faith and worship.
The Eucharist is central to the life of the Church and is celebrated in the Mass, the principal act of Catholic worship. The Mass is divided into two main parts: the Liturgy of the Word, in which Scripture is proclaimed and reflected upon, and the Liturgy of the Eucharist, in which the bread and wine are consecrated and received by the faithful.
The Church teaches that the Eucharist is both a meal and a sacrifice. As a meal, it nourishes the faithful with the body and blood of Christ, uniting them more closely to him and to one another in the communion of the Church. As a sacrifice, it makes present the one sacrifice of Christ on the cross, offering it to God the Father for the forgiveness of sins and the salvation of the world.
Participation in the Eucharist is considered essential for the spiritual life of Catholics. The Catechism of the Catholic Church states that “the Eucharist is the source and summit of the Christian life” (CCC 1324). Through the Eucharist, Catholics are strengthened in their relationship with Christ and with one another, and are empowered to live out their faith in the world.
The Church also teaches that the Eucharist is a sign of unity among believers. In receiving the body and blood of Christ together, Catholics are united in their common faith and their common participation in the life of the Church. The Eucharist is a powerful symbol of the Church’s identity as the body of Christ, called to love and serve one another in imitation of Christ himself.
Furthermore, the Catholic Church holds that the Eucharist has a transformative effect on those who receive it worthily. Through the grace of the sacrament, Catholics are strengthened in their commitment to live as disciples of Christ and are empowered to bear witness to the Gospel in their daily lives. The Eucharist is not only a source of spiritual nourishment but also a means of sanctification, leading believers ever closer to God and to one another.
In summary, the Catholic Church teaches that in the Eucharist, bread and wine become the body and blood of Jesus Christ through the power of the Holy Spirit and the words of consecration spoken by a validly ordained priest. This transformation, known as transubstantiation, is a profound mystery that lies at the heart of Catholic faith and worship. The Eucharist is celebrated in the Mass, where it is both a meal that nourishes the faithful and a sacrifice that makes present the saving work of Christ. Participation in the Eucharist is considered essential for the spiritual life of Catholics, uniting them more closely to Christ and to one another and empowering them to live out their faith in the world.
