The Body & Blood of Christ

In celebrating the Eucharist, bread, and wine become the Body and Blood of Jesus Christ through the power of the Holy Spirit and the instrumentality of the priest. Under the appearances of bread and wine, the whole Christ is truly present—body, blood, soul, and divinity—the glorified Christ who rose from the dead. The Church means this when she speaks of the "Real Presence" of Christ in the Eucharist.

Jesus gives himself to us in the Eucharist as spiritual nourishment because he loves us. By eating the Body and drinking the Blood of Christ in the Eucharist, we become united to the person of Christ through his humanity. "Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood remains in me and I in him" (Jn 6:56). In being united to the humanity of Christ, we are simultaneously united to his divinity. Our mortal and corruptible natures are transformed by being joined to the source of life.

The transformed bread and wine are indeed the Body and Blood of Christ and are not merely symbols. When Christ said, “This is my body” and “This is my blood,” the bread and wine are transubstantiated. Though the bread and wine appear the same to our human faculties, they are the actual body and blood of Jesus.

      The Catholic doctrine of the Eucharist is a central and fundamental belief in Catholic Christianity. This doctrine, known as the "Real Presence," teaches that during the celebration of the Eucharist, the bread and wine truly become the Body and Blood of Jesus Christ. Here are some key points from your description:

  1. Transformation Through the Holy Spirit: In the Catholic faith, it is believed that during the consecration of the bread and wine by a priest, the power of the Holy Spirit transforms these elements into the actual Body, Blood, Soul, and Divinity of Jesus Christ.

  2. Real Presence: "Real Presence" signifies that Jesus is truly and fully present in the Eucharist, not symbolically or metaphorically, but substantially. This means that the consecrated bread and wine are not mere symbols but the actual presence of Christ.

  3. Spiritual Nourishment: The Eucharist is considered a source of spiritual nourishment for the faithful. By partaking in the Eucharist, Catholics believe they are receiving Jesus Himself into their lives, and this communion with Christ brings about spiritual growth and unity with Him.

  4. Scriptural Basis: The reference to John 6:56 is significant, as it is one of the biblical passages often cited to support the Real Presence. In this passage, Jesus speaks about the necessity of eating His flesh and drinking His blood for eternal life.

  5. Transubstantiation: The Catholic doctrine of transubstantiation explains that, although the consecrated bread and wine still look and taste the same to our senses, their substance has been changed into the substance of Christ's body and blood while retaining the appearances (accidents) of bread and wine.

Note: It's important to note that the belief in the Real Presence is a distinctive teaching of the Catholic Church and is not universally accepted by all Christian denominations. Other Christian traditions may have different interpretations of the Eucharist and its significance in the life of believers.