Is Jesus truly present in the Holy Eucharist, or is it merely a symbol?
The Catholic Church firmly teaches that Jesus Christ is truly, really, and substantially present in the Holy Eucharist—body, blood, soul, and divinity.
During the consecration at Mass, when the priest pronounces the words of Christ over the gifts of bread and wine, a miraculous change occurs called transubstantiation. The physical appearances (the 'accidents', such as taste, colour, smell, and texture) remain those of bread and wine, but the underlying reality and substance are completely transformed into the living Christ.
The Eucharist is not a mere symbol, sign, or metaphor. It is the greatest of all sacraments because in it, Christ gives us not only his grace, but his very self. For this reason, Catholics adore the Blessed Sacrament with the highest form of worship reserved for God alone.
Sources
- Catechism of the Catholic Church, paragraph 1374
- Catechism of the Catholic Church, paragraph 1376
- 1 Corinthians 11:27-29
Awaiting review by the chaplaincy. Written in our own words; the Church's own texts are the authority.