†Catholic Study

The Eucharist is at the center of Catholic worship. At every Mass, Catholics receive what they believe is truly the Body and Blood of Jesus Christ. But why do Catholics believe this? Is the Eucharist simply a symbol, or is something deeper happening?

What Is the Eucharist?

The Eucharist is the Sacrament in which Jesus Christ is truly present under the appearances of bread and wine.

Catholics believe that during the consecration at Mass, the bread and wine become the Body and Blood of Christ. The appearances of bread and wine remain, but their substance is changed.

This is why Catholics treat the Eucharist with such reverence.

What Does Scripture Say?

Jesus speaks directly about the Eucharist in the Gospel of John:

“I am the bread of life.”

Later, Jesus says:

“Unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you have no life in you.”

These words are found in John 6. Catholics understand this teaching as pointing toward the Eucharist that Jesus would institute at the Last Supper.

At the Last Supper, Jesus took bread and wine and gave them to His disciples, saying that they were His Body and Blood.

What Does the Catholic Church Teach?

The Catholic Church teaches that the Eucharist is not merely a reminder of Jesus. Christ is truly and substantially present in the Eucharist.

This does not mean that Catholics believe the Eucharist looks physically different after consecration. The appearance remains bread and wine. Rather, Catholics believe that the reality beneath those appearances has changed.

The Church calls this change transubstantiation.

Is the Eucharist Just a Symbol?

Catholics certainly believe that the Eucharist has symbolic meaning, but they do not believe it is only a symbol.

The Eucharist points to Christ because Christ is truly present in it. This is one reason the Eucharist is treated differently from ordinary bread and wine.

The Catholic understanding comes from both Scripture and the Church’s teaching about the Sacrament.

Why Does the Eucharist Matter?

The Eucharist brings Catholics into communion with Christ and with the Church.

Receiving Communion is therefore not something Catholics are supposed to treat casually. It is an encounter with Christ and a participation in the life of the Church.

For Catholics, the Eucharist is not simply something they do at Mass. It is one of the central ways Christ gives Himself to His people.

Conclusion

The Eucharist is one of the deepest mysteries of the Catholic faith. Catholics believe that Jesus Christ is truly present in the Eucharist and that His words at the Last Supper and in John 6 point to this reality.

The Eucharist therefore stands at the heart of Catholic worship: Christ gives Himself to His Church, and the Church receives Him in faith.

Sources

• The Holy Bible — John 6; Matthew 26; Mark 14; Luke 22; 1 Corinthians 11
• Catechism of the Catholic Church — The Eucharist
• Second Vatican Council — Sacrosanctum Concilium