WELL, THE TRUTH IS THAT WHEN THE PRIEST CONSECRATES THE BREAD AND THE WINE, IT DOES BECOME THE REAL BODY AND BLOOD OF JESUS CHRIST. THIS IS NOT JUST A SYMBOL OR A RITUAL.
THE CATHOLIC CHURCH TEACHES US THAT WHEN THE PRIEST CONSECRATES THE BREAD AND WINE, IT BECOMES TRULY AND SUBSTANTIALLY THE BODY AND BLOOD OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST. THE REASON WHY IT RETAINS ITS APPEARANCE OF BREAD AND WINE IS BECAUSE THE HOLY SPIRIT KEEPS IT SO.
THE BASIS FOR THIS GOES RIGHT DOWN TO THE GOSPELS. IN THE GOSPEL OF JOHN, JESUS SAYS "I am the living bread which came down from heaven; if any one eats of this bread, he will live for ever; and the bread which I shall give for the life of the world is my flesh." AT THE LAST SUPPER WHEN HE TOOK UP THE BREAD AND WINE HE SAID OF THE BREAD, "THIS IS MY BODY" AND OF THE WINE, "THIS IS MY BLOOD". THE LAST SUPPER IS MENTIONED IN THE GOSPELS. THERE JESUS PROCLAIMS THAT THE BREAD AND WINE HAS NOW BECOME HIS BODY AND BLOOD. HE INSTITUTED THE SACRAMENT OF THE EUCHARIST.
IN THE OLD TESTAMENT THE FOLLOWERS OF GOD HAD TO OFFER SACRIFICES. IN THOSE DAYS SACRIFICE MEANT GIVING UP AN OFFERING TO THE LORD. ANIMALS SUCH AS LAMBS, GOATS OR CATTLE WERE SACRIFICED TO GOD. BUT IN THE NEW COVENANT, JESUS BECAME THE SACRIFICE. HE OFERED HIMSELF UP ON THE CROSS AS THE PERFECT SACRIFICE. THEREFORE WE NO LONGER HAVE TO OFFER ANIMAL SACRIFICES TO GOD. INSTEAD WHEN THE PRIEST CONSECRATES THE BREAD AND THE WINE IT BECOMES THE BODY AND BLOOD OF JESUS CHRIST. THAT IS THE NEW, HOLY AND PERFECT SACRIFICE .
THE FOLLOWING IS AN EXCERPT TAKEN FROM THE RSV BIBLE - JOHN CHAPTER 6. THESE PASSAGES FROM THE GOSPEL SHOW US THAT JESUS IS INSISTING THAT IN ORDER TO RECEIVE ETERNAL LIFE HIS DISCIPLES MUST EAT HIS FLESH AND DRINK HIS BLOOD.
51: "I am the living bread which came down from heaven; if any one eats of this bread, he will live for ever; and the bread which I shall give for the life of the world is my flesh."
52: The Jews then disputed among themselves, saying, "How can this man give us his flesh to eat?"
53: So Jesus said to them, "Truly, truly, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of man and drink his blood, you have no life in you;
54: he who eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day.
55: For my flesh is food indeed, and my blood is drink indeed.
56: He who eats my flesh and drinks my blood abides in me, and I in him.
60: Many of his disciples, when they heard it, said, "This is a hard saying; who can listen to it?"
66: After this many of his disciples drew back and no longer went about with him.
67: Jesus said to the twelve, "Do you also wish to go away?"
68: Simon Peter answered him, "Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life;
69: and we have believed, and have come to know, that you are the Holy One of God."
NOTICE HOW MANY OF HIS FOLLOWERS COULD NOT ACCEPT THE GRAVITY OF THIS TEACHING AND CEASED TO FOLLOW THE LORD. BUT YET JESUS DOES NOT SAY "PLEASE COME BACK. I WAS ONLY SPEAKING SYMBOLICALLY. BECAUSE HE WASN'T. HE REALLY MEANT WHAT HE SAID. ALL JESUS DOES IS HE ASKS HIS 12 APOSTLES IF THEY HAD DECIDED TO LEAVE AS WELL. BUT SIMON PETER(WHO LATER BECAME THE FIRST POPE) ANSWERS "LORD, TO WHOM SHALL WE GO? YOU HAVE THE WORDS OF ETERNAL LIFE
SO YOU SEE, THIS IS NOT MERELY SYMBOLIC. THE EUCHARIST IS TRULY THE BODY AND BLOOD OF CHRIST THAT WE RECEIVE. WHAT A WONDERFUL THING IT IS TO HAVE OUR LORD, THE CREATOR OF THE UNIVERSE , ENTER INTO OUR HEARTS EVERY TIME WE RECEIVE HOLY COMMUNION!