Eucharist

[Unveiled Artist]

I know this will always be a silly debate.

Do you catholics and non-catholics actually believe you/they are drinking real blood and eating real flesh (cannibalism)? Please say no.

I asked a priest this but I wanted to hear what you guys thought.

 

[Eddi]

I've attended Catholic mass a few times but didn't take communion as I'm not Catholic

Apparently it is

I asked a priest about this too...

As I understand it, they believe the substance of the bread and wine becomes the same substance of Jesus, but in the form of bread and wine

Which doesn't really make sense to me

 

[Harel13]

No one thinks that. The symbolism, though, I find disturbing. Especially considering historical blood libel context.
Edit: Okay, I've never thought that, but apparently Catholics do think this, beyond symbolism. Still disturbing.

 

[shmogie]

I know this will always be a silly debate.

Do you catholics and non-catholics actually believe you/they are drinking real blood and eating real flesh (cannibalism)? Please say no.

I asked a priest this but I wanted to hear what you guys thought.

No, they are symbolic representations of blood and flesh. When Christ instituted the communion meal, it was bread and wine. He clearly was speaking symbolically.

 

[Rival]

No one thinks that. The symbolism, though, I find disturbing. Especially considering historical blood libel context.

Actually they do,

Transubstantiation (Latin: transsubstantiatio; Greek: μετουσίωσις metousiosis) is, according to the teaching of the Catholic Church, "the change of the whole substance of bread into the substance of the Body of Christ and of the whole substance of wine into the substance of his Blood. [...] The Roman Catholic Church teaches that in the Eucharistic offering bread and wine are changed into the body and blood of Christ.

 

[exchemist]

I know this will always be a silly debate.

Do you catholics and non-catholics actually believe you/they are drinking real blood and eating real flesh (cannibalism)? Please say no.

I asked a priest this but I wanted to hear what you guys thought.

The orthodox Catholic view of this is rather subtle. It is called transubstantiation: Transubstantiation - Wikipedia

What it comes down to is that Christ is said to become physically present in the consecrated bread and wine in the same sort of way as the souls of you and I are present in our bodies, even though the physical form is not changed. (I have to say I tend to struggle a bit with this personally, but that is the traditional teaching.)

This is the reason why Catholic churches venerate the consecrated bread and wine. You will find in most Catholic churches an altar with a tabernacle on it, in which the consecrated bread (often referred to as the Blessed Sacrament) is kept. There will usually be a small candle in a red glass beside it, to show where it is. People say prayers in front of it, and genuflect when they pass in front of it, as a sign of respect.

In Protestant churches they do not do this and there is no tabernacle on the altar.

 

[Harel13]

Actually they do,

Transubstantiation (Latin: transsubstantiatio; Greek: μετουσίωσις metousiosis) is, according to the teaching of the Catholic Church, "the change of the whole substance of bread into the substance of the Body of Christ and of the whole substance of wine into the substance of his Blood. [...] The Roman Catholic Church teaches that in the Eucharistic offering bread and wine are changed into the body and blood of Christ.

Well, I stand corrected.

 

[Harel13]

Actually they do,

Transubstantiation (Latin: transsubstantiatio; Greek: μετουσίωσις metousiosis) is, according to the teaching of the Catholic Church, "the change of the whole substance of bread into the substance of the Body of Christ and of the whole substance of wine into the substance of his Blood. [...] The Roman Catholic Church teaches that in the Eucharistic offering bread and wine are changed into the body and blood of Christ.

Apparently Lutherans, Calvinists and Anglicans hold similar views.

 

[Cooky]

Actually they do,

Transubstantiation (Latin: transsubstantiatio; Greek: μετουσίωσις metousiosis) is, according to the teaching of the Catholic Church, "the change of the whole substance of bread into the substance of the Body of Christ and of the whole substance of wine into the substance of his Blood. [...] The Roman Catholic Church teaches that in the Eucharistic offering bread and wine are changed into the body and blood of Christ.

Oh, you're a Catholic theologian now? You can speak for the Church, eh?

 

[Rival]

Apparently Lutherans, Calvinists and Anglicans hold similar views.

They do indeed. With Anglicans the teachings may vary from high to low Church.

Oh, you're a Catholic theologian now? You can speak for the Church, eh?

No? I was raised a Christian, attended a Catholic Church and this was and is the teaching. Just because I'm not xyz religion, doesn't mean I can't talk about it, especially not if I've been there done that.

 

[SalixIncendium]

I know this will always be a silly debate.

Do you catholics and non-catholics actually believe you/they are drinking real blood and eating real flesh (cannibalism)? Please say no.

I asked a priest this but I wanted to hear what you guys thought.

Read Matthew 26 and draw you own conclusions.

 

[exchemist]

Oh, you're a Catholic theologian now? You can speak for the Church, eh?

Well, is he wrong? All he's done is refer - quite correctly - to transubstantiation.

 

[Cooky]

Well, is he wrong? All he's done is refer - quite correctly - to transubstantiation.

Rival is a female.

 

[exchemist]

Rival is a female.

OK, is she wrong, then?

 

[Cooky]

transubstantiation.

@Rival conveniently neglected to mention the 'accidents'

 

[SalixIncendium]

Oh, you're a Catholic theologian now? You can speak for the Church, eh?

Um... Is she wrong? If so, provide evidence, not venom.

 

[Cooky]

OK, is she wrong, then?

She omitted vital information.

 

[SalixIncendium]

@Rival conveniently neglected to mention the 'accidents'

You conveniently neglected to provide an argument.

 

[Cooky]

Um... Is she wrong? If so, provide evidence, not venom.

Venom....

 

[Rival]

What 'accidents'?