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Is it enough for a Catholic to believe the bread and wine in Holy Mass is the Sacred Body and Blood of Our Lord Jesus Christ, without knowing the details of how this Miracle happens?
Anthony Tao
{ Is Transubstantiation a dogma or is it OK to believe without knowing the details of this miracle? }
Transubstantiation is indeed a dogma of the Catholic faith, which means it is a fundamental belief that all Catholics are required to accept. This doctrine articulates the belief that during the celebration of the Eucharist, the substances of bread and wine are transformed into the true Body and Blood of Christ while retaining their accidents, or appearances, of bread and wine.
The Catechism of the Catholic Church states that by the consecration of the bread and wine, there occurs a change of the whole substance of the bread into the substance of Christ's Body and the whole substance of the wine into the substance of His Blood, a change that the Church has termed "transubstantiation" (1).
While it is essential for Catholics to believe in the real presence of Christ in the Eucharist, the understanding of how this transformation occurs — namely, through the mystery of transubstantiation — may not be fully comprehensible to every believer. The Church teaches that this "how" exceeds human imagination and understanding, and is accessible only through faith (2). Therefore, while a Catholic must believe that the bread and wine become the Body and Blood of Christ, the intricate details of the process of transubstantiation may not be necessary for personal faith or salvation.
The Eucharist is described as the "source and summit" of ecclesial life, emphasizing its central role in the faith of the Church (3). Participation in the Eucharist is a profound act of worship that includes the proclamation of the Word, thanksgiving, and the reception of the Body and Blood of Christ (4). Thus, while the belief in transubstantiation is a dogmatic requirement, the faithful are encouraged to approach this mystery with reverence and faith, even if they do not grasp all the theological nuances involved (5).
In Summary, belief in the real presence of Christ in the Eucharist is essential for all Catholics, and while transubstantiation is a dogma, the understanding of its mechanics can be embraced through faith rather than complete intellectual comprehension.
"Because Christ our Redeemer said that it was truly his body that he was offering under the species of bread, it has always been the conviction of the Church of God, and this holy Council now declares again, that by the consecration of the bread and wine there takes place a change of the whole substance of the bread into the substance of the body of Christ our Lord and of the whole substance of the wine into the substance of his blood. This change the holy Catholic Church has fittingly and properly called Transubstantiation."
1000 This "how" exceeds our imagination and understanding; it is accessible only to faith. Yet our participation in the Eucharist already gives us a foretaste of Christ's transfiguration of our bodies:
Just as bread that comes from the earth, after God's blessing has been invoked upon it, is no longer ordinary bread, but Eucharist, formed of two things, the one earthly and the other heavenly: so too our bodies, which partake of the Eucharist, are no longer corruptible, but possess the hope of Resurrection.
"Our way of thinking is attuned to the Eucharist, and the Eucharist in turn confirms our way of thinking."
(St. Irenaeus, 202 A.D. — Adv. haeres. 4,18,5:PG 7/l,1028.)
In Brief - The Sacrament of the Eucharist.
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1408 The Eucharistic celebration always includes: the proclamation of the Word of God; thanksgiving to God the Father for all his benefits, above all the gift of his Son; the consecration of bread and wine; and participation in the liturgical banquet by receiving the Lord's body and blood. These elements constitute one single act of worship.
Godhead here in hiding, whom I do adore
Masked by these bare shadows, shape and nothing more,
See, Lord, at thy service low lies here a heart
Lost, all lost in wonder at the God thou art.
Seeing, touching, tasting are in thee deceived;
How says trusty hearing? that shall be believed;
What God's Son has told me, take for truth I do;
Truth himself speaks truly or there's nothing true.
