I have a serious catholic question?

Question

So please only answer if you are/were catholic.

I'm not sure if I believe that the win and bread actually turn into Christ's blood and flesh. Its more then symbolic, but I mean does it actually change? I dunno. I got a message from someone that says if I dont believe that then Im not catholic. I'm going to be confirmed in the spring because my parents took my out of the catholic church ten years ago- but if Im not catholic I should do it. I've been to other religions, they dont feel right, but being catholic does. Im not sure now

a little help, opinion even?

Answer 1

If you believe in all your heart it changes, then it changes when the priest consecrates the bread and wine into the body and blood of Jesus. It is not a symbolic thing. It is the genuine blood and body of Christ. Pray about it.

Answer 2

As Catholics, we believe in the actual, Real Presence of Jesus Christ in the Eucharist. It means Christ becomes incarnate in the bread and wine. I asked this same question during my RCIA classes and my instructor taught me John chapter 6 and 1 Corinthians chapter 11. John 6 is the discourse of the Eucharist. Here, Jesus is showing us that He is in fact present for us in the Blessed Sacrament. It is not symbolic, nor a representation. It is Jesus Christ in the flesh.

Have you ever wondered why we must genuflect in church before we sit down, or why we cross ourselves every time we pass a Catholic Church? It's because Jesus is present in the Church in the Eucharist. We are passing our Lord and King, and we show respect by kneeling and/or crossing ourselves. Notice that we can never cross ourselves when we pass a non-Catholic church because they do not have the Eucharist.

Ever wonder why we can't receive communion while in a state of mortal sin? It's because if we do, we commit a serious sin against the Eucharist. If it was only symbolic, it would not be possible to sin against it. A symbol is nothing more than an image, a representation, like a picture on the wall. I can take a picture of Jesus and have it blessed by a priest. It is now a blessed object. Now, if I would destroy it, would I be sinning against Jesus? No. The picture is nothing more than an image of Him (ink and paper), a thing. It is not possible to sin against an object. With the Eucharist, it's different. Notice that if the wine is spilled after it's been consecrated it's a sacrilege. If a small piece of communion falls to the floor and is not picked up, it's a sacrilege. The only way that's possible is if Jesus is truly, fully present in the flesh - body, blood, soul and divinity. Make sense?

Here's a great website: http://catholic.com/library/Real_Presence.asp

http://www.scripturecatholic.com/the_eucharist.html

Ask me anything you like if you need more help. I'll be glad to do what I can. God bless and take care.

Answer 3

Yes they actually change. The other denominations will swear on a stack of Bibles that it is only symbolic and for them they are saying the truth as their clergy has not been ordained to actually consecrate the bread and the wine. For us it truly IS the body bread, soul, and Divinity of Jesus there in the Sacrament. The Old Testament was the time for symbolism the New Testament is the REAL DEAL. He has even said "IAM THE BREAD THAT COMES DOWN FROM HEAVEN, ANYONE WHO EATS THIS BREAD WILL LIVE FOREVER AND THE BREAD THAT I SHALL GIVE IS MY FLESH FOR THE LIFE OF THE WORLD" Now, it says several said Wow! this is really a hard saying and so several people turned from him and left. Notice---he did not run after them and say I was only kidding. He left it where it stood.

The Catholics truly receive his body and blood and because of this they are the ones that St. Paul talks about when he says "Behold I tell you a great mystery, not everyone standing here will fall asleep, some will be changed in the twinkling of an eye" Jesus is alive so we are alive in him. We will not die but, merely change in the twinkling of an eye. This is also why when Peter was walking away with Jesus in the last part of the Gospel of John and he looks back and sees John following them he says to Jesus "Lord what about him" (meaning Johns following and he might hear something important meant for me to hear only) Jesus says to Peter "If I want him to remain forever, what is it to you" This is basically what happens in the Old Testament when Joseph wants his younger brother Benjamin (from the same Mother--- The Catholic and Mary) to stay with him while his brothers go out and bring his Father..Many denominations I think will appear before the throne and if a person has been baptized then that is the key...They will be able to enter the wedding banquet if they are made clean but the Catholic has been at the banquet at every Mass and so when they die they will just permanently be there.

Answer 4

Catholics believe that Christ is Really Present in the Sacrament of the Eucharist. His Presence is not simply symbolic. The words used are important: Catholics believe that the substance of bread becomes the substance of Christ's body; the substance of wine becomes the substance of Christ's blood. The word "substance" is a technical, philosophic term the definition of which is probably not found in your Webster's Dictionary. It requires a background in Thomistic philosophy.

The Real Presence does not mean a "physical" presence, that somehow the human Body of Jesus is squished into the size of a wafer of bread. Jesus is said to be present as He is today, as He is in Heaven.

The "change" or "transubstantiation" is a matter of faith, a belief that when Jesus said, "Take and eat: this is my body" He meant what He said -- namely, "this" which I hold in my hand is my body; this, which I give you to drink, is my blood. He doesn't say that bread is a symbol of His body or wine is a symbol of His blood. He says, rather, This IS my body; this IS my blood. That was the belief in the Church until sometime after the Protestant Reformation, some 1500 years later. But it is a belief, a willingness to accept as true something which we cannot fully understand.

Answer 5

Yes, Catholics believe that the bread and wine actually change into the Body and Blood of Jesus Christ.

At the Last Supper, Jesus said, “Take this bread. It is my body.” Then he said, “Take this and drink. This is my blood. Do this in memory of me.”

Catholics believe this was the First Eucharist, that through a miracle the bread and wine actually became the body and blood of Jesus Christ.

Catholics reenact the Last Supper during every Mass, where God, acting through the priest, changes the bread and wine into the body and blood of Jesus Christ.

This is a great sacrament of thanksgiving and unity of Catholics.

With love in Christ.

Answer 6

When I was in the process of converting to Catholicism, this is how the Transubstantiation was illustrated for me when I expressed the same concern (and I've mentioned it here on Y!A before, for similar questions):

Do you believe God created the world we live in, including all of the natural laws (such as gravity) that keep things going? Do you also believe that He is infinite, not bound by time or space? Science tells us that all matter, including the small communion wafer, appears to be solid but in fact there is more "space" between the small particles it is made of than the particles themselves. Why couldn't Christ be present in that space, while at the same time the wafer "appears" to be the same?

There's a story in Mark, Chapter 9, where a man who had a son with seizures brought him to Jesus and said "if you can do anything, please help us" Jesus replied "'IF you can'? Everything is possible to him who believes". And the father said "I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief!".

The bread and wine still appear to us to be the same; but really, it's such a small step of faith to believe Christ really meant what he said -- and that He is truly present in the Eucharist; body, blood, soul and divinity -- once we have accepted in faith that God (Father, Son, and Holy Spirit) is, and was, and ever will be.

Answer 7

I'm a former Catholic that became a Christian after studying God's Word and the doctrines of many different religions.Transubstantiation is a form of cannibalism.The bread and wine is a symbolic act of rememberance in the Bible.Catholics actually believe the "priest" transforms them into blood and flesh.

Answer 8

Being Catholic feels right to me as well....
When it comes to the Eucharist I believe and that faith is what makes it real....I believe that I am accepting the body and blood of Christ, not a symbolism, but Christ himself comes to me. What an awesome miracle that is.....Pray about how you feel....Talk to your priest and/or your Confirmation sponsor about your feelings and they can help you with your questions.....I will say a prayer for you that you will find what you need to know.....
Peace be with you.

Answer 9

You should ask your Priest or at least consult the Catechism for the official explanation and references.

For me, I look at what Jesus said, he said "This IS my body" Jesus did not say "This is a representation of my body"

When we take the Holy Eucharist, we actually become closer to Jesus.

We actually have a miracle that happened in Europe that addresses this fact, google Eucharistic miracle. That might help as well.

You might also seek more information at www.Catholic.com or www.Catholic.org.

Good Luck and God Bless

Answer 10

I was a good little alter boy for a number of years and I have watched the whole process up close and personal. It is all in your head. Does it change? Physicall, and chemically, no. It is still bread and grape juice. But it changes somewhere in your head. Go with what is comfortable for you not what someone else says is the truth and the light and you are supposed to believe all the mumbo jumbo or you are going to hell.