This is a piece of an article that was in my local paper. Is that what people really believe?

Question

"I was raised Catholic but I refused first communion. I told my parents I wasn’t sure that transubstantiation was real [that bread and the wine really change into the body and blood of Christ when consecrated]. Anyway, I didn’t want the wafer to turn into flesh in my mouth."

Do people really believe it turns into blood and flesh??

Answer 1

You can fool some of the people all of the time. ( paraphrase from Lincoln )

Answer 2

In the Baptist faith, they were always "representations" of flesh and blood. It was a monthly ritual in rememberance of the sacrifice that is the basis for Christianity. We were never asked to believe that these became real. My Catholic cousin, however, faithfully expresses her belief that the wafer and the wine are transformed into the the body and blood of Christ. However, she never fully discusses the ritual further, so it is difficult to discern when this transubstaniation occurs precisely and how real it truly is for her.

Answer 3

I hate to tell you, but the LUTHERANS also believe in the "transubstantiation" of bread and wine into the body and blood of Christ... but such a transformation does not occur without 1-faith, and 2- the WORDS of the sacrament... "Take, eat, this is My Body... " etc. It does not change physically until the words, and the believer's faith, does so... and not in the mouth, my dear! Lutherans, and Catholics, do not believe it is merely symbolic, it is real and actual... but it is part of that "faith" thing.

Have a blessed day!

Answer 4

Ms Taurus.... Most of my Catholic relatives seemed to see it as a symbolic tradition..... no different from how I myself believed, because, in the Bible, Jesus said to "do this in REMEMBERANCE of me".

However, Kid's love to play pranks on each other and tease the younger kids about the "blood and flesh" and many of the tv sitcoms have made jokes about it...cartoon and reg type of programming....so, bound to happen that kid's may believe this at one time or another.

Peace be with you :)

Answer 5

No, people believe that it was a symbolic gesture from Jesus during the Last Supper.

The Catholic Church is not trying to make people into cannibals.

Sounds like some "creative" writing in that article.

Answer 6

Transubstantiation is a man made doctrine and has no basis in scripture. This is just one of many false teaching that The Roman Cathoilc Church has conjured up. The Apostle John said in Revelation 18:4 And I heard another voice from heaven, saying, Come out of her, my people, that ye be not partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues.
Cap'n Arlo

Answer 7

Children generally believe what their parents tell them. Yes, many people believe that the water and the wafer are the real blood and flesh of Jesus.

How many of us believed in Santa Claus when we were children? I was infuriated when I found out I had been lied to about Santa. I figured Jesus was just a fable like the Easer Bunny. I had to wait until I was 15 before I believed in Jesus again.

Answer 8

Yep.
Catholics do actually. It is not simply a symbol, but the real thing.

I must say, it does seem a tad odd to the outsider, but it's the norm to a cradle Catholic.

Answer 9

Christ is sacramentally present -- body, blood, soul and divinity -- in the Eucharist, under the appearance of bread and wine.

More info: http://www.usccb.org/dpp/realpresence.htm

Answer 10

It does turn into the body and blood of Jesus Christ _but_ and i do stress this...It DOES NOT change in appearance and taste. So put your fears to rest dear.

Answer 11

A catholic priest cursed at me and told me I was doomed to hell because I denied this belief. Back in the "good old days" of the Vatican Inquisition, anybody, ANYBODY, who denied this was racked or burned alive. I'm beginning to see what turned so many people to atheism.