Changes

Taking their cues from the sixth chapter of the Gospel of John where Jesus speaks about eating His body and drinking His blood, Catholics believe that Jesus meant to refer to the Eucharist and in a literal, not a metaphorical, way. The body and blood are presented to the people at the time of communion. How this is done differs according to which church body is in question.

Taking their cues from the sixth chapter of the Gospel of John where Jesus speaks about eating His body and drinking His blood, Catholics believe that Jesus meant to refer to the Eucharist and in a literal, not a metaphorical, way. The body and blood are presented to the people at the time of communion. How this is done differs according to which church body is in question.

The Roman Catholic church, influenced by Aristotle through the writings of Thomas Aquinus, has adopted the understanding and belief that there is nothing any longer of the substance of bread and wine after the Celebrant's words are spoken over them, that the substance of bread and wine are no longer extant. The "accidents"—the taste, smell, and feel of bread and wine—remain, however(Transubstantiation).  

The Roman Catholic church, influenced by Aristotle through the writings of Thomas Aquinus, has adopted the understanding and belief that there is nothing any longer of the [[substance]], the essential reality of what is under the physical matter, the material forms, of bread and wine after the Celebrant's words are spoken over them, that the substances of bread and wine as food from wheat and grapes are no longer extant as food but are the substances of the essential reality of the flesh and blood and soul and divinity of the whole Person of Jesus Christ true God and true man. As the bodies of human beings transform the physical matter of food and drink into human flesh and blood and bone within a few hours, so Jesus Christ directly transforms the essence of bread and wine immediately into his own Person. The "accidents"—the taste, smell, and feel of bread and wine—remain, however([[Transubstantiation]], [[Real presence]]). He gives himself as food to his people, that they may ''partake'' of his own divine nature.<ref>2 Peter 1:3-4.</ref>

The Orthodox believe otherwise, holding that the words of Christ ("This [is] my body; This [is] my blood") indicate what happens, but without any need for an explanation of the mechanics of the miraculous change. What both of these churches agree upon here is the belief that the worship service offers a sacrifice. They assert that any offering is acceptable to God, even the offering of Christ himself in Christian worship, and that this understanding is supported by the Book of Hebrews.

The Orthodox believe otherwise, holding that the words of Christ ("This [is] my body; This [is] my blood") indicate what happens, but without any need for an explanation of the mechanics of the miraculous change. What both of these churches agree upon here is the belief that the worship service offers a sacrifice. They assert that any offering is acceptable to God, even the offering of Christ himself in Christian worship, and that this understanding is supported by the Book of Hebrews.