Bridge of Reason

Transubstantiation is the Catholic dogma that the substance of the Eucharistic elements turn into the body and blood of Christ at consecration, only the appearances of bread and wine still remaining. They base this mainly on Jesus’ teaching in John 6, where Jesus taught, ‘ Whoever feeds on my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day.’ John 6:54 The 16 th century Council of Trent declared anathema (a curse) on anyone who denied the dogma. Does the bread and wine turn into the body and blood of Christ? Did Jesus intend us to take his words literally, or is there another meaning here? John 6 begins with the account of Jesus’ feeding of the five-thousand. We remember the story of the boy with the loaves and fishes, how Jesus multiplied them, gave thanks ( eucharisteō ‘to thank’ ) and distributed this generous bounty. So generous, indeed, there were 12 baskets of food left over. John tells us the people would take Jesus by force and make...