31. Something About the "How" of It

As I said before, no one really understands all the "hows" of the Eucharist. Using Aristotelian (Greek) categories, we can take a stab at it by considering things in terms of SUBSTANCE (the underlining reality) and ACCIDENTS (that which is non-essential, the appearances). Looking at the gifts, we use a special bread. But, there are all sorts of bread. What is breadness? In the Mass, bread and wine through TRANSUBSTANTIATION (changing of substance) become the living body and blood of Christ. But, the accidents remain the same. Even the priest does not so much handle Christ as he does the accidents. We believe because of the presence, not so much the other way around. What we need to remember is that something changes and something else does not. When we break the consecrated break the consecrated bread, the sacrament is fractured, but we do not hurt Christ.