Priests exercise their power to change bread and wine into the body and blood of Christ by repeating at the consecration of the Mass the words of Christ: “This is My body . . . this is My blood.”
Over the bread are pronounced the words: Hoc est enim corpus meum, “For this is My Body.” Over the wine are pronounced the words: Hic est enim calix sanguinis mei, “For this is the chalice of My Blood.”
1. At the mass, at the words of consecration, Transubstantiation takes place; that is, the entire substance of the bread and wine is changed into our Lord’s Body and Blood.
After the words of consecration, there is no longer any bread or wine on the altar, for they have been changed into Christ’s Body and Blood. If it be asked how transubstantiation can possibly be effected, we reply, “By the almighty power of God.”
2. The appearances of bread and wine remain. The consecrated Host continues to look like bread, tastes and feels like bread; but it is not bread, for the entire substance of bread is changed into Christ’s Body. The same is true of the consecrated wine.